[UK] Just Eat will offer minimum pay, sickness rates and holiday

Food delivery platform Just Eat - one of the gig economy 'giants' - has pledged to offer its riders minimum pay, sick pay and holiday entitlement by the end of the year. The move forms part of boss Jitse Groen’s promise to end gig working across the business, Employee Benefits reports.

According to Just Eat, at present most of its riders are self-employed contractors without guaranteed pay or sick leave. And while some riders work directly for Just Eat many others are employed by courier firms.

The change will not only mean that riders become ‘workers’ employed by Just Eat’s Europe-wide agency Randstad but they will also be entitled to more than the legal minimum in hourly pay, pension contributions and benefits; including holiday pay and sick pay.

Additionally, riders will be allowed set shifts - ending any uncertainty over when work will be available - and their e-bikes or mopeds will be provided and maintained by Just Eat.

Andrew Kenny - UK managing director of Just Eat - said, “We recognise our responsibility to provide couriers with the best possible opportunities and we’re delighted that almost 2,000 jobs have already been created as part of our worker model.”

He continued, “We’ve reached this milestone significantly ahead of schedule and following a positive response in London and Birmingham, we’re excited to roll this out to Liverpool, creating 1,500 more roles this year.

“We believe giving couriers access to the benefits and security associated with a model like this is the right thing to do and we’re hugely ambitious to grow this further out across the UK.”

The pledge represents significant progress towards redressing the balance of power between the firm and its riders and sets a precedent for employers with similar business models, like Deliveroo.

Food delivery platform Just Eat - one of the gig economy 'giants' - has pledged to offer its riders minimum pay, sick pay and holiday entitlement by the end of the year. The move forms part of boss Jitse Groen’s promise to end gig working across the business, Employee Benefits reports.

According to Just Eat, at present most of its riders are self-employed contractors without guaranteed pay or sick leave. And while some riders work directly for Just Eat many others are employed by courier firms.

The change will not only mean that riders become ‘workers’ employed by Just Eat’s Europe-wide agency Randstad but they will also be entitled to more than the legal minimum in hourly pay, pension contributions and benefits; including holiday pay and sick pay.

Additionally, riders will be allowed set shifts - ending any uncertainty over when work will be available - and their e-bikes or mopeds will be provided and maintained by Just Eat.

Andrew Kenny - UK managing director of Just Eat - said, “We recognise our responsibility to provide couriers with the best possible opportunities and we’re delighted that almost 2,000 jobs have already been created as part of our worker model.”

He continued, “We’ve reached this milestone significantly ahead of schedule and following a positive response in London and Birmingham, we’re excited to roll this out to Liverpool, creating 1,500 more roles this year.

“We believe giving couriers access to the benefits and security associated with a model like this is the right thing to do and we’re hugely ambitious to grow this further out across the UK.”

The pledge represents significant progress towards redressing the balance of power between the firm and its riders and sets a precedent for employers with similar business models, like Deliveroo.