They are protecting themselves. If it is too hot, they can choose not to activate their app.
What a nothing burger
RigelXVI on
The fact that they set their own hours and work days should protect them from the heat quite a bit I’d imagine…
6ft5 on
No one in fact has to
ScruffyPeter on
If there was a “full employment” policy or maybe CES or UBI, these riders could in theory choose the jobs rather than have a gig job vs health dilemma.
Unfortunately, the neoliberal extremists hate that policy because workers were less desperate for jobs.
Here are examples of utopia that neoliberals want in society:
Join your union. Make sure your union compares political parties and not back Labor by default.
As for who to vote for? Greens, FUSION, Sustainable Australia Party and others want the aforementioned policies but Labor does not have it as a policy. LNP and One Nation definitely don’t want it.
Scamwau1 on
But you cannot provide further protection to these workers. What is the government going to do? Ban food delivery if the temp is above 35deg? And what of the drivers that don’t mind delivering, the government is gonna stop them earning money? Oh ok, so the government can put a rule in place that it is up to the individual to decide. And we end up back to where we are now anyway.
The article provides a clickbait soundbite but if you think about it for even 5 seconds, it is worthless media bullshit.
parisianpop on
I know reddit is very anti-tipping, but this is absolutely a situation where tipping is warranted. If I need to order something on a hot day (for health reasons, it’s worse for me to be outside than it is for others), I make sure to tip a lot – no one would be out there delivering if they didn’t absolutely need to be.
Diopside23 on
If delivery apps offered gig workers the same worker rights and protections as a standard employment contract it wouldn’t be a viable business. It shouldn’t be a viable business to begin with, but it gets around that by not being a viable employer.
The entire “industry” is a piss take anyway, are we sincerely so convenience cucked that we’re willing to pay an extra $20 in overhead on a $30 meal that’s going to arrive, cold, in an hour?
Spiritual-Counter-36 on
Grocery delivery for the big supermarkets is way more intense and labour intensive too. 40+ degrees a fairly often too.
SaltpeterSal on
This is technofeudalism. Even the government is sacking its working class and hiring them back as contractors. How long until it happens to you? Write to your local MP and ask them to help nip the new creations of peasants in the bud. Lean on your union to bargain harder and find leverage. Work out what you and your colleagues can share and trade during a strike.
Specialist_Being_161 on
If most of them are on student visas then in theory they can legally only work 20 hours a week. So simply take the day off and work another day.
We all know many of them fudge it and work over 20 hours though.
They’re also meant to be self sustainable on their visa application to fund their trip not relying on a job.
gokurakumaru on
The same people complaining about the lack of protections for delivery drivers operating as independent contractors are the ones who patronise the apps instead of walking up to their local takeout the way we all used to do just 10 years ago.
The only reason these delivery-app businesses are viable is they spread the cost of delivery across stores, where historically stores had to have their own staff. That’s what makes it cheaper for the stores. It’s not cheaper for the end customer.
So be careful what you wish for from your privileged consumer-side ivory tower, happily paying $15 for delivery on one hand, while telling the apps to treat their contractors as employees on the other. You’re going to kill the reason these services made sense as startups in in the first place. If the way they treat their contractors bothers you so much morally, get off your ass into the car and get the take-away option yourself. The only reason these guys are out there in 40 degree heat is because you as a customer *want them to be*.
Gorfob on
I’ve met and worked with the SafeWork inspector who put together the case/prosecution during COVID about visibility and the need for the vests and safety gear to be provided.
These things take time to sort out. Years in fact. But they do look at this part of the industry very closely.
Spicy_pewpew_memes on
“so we don’t have to”
Article making the convenience of food delivery sound like a human right. Who the fuck is we? I never have and never will never use those services. People seem to act like civilization didn’t exist before food delivery.
YallRedditForThis on
The question shouldnbe. Who’s protecting our food? Have these morons ride around with their delivery bag unzipped.
Ok_Conclusion5966 on
in the past decade ive seen a record number of contractors, some the lucrative type, but mostly the cheap and replaceable type with fewer or no protections or benefits
some become desperate for a full time role they work harder all for a lousy salary at the end of it assuming the carrot dangled in front of them isn’t taken away
anonnasmoose on
The government’s solution is to bring more of them in so they can spread the load more
16 Comments
They are protecting themselves. If it is too hot, they can choose not to activate their app.
What a nothing burger
The fact that they set their own hours and work days should protect them from the heat quite a bit I’d imagine…
No one in fact has to
If there was a “full employment” policy or maybe CES or UBI, these riders could in theory choose the jobs rather than have a gig job vs health dilemma.
Unfortunately, the neoliberal extremists hate that policy because workers were less desperate for jobs.
Here are examples of utopia that neoliberals want in society:
https://www.theguardian.com/law/2023/apr/09/cafe-that-hires-11-year-olds-sparks-criticism-amid-push-for-minimum-age-for-australian-workers
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-12-04/vinyard-worker-owed-200-hours-pay-at-time-of-death-inquest-told/104679014
Join your union. Make sure your union compares political parties and not back Labor by default.
As for who to vote for? Greens, FUSION, Sustainable Australia Party and others want the aforementioned policies but Labor does not have it as a policy. LNP and One Nation definitely don’t want it.
But you cannot provide further protection to these workers. What is the government going to do? Ban food delivery if the temp is above 35deg? And what of the drivers that don’t mind delivering, the government is gonna stop them earning money? Oh ok, so the government can put a rule in place that it is up to the individual to decide. And we end up back to where we are now anyway.
The article provides a clickbait soundbite but if you think about it for even 5 seconds, it is worthless media bullshit.
I know reddit is very anti-tipping, but this is absolutely a situation where tipping is warranted. If I need to order something on a hot day (for health reasons, it’s worse for me to be outside than it is for others), I make sure to tip a lot – no one would be out there delivering if they didn’t absolutely need to be.
If delivery apps offered gig workers the same worker rights and protections as a standard employment contract it wouldn’t be a viable business. It shouldn’t be a viable business to begin with, but it gets around that by not being a viable employer.
The entire “industry” is a piss take anyway, are we sincerely so convenience cucked that we’re willing to pay an extra $20 in overhead on a $30 meal that’s going to arrive, cold, in an hour?
Grocery delivery for the big supermarkets is way more intense and labour intensive too. 40+ degrees a fairly often too.
This is technofeudalism. Even the government is sacking its working class and hiring them back as contractors. How long until it happens to you? Write to your local MP and ask them to help nip the new creations of peasants in the bud. Lean on your union to bargain harder and find leverage. Work out what you and your colleagues can share and trade during a strike.
If most of them are on student visas then in theory they can legally only work 20 hours a week. So simply take the day off and work another day.
We all know many of them fudge it and work over 20 hours though.
They’re also meant to be self sustainable on their visa application to fund their trip not relying on a job.
The same people complaining about the lack of protections for delivery drivers operating as independent contractors are the ones who patronise the apps instead of walking up to their local takeout the way we all used to do just 10 years ago.
The only reason these delivery-app businesses are viable is they spread the cost of delivery across stores, where historically stores had to have their own staff. That’s what makes it cheaper for the stores. It’s not cheaper for the end customer.
So be careful what you wish for from your privileged consumer-side ivory tower, happily paying $15 for delivery on one hand, while telling the apps to treat their contractors as employees on the other. You’re going to kill the reason these services made sense as startups in in the first place. If the way they treat their contractors bothers you so much morally, get off your ass into the car and get the take-away option yourself. The only reason these guys are out there in 40 degree heat is because you as a customer *want them to be*.
I’ve met and worked with the SafeWork inspector who put together the case/prosecution during COVID about visibility and the need for the vests and safety gear to be provided.
These things take time to sort out. Years in fact. But they do look at this part of the industry very closely.
“so we don’t have to”
Article making the convenience of food delivery sound like a human right. Who the fuck is we? I never have and never will never use those services. People seem to act like civilization didn’t exist before food delivery.
The question shouldnbe. Who’s protecting our food? Have these morons ride around with their delivery bag unzipped.
in the past decade ive seen a record number of contractors, some the lucrative type, but mostly the cheap and replaceable type with fewer or no protections or benefits
some become desperate for a full time role they work harder all for a lousy salary at the end of it assuming the carrot dangled in front of them isn’t taken away
The government’s solution is to bring more of them in so they can spread the load more