Uber and Deliveroo make constant headlines for their HR and employee rights failings.
Just last month, both firms, along with Amazon, were slammed by Frank Field MP Chair of the Work and Pensions Committee, for their “egregious” worker contracts.
Separately, Uber came under fire after a blogpost, from ex-employee, Susan Fowler, accused the ride-hail firm of not reacting to her complaints of sexual harassment.
Deliveroo have also faced criticism from MPs for the contract they offered to workers, stopping them from challenging their self-employed status.
Yet, Uber’s SVP & CHRO, Liane Hornsey claims that the biggest problems at her firm aren’t sexual harassment or their gig-economy employment structures – despite an investigation into the company’s culture.
Rather, Hornsey claims her own five-month data collection exercise has led her to conclude that employees are most concerned by the performance review process and compensation issues at the firm.
“They need more love and respect from the company,” she told Fox Business, “that’s my sense of what’s wrong.”
Though Hornsey did admit that the company’s values are “masculine and a little aggressive” she dismissed Susan Fowler’s harassment claims, explaining: “I just didn’t find that at all.”
Fowler’s blogpost claimed that sexism was widespread at the firm and employees, who contacted HR, were criticised by others.
In a case linked by the gig-economy employment practises it shares with Uber, Deliveroo have been accused of putting off its riders from unionising by a “campaign of misinformation.”
John Hendy QC, the barrister for the riders, told The Guardian that Deliveroo were “deliberately fogging” the definition of worker status to “intimidate riders from joining the IWGB”.
The IWGB, or Independent Workers Union of Great Britain (IWGB), backed ‘self-employed’ workers plans to strike against gig-economy employers like Deliveroo and Uber.
Deliveroo and Uber claim that workers enjoy the flexibility that their companies offer.
David Scott, Director at Deliveroo, told workers that if they wanted to gain worker status they could be sacked for not wearing uniform, would work set hours and would lose control over their tax affairs.
However, previous cases have shown it is possible to be self-employed and classified as a worker.
Deliveroo also admitted that it didn’t provide health and safety, road safety or food safety information to its drivers and riders.
With such processes incumbent on HR, and good HR departments used to ensuring their firms stay out of the news through good practise, it probably won’t be long before both of these companies are under scrutiny again.
SOURCE: HR Grapevine
Daniel Cave
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