Most online takeaway customers would pay more to give riders “basic benefits”

By Joe Lutrario

- Last updated on GMT

Online takeaway customers would pay more to give riders “basic benefits”

Related tags Employment Minimum wage

Nearly four in five online food delivery customers would pay more to give riders the same benefits and rights that people in permanent jobs enjoy, a survey has revealed.

78% of online takeaway customers say they’d pay more to give food couriers minimum wage, sick pay and holiday pay, according to a poll of UK adults released today by workplace campaigning site Organise.

Of those who are willing to pay more, 58% would pay between £1-£2.50 or more per delivery to give riders what Organise describe as basic rights at work.

The poll comes just days after Deliveroo’s statement to Parliament in which it said that it would cost them an extra £1 per delivery to give riders guaranteed minimum wage and sick pay.

The Survation survey of 1534 UK adults was conducted between 11 and 13 October last week.

“This poll shows that Deliveroo are out of step with their customers and the public when it comes to giving their riders basic employment rights,” says Nat Whalley, executive director of Organise. “Deliveroo have underestimated how happy their customers are to pay a little more to guarantee rights at work for riders.”

“Deliveroo are running out of excuses not to protect their riders as any other British employer would have to do. It’s completely unfair that if you get knocked off your bike riding for Deliveroo, you don’t get sick pay while you’re off work. It’s time Deliveroo start putting in their fair share and give their riders sick pay, holiday pay and a guaranteed minimum wage.”

Updated: Deliveroo has responded to this story with the following statement

"We agree that our riders deserve the best - that’s why on average across the UK they make £9.50 an hour with us - way above the minimum wage.  

We want to be able to offer our riders three things: the flexible work that they currently get, great pay, and greater security - by bringing in for example sick and injury pay. At the moment the law stops us from offering all three.

We don’t want to charge customers more - we want the law to change so we can continue to offer well paid work that is extremely flexible alongside more security for our riders."

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