Addison Lee Drivers Are Workers, Not Self-Employed, Court Rules
The ‘gig’ economy has created a whole raft of difficulties for its workforce, but also an opportunity for employment contract solicitors to define regulations about how a person is considered self-employed or part of a workforce.
The companies most at war over worker’s rights in the gig economy are undoubtedly couriers and drivers – and in the past few years, there have been landmark rulings on a number of these, such as Uber and MyHermes, which have classified that, in these specific cases, drivers could not be classified as self-employed, and were in fact workers who should have access to all their statutory rights.
The latest ruling from the employment appeals tribunal has found that drivers for London based private taxi firm Addison Lee are workers, therefore entitled to national minimum wage when clocked on, as well as paid holiday and sick pay.
A spokesperson for Addison Lee said that they were disappointed with the outcome, and that the case was brought in the first place, according to The Guardian, as they enjoy a positive relationship with the majority of their drivers: “n common with most of the industry, the majority are self-employed, and with earnings at a record high, over 60% said they were likely or very likely to recommend working for Addison Lee in our most recent driver satisfaction survey,” the spokesperson said.
Employment lawyers for the three Addison Lee drivers who brought the case say that this ruling could affect thousands of drivers, however, the company is carefully considering whether or not it wants to appeal the ruling.