The misery of being a delivery driver in Britain: Two-thirds of riders suffer ANXIETY over unfair bad reviews, study finds
If you use apps such as Deliveroo and Uber, you might want to think twice about giving the delivery driver a bad review.
A new study by scientists at the University of Cambridge lays bear the misery of being a food delivery worker or ride-hailing driver in Britain.
More than two-thirds of riders and drivers in UK's 'gig economy' suffer anxiety over long hours and bad ratings, the experts report.
Meanwhile, three-quarters have anxiety over fears that their pay – typically below the UK minimum wage – is going to fall.
Lead study author Dr Alex Wood from Cambridge's Department of Sociology said riders and drivers 'have little in the way of rights or bargaining power'.
'Delivery and ride-hailing platforms combine manual work with tight algorithmic management and digital surveillance,' he said.
'Platform companies call themselves tech firms, but in practice they govern, control and profit from labour they claim not to own, without bearing employer responsibility.
'If your job is at the mercy of a quick click on a stranger's phone, it is likely to fuel a constant hum of uncertainty and anxiety, along with feelings of being judged, monitored and replaceable.'
In a survey workers, 65 per cent of riders and drivers reported feeling either fairly or very anxious over unexpected changes to working hours. Not all workers answered all the questions, hence there is some variation in the numbers of respondents
The study focused on job quality in the UK's 'gig economy' – the labour market characterised by short-term contracts or freelance work, rather than permanent jobs.
Gig economy workers operate as self-employed contractors who sign up for work on digital platforms such as Uber, Deliveroo, Amazon Flex and Upwork.
These digital platforms typically match the workers with customers and pay a base rate per job, with higher rates at peak times or 'surges'.
'All manner of gig work has exploded in recent years, from delivering food to building websites,' said Dr Wood.
'Many of us now summon people and labour at the tap of a smartphone screen without much thought, rarely considering the process or the people behind it.'
Between March and June 2022, Dr Wood and colleagues surveyed 510 gig economy workers in the UK about different feelings towards their role.
Of the total, 257 were defined as 'local' platform workers – those tied to locations such as delivery riders for the likes of Deliveroo, Uber and Amazon Flex.
The remaining 253 were 'remote' platform workers – whose labour is digital and so can remote work from anywhere, on platforms like Upwork and Fiverr.
In all, 65 per cent of local workers reported feeling either 'fairly anxious' or 'very anxious' about future unexpected changes to working hours, compared with 40 per cent for remote workers.
An even greater proportion of local workers – 74 per cent – were at all anxious about having less say over how their job is done, compared with 40 per cent for remote workers.
Also, more local workers reported anxiety over the potential for pay to fall (75 per cent compared to 59 per cent of remote workers).
And 64 per cent were anxious about it becoming more difficult for them to use their skills going forward – due to the fear of automation, for example – compared with 46 per cent for remote.
Another part of the research uncovered 'very high' levels of insecurity among respondents in terms of feeling there was a chance of losing their ability to make a living and becoming unemployed as well as other types of work-related insecurity.
For example, 68 per cent of local platform workers said they feared receiving 'unfair feedback that impacts their future income'.
Just over half of local workers (51 per cent) said they risked physical health or safety, nearly five times higher than remote workers (11 per cent).
And 43 per cent said they suffer physical pain resulting from work, compared with about 13 per cent for remote workers.
When asked 'how often does your job involve working to tight deadlines?', 22 per cent of local workers responded 'all the time', compared with 4 per cent for remote workers
Local workers also reported spending an average of 10 hours a week waiting for jobs to come through on the app, compared with four hours for remote workers.
But regardless of how long they're doing this for, the gig economy experience means they logged on and technically working but not making any money, according to the researchers.
However, they admit that gig economy workers have flexibility and a level of independence that permanent workers don't get.
The study, published in the journal Work, Employment and Society, is the first to provide statistical data on job quality in the UK's 'gig economy'.
'Attempts to investigate working conditions in the UK gig economy have been hampered by the difficulty of identifying and accessing people doing the work,' said co-author Professor Brendan Burchell, sociologist at the University of Cambridge.
'Classifying someone as self-employed doesn't change the fact they can be economically dependent and exploited.'
MailOnline has contacted Deliveroo and Uber for comment.
In separate yet-to-be-published research, Cambridge University PhD candidate Jon White is conducting interviews with delivery drivers in Cambridge city centre.
According to the findings, drivers are constantly pushing to earn enough to make end's meet to the detriment of their health
Some working on multiple apps at the same time.
One driver spoke of the need for a solid minimum pay rate: '…when it's busy on a rainy day, at that time they pay a really good fare. But sometimes when it's not busy, so that time fare is not enough for us because we go two miles, three miles and get a really low fare. So I think if they pay minimum every day, it will be really helpful for us.'
Another driver described the pain in their body: '…especially in my thighs, all the time, ever since I started, I've never had a good sleep. Every day, I get home, just have to take a shower quickly after my body gets cold… and eat something then go to sleep because I can't do this work for a long time.'
They say the long hours are down to low pay: 'Because I have to do my... a minimum every day so, I can at least pay my bills, right? Just to survive. I still have to pay rent, food, so... If I don't do this amount, this minimum in a day, I can't go home.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
23 minutes ago
- The Sun
The 4 signs of skin cancer beyond moles as Atomic Kitten's Natasha Hamilton reveals diagnosis after ‘itch on her back'
ATOMIC Kitten's Natasha Hamilton opened up about her skin cancer battle, revealing she was diagnosed with the disease after getting a persistent itchy spot on her back. In an emotional Good Morning Britain interview, the singer, 42, revealed she'd had basal cell carcinoma (BCC). 9 9 BCC is the most common skin cancer type in the UK. It begins in the basal cells — a type of cell within the skin that produces new skin cells as old ones die off - and is more likely to develop on skin regularly exposed to the sun, like the face, head or neck. The cancer often tends to appear as a pearly lump, but it can also develop as a scar-like patch on the skin or rough, scaly growths. Natasha initially mistook the diseased patch of skin as a mosquito bite. She told her hosts Kate Garraway and Rob Rinder that she developed an itch after catching a bit too much sun while on holiday in Majorca. Natasha said: "So I had been on holiday, I wasn't actually in the sun a lot, my baby was only about five months old and I was breastfeeding. "One afternoon I had her on my lap, my back was in the sun and I burnt. "I don't know if it was later that day or the next day, I had an itchy spot on my back. "I felt it, I went "oh mosquito bite". 'It wasn't until four weeks later when I was at home and it was itching I was like 'hang on a minute, that seems a bit long for a mosquito bite'. 'I asked my husband to have look and he went "oh that's not a bite," he took a picture. Natasha revealed: "Originally it had just been a dark freckle that I'd had on my back for many years. "It wasn't even raised, it wasn't a mole, it was just a freckle." The star sought specialist help and was diagnosed with BCC. 9 9 9 She was able to have the cancerous skin removed and is now living cancer-free. But she revealed: "Now I have to be really vigilant, I have to check my skin all the time. "Since then I've had a few things appear where I've had to go back to the dermatologist, they're on the 'watch list'. "This is probably something I am going to have to keep an eye for the rest of my life," Natasha said. The 4 signs of BCC When you think of signs of skin cancer, a mole probably comes to mind. This is usually the case with melanoma, the deadliest form of the disease. But non-melanoma skin cancer - which includes BCC - can manifest in other more subtle ways. According to Macmillan Cancer Support, a BCC might have some of these features: A smooth, firm lump that may be pearly, pink, red, brown or black – on black or brown skin, it is more likely to be pearly, brown or black A lump that is sunken in the middle like a crater A flat patch of scaly, crusty or irritated skin A scar-like area of pale, shiny skin This type of skin cancer tends to be painless but it can cause itchiness or bleeding. 9 9 9 Over time, a BCC may develop into an open sore that does not heal. Any part of your skin can be affected, but it's most common in areas exposed to the sun, such as the: Head, face and ears Neck and shoulders Back Hands Lower legs BCCs mainly people with fair skin, but those with other skin types may also be at risk, according to the British Skin Foundation. Those with the highest risk of developing a basal cell carcinoma are: People with pale skin who burn easily and rarely tan Those who have had a lot of exposure to the sun, such as people with outdoor hobbies or outdoor workers, and people who have lived in sunny climates People who have used sun beds or have regularly sunbathed. People who have previously had a basal cell carcinoma Almost all cases of BCC can be cured and it's almost never a danger to life, according to the charity. However, if a BCC is not treated early, it may get larger and may be more likely to come back. Treatment can include surgically removing the affected area of skin. There are two main types of skin cancer - non melanoma skin cancer and melanoma skin cancer. Non melanoma skin cancer includes: Basal cell skin cancer - this is also called basal cell carcinoma (BCC) Squamous cell skin cancer - this is also called squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) Some other rare types Non melanoma skin cancers tend to develop most often on skin that's exposed to the sun. There is a high cure rate for these cancers. Most people only have minor surgery and don't need further treatment. Melanoma skin cancer is when abnormal cells in the skin start to grow and divide in an uncontrolled way. It starts in skin cells called melanocytes. These cells are in the deep layer of the epidermis. Around 17,500 people are diagnosed with melanoma skin cancer in the UK each year. The number of people diagnosed has increased over the last few decades. Melanoma skin cancer is the fifth most common cancer in the UK.
The Guardian
26 minutes ago
- The Guardian
Hedge fund orders London-based analysts back to office five days a week
Man Group has ordered its London-based analysts to return temporarily to the office five days a week, as the world's biggest listed hedge fund seeks to recover from a period of poor performance sparked by Donald Trump's tariff war. Quantitative analysts working at Man AHL, the company's computer-run fund that aims to identify and follow momentum in markets, have been told they are expected to be in its offices daily until the end of July as part of an 'all hands on deck' project. The edict applies to about 150 staff in London, just under 10% of the overall group's 1,700 global employees, the Financial Times reported. 'Man AHL has asked its staff in London to work in the office five days a week for a three-month period to support an 'all hands on deck' cross-team research project,' the company said. 'While these cross-team initiatives are infrequent, experience has shown that a period of highly focused, in-person collaboration allows significant research progress to be made in a relatively short amount of time.' The company, which has been a champion of flexible working arrangements including working from home, said that its 'broader agile working policy remains unchanged'. Employees tend to be in the office three days a week, on average. However, this varies by role. Trump's destabilising tariff war has resulted in significant volatility in global markets, which has made it difficult for computer-based funds such as AHL to predict market trends. The company's most recent financial statement showed that the start of Trump's trade war in April wiped out all of the assets under management gains made by Man Group in the first quarter. Its holdings were up $4bn in the first three months of the year but plummeted by $5.6bn in the first two weeks of April. The AHL Alpha programme, Man's institutional trend-following strategy, has lost 10% so far this year. Man Group's share price is down more than 30% over the past year. Man Group is the latest major financial services company to revisit its flexible working policies. Sign up to Business Today Get set for the working day – we'll point you to all the business news and analysis you need every morning after newsletter promotion Last month, BlackRock, the world's biggest asset management company, told its approximately 1,000 managing directors globally that they were expected to work from the office full time. The New York-based company last told staff in 2023 that they had to go into the office at least four days a week. Earlier this year, JP Morgan Chase summoned all its workers back into the office. Jamie Dimon, the head of the bank, has long been a proponent of restoring pre-pandemic working patterns. Barclays also hardened its stance on remote working earlier this year, saying that all staff should work from the office at least three days a week, up from a previous requirement of two days.
Daily Mail
27 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Statins slash death from terrifying 'hidden' condition that kills 48,000 a year by 40 per cent, new study finds
Taking statins can improve the chances of surviving 'hidden' killer sepsis by 40 per cent, a major new trial has found. Sepsis can occur when the body's immune system—which usually helps to fight infection—overreacts to an infection and attacks its own organs. It is notoriously difficult to spot as the telltale symptoms, such as a fever and muscle pain, can be easily mistaken for signs of a common cold or other infection. Statins are cholesterol-busting drugs that prevent heart attacks and strokes and are taken by around 5million adults in the UK. Experts have said they also have other benefits, including reducing inflammation and fighting bacteria that can ultimately lead to sepsis. The latest study compared survival rates of sepsis patients who were given statins, and those who didn't, during a hospital stay. It found the cholesterol-busting pills reduced risk of death for those with the life-threatening condition by 39 per cent. In the intensive care unit, 14.3 per cent of 6,000 sepsis patients who were given statins died within 28 days, compared with 23.4 per cent of 6,000 patients who were not. It also helped survival rates for those no longer in a critical condition—11 per cent of sepsis patients in this group given statins died compared to 19 per cent who were not. Meanwhile, those who were prescribed statins had a slightly longer stay in hospital than those who didn't—an average of 10 days compared to eight. Dr Caifeng Li, of Tianjin Medical University General Hospital in China and the study's author said: 'These results strongly suggest that statins may provide a protective effect and improve clinical outcomes for patients with sepsis.' The research team have called for larger trials to confirm their findings—which was based on a data from thousands of patients at a hospital in Israel over a decade. In response UK sepsis experts said that 'anything which might reduce the burden of a condition which claims one in five lives worldwide needs to be rigorously explored.' Dr Ron Daniels, founder and chief executive of the UK Sepsis Trust, added: 'It has been known for some time that the anti-inflammatory properties of statins confer a survival benefit on those who take them if they develop sepsis. 'Whilst previous studies have failed to show a similar survival benefit in treating people with sepsis with statins, this new study supports calls for a large, multi-country, randomised control trial. 'Anything which might reduce the burden of a condition which claims one in five lives worldwide needs to be rigorously explored.' The study is the latest to find statins, one of the most commonly prescribed medications in the UK, could have other health benefits beyond controlling cholesterol. Earlier this year researchers found taking the pills, which cost mere pennies a tablet, could also slash dementia risk—even in patients who don't have high cholesterol. Sepsis, known as the 'silent killer', strikes with frightening speed and, for every hour of delay, a patient's chance of dying increases 8 per cent. If caught early enough, it can be easily treated with intravenous antibiotics and fluids, but these must be given as soon as sepsis is suspected. The early symptoms of sepsis can be easily confused with more mild conditions, meaning it can be difficult to diagnose. A high temperature, chills and shivering, a fast heartbeat and rapid breathing are also indicators. A patient can rapidly deteriorate if sepsis is missed early on, so quick diagnosis and treatment is vital–yet this rarely happens. In the early stages, sepsis can be mistaken for a chest infection, flu or upset stomach. It is most common and dangerous in older adults, pregnant women, children younger than one, people with chronic conditions or those who have weakened immune systems. The six potential signs of the deadly condition can be identified by the acronym 'SEPSIS'. Slurred speech or confusion, Extreme shivering or muscle pain, Passing no urine in a day, Severe breathlessness, and Skin that's mottled or discoloured. Anyone who develops any of these symptoms should seek medical help urgently—and ask doctors: 'Could this be sepsis?'
