Most Gig Economy Workers Choose It As Their Primary Income
In a surprising development, the gig economy is now the primary source of income for most workers in the sector (61%), not just a means of supplementing other income. Traditionally the gig economy has been a convenient way to earn additional money on top of other work, such as delivering parcels outside of normal working […]
‘Hypocritical’ Just Eat Reverts Back To Self-Employed Drivers
Just Eat plans to make 1,700 couriers redundant from as the takeaway delivery firm reverts back to a gig economy model and scraps guaranteed minimum pay, sick pay and holiday pay. The couriers are currently engaged as ‘workers’ will be replaced by self-employed individuals. The decision has been described as “a risky move” and “hypocritical”, given […]
Free Childcare Option Being Trialed By Uber
Uber trials offering it’s drivers free childcare in a bid to encourage more parents to join their driver workforce. The minicab app platform announced it is offering 10 hours of free childcare for 1,000 of its UK drivers as childcare costs are a “barrier” for women joining the company. Opportunities for the highest earnings are […]
Gig Worker Welfare Crisis Continues – Rally Held To Support Latest Victim
Just weeks after the 2nd anniversary of Gabriel Bringye’s tragic death, another serious incident has highlighted the welfare crisis facing gig workers throughout the UK. At around 22:30 on 23 February, Deliveroo driver Mohammed collapsed outside the exclusive Meranti House on Alie Street where he was attempting to make a delivery. He was denied access […]
Gig Workers To Get Holiday Backdated Beyond Two Years?
A group of medical couriers have won the right to seek backdated holiday pay covering the entire period that they were engaged, not just the two years that they were initially limited to. The medical couriers were engaged on a self-employed basis by The Doctors Laboratory Limited, and in 2018 the couriers went to tribunal […]
Gig Work Welfare Issues Continue Two Years Following Death
Two years ago Gabriel Bringye was killed by teenagers who booked a taxi through online platform Bolt, with the intention of ambushing the driver. He was found in Tottenham with stab wounds at around 19:30 on 17 February 2021 and tragically Gabriel was later pronounced dead at the scene. Bolt have since introduced several new […]
EU Finally Agrees Platform Workers Rights
After months of negotiations, the European Parliament has finally agreed it’s position on platform workers rights with a new EU Directive set to give this important workforce much-needed protections. In essence, the legislation will mean that these self-employed platform workers will need to be engaged as employees and receive all the statutory rights of employment. […]
EU Platform Work Directive Delayed
Ironically, this week’s planned vote in European Parliament on the Platform Work Directive was prevented by workers going on strike, as travel disruption meant that MEPs could not get to and from Strasbourg. It was entirely unrelated to platform working, the general strike took place in France due to plans to raise the pension age. […]
Precarious Gig Work Is Officially Bad For Your Health
People who rely on short-term, temporary, freelance work, or jobs where pay is dependent largely on tips, commissions and bonuses – often suffer poor health related to their financial insecurity, new research has shown. Workers with fluctuating and unpredictable pay tend to have poorer sleep, more stress and miserable physical symptoms that affect their work […]