Worker Status for Parcelforce Couriers?

In another claim seeking to secure a favourable employment status for those previously treated as self-employed, the GMB union has commenced legal action on behalf of four couriers against Royal Mail Group Limited, alleging a failure to pay the national minimum wage and holiday pay.

The couriers, engaged by Parcelforce (a subsidiary of Royal Mail Group) allege that Royal Mail has enticed its employees to work ostensibly under ‘self-employed’ contracts and regarded them as self-employed as a means to reduce their pay and avoid giving them rights due to employees and workers.  The first hearing before the Employment Tribunal is due to be held on 16 February 2018.

Comment:          This is the latest in an increasingly long line of cases seeking to assert the rights of those allegedly wrongly treated as self-employed.   Once again it highlights the fact that employers should take steps to formalise and clarify the employment status of those who work for them.