The Uber conundrum: Freelance or full-time employees?

Uber is facing legal action for the first time in the UK.

GMB, the union that represents professional drivers, has told Leigh Day, who is a lawyer at Nigel Mackay, to begin legal action against the company on behalf of its members.

“What we want to do is try and ensure these drivers get workers' rights, the rights that anyone who works is entitled to,” she says. These will include the right to receive the minimum wage, paid holiday, rights to rest breaks, statutory sick pay, and the right to bring discrimination and whistleblowing claims.

Speaking to HR Grapevine, Susie Al-Qassab, an Associate at Howard Kennedy, explains why legal action is being sought: “Uber says it that it does not exert the control or demand the loyalty of a traditional employer; its role is limited to platform/app provision, meaning it connects potential passengers with drivers and takes a cut of any fee, typically 20%, but that is all.