Uber give drivers sick pay and parental leave

After fiercely contesting that its drivers are not entitled to be classed as workers, from 1st June 2018, Uber will be giving its EU drivers a number of protections including sick pay and maternity/paternity pay.

Reportedly, the insurance policy will be provided free to its drivers who have completed 150 trips in the past 2 months or Uber eats couriers who have completed at least 30 deliveries.  It covers costs or lost income resulting from accidents or injuries that occur on trip as well as protection for major life events that happen off trip such as sever sickness, maternity/paternity leave and jury duty.

Uber’s announcement conveniently comes before an appeal hearing on 25th June to decide whether the decision by Transport for London, to revoke Uber’s licence on the ground of health and safety, was correct.

Aspire Comment

Are Uber admitting defeat by providing sick pay and paternal leave? No - ever since Dara Khosrowshahi took over as CEO he has been attempting to improve Uber’s image and display the company in a favourable light.

Trade Unions believe this could simply be a publicity stunt as the battles regarding employment rights are ongoing in court. Since the Employment Appeal Tribunal hearing, whereby Uber lost its appeal against the ruling that its contractors should be classed as workers instead of self-employed, Uber’s request to take its appeal directly to the Supreme Court (skipping the Court of Appeal) was rejected, according to a union representing the drivers. This means the Court of Appeal will now hear the case first on 31st October and 1st November 2018.