Resolving the Gig Economy
Most of us will have had recourse at some point to use the gig economy. Whether that is taking an Uber or getting a Deliveroo, the services offered are generally fast, reliable and cheap.
However what if we knew that the person driving us to the station or dropping off a pizza was not entitled to holiday pay, could be discriminated against at will and was hardly paid enough to survive.
You might think twice. Especially if there was an alternative where workers were treated more like human beings with a minimum level of dignity.
The reason this doesn't happen is because contracts are worded in vague and obscure ways meaning it is not always clear which companies are morally bankrupt until it's too late.
We saw an example in the case analysed in this week's podcast episode when Gary Smith had to reduce his working hours as a plumber after he suffered a heart attack. Pimlico Plumbers wouldn't allow this and when he tried to sue them they argued that he wasn't a worker within the context of his contract with them.
There are other examples but one thing that all the cases have in common is that they drag through the court hierarchy and regularly prove especially costly. The only winners are lawyers and exploitative companies.
There has to be a better way to organise things so that the employment contract becomes more certain and it is easier to protect rights.
Listen to the end of this episode to hear my own proposal.
Episode link: http://uklawweekly.com/2018-uksc-28/
Subscribe on iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/uk-law-weekly/id1137316725?mt=2