The latest gig economy case concludes that Addison Lee drivers are workers and not self-employed, as confirmed by the Court of Appeal. This is the final stage of a long running battle at the minicab firm which goes back to an employment tribunal in 2017 which found that Addison Lee drivers were workers and should be paid whilst logged into the driver portal.
Addison Lee appealed that decision which was then upheld by the employment appeal tribunal in 2018. In 2019 Addison Lee was given permission to appeal the ruling, but only after the Uber v Aslam judgment was reached by the Supreme Court. Now that the Uber case has concluded, the Court of Appeal has dismissed Addison Lee’s case, and Lord Justice Bean said the appeal should not proceed as it was unlikely to be successful.
Addison Lee drivers say that, after their costs were taken into account, they had received less than the statutory minimum. Current and former drivers may now pursue claims for annual leave and underpayment of the national minimum wage. It is estimated that drivers could be entitled to an average £10,000 each in compensation.
Addison Lee has 28 days in which it could appeal to the supreme court but it is not expected to do so.
