The Rise of Delivery Workers

As the world’s online sales have grown, the need for delivery workers has risen. These independent contractors, commonly referred to as gig workers, deliver grocery items, prepared meals, retail purchases, Amazon finds, and office supplies to customers’ doors.

A new report from the Workers’ Justice Project found that food delivery workers in New York City face a variety of poor working conditions. The report lays out ways to improve their wages and benefits, safety, and bathroom access.

Independent Contractor

Independent contractors are self-employed workers who provide services for a client under a contract but are not employees. They have a number of benefits, including scheduling flexibility and fewer tax obligations.

Delivery work is one of the most popular types of freelance employment. Drivers deliver food, flowers, medical supplies and packages in cities and towns across Connecticut and Massachusetts.

The problem is that many delivery drivers are not properly classified as independent contractors. They lose out on statutory benefits and wages that are legally required of employees.

To avoid this problem, you should always create an independent contractor agreement for every project you undertake. These documents will clearly outline your business relationship with your clients, the scope of the work and the rate of pay.

This will protect you if your client misclassifies you as an employee or fails to pay you the legal minimum wage and overtime. In addition, it will help you avoid tax penalties and keep your records organized.

No Minimum Work Requirements

The top echelons of the tech industry would be hard pressed to find a platform-based employee with an all-inclusive health plan, and the same is true of the many independent contractors who make up the backbone of NYC’s food delivery sector. Despite the best efforts of the city’s consumer and worker protection bureaus, it is still difficult to protect the human rights of these unsung heroes. It is not surprising, then, that many of these underpaid and underappreciated workers end up on the street, navigating the murky streets in search of a worthy match. While some nimble and sassy platform-based employees might be lucky enough to find a coveted spot in the city’s coveted swag bag, others may have to live off the luck of the draw. A healthy bottom line, along with fair and equitable treatment, is the only way to ensure a successful transition from the city’s many temporary worker camps to the permanent employment pools that have been on the upswing for a while.

Flexibility

Flexible schedules allow employees to take care of family and personal needs. They also give employers peace of mind in the event of an emergency.

Flexibility is the number one reason why delivery workers choose to work for gig economy platforms like Deliveroo, DoorDash, and Uber. Almost two thirds of respondents say they would choose to leave the sector if it wasn’t possible to get flexible work.

In addition, a recent study commissioned by Delivery Platforms Europe found that up to 250,000 couriers would lose their opportunities to earn income in food delivery if they were forced to work at hours pre-determined by the platforms or the employers instead of flexible times. This could result in a 20 per cent decline in earnings.