Employed or self-employed @ Delieveroo

The Court of Appeal has confirmed that riders for food delivery firm Deliveroo are self-employed, dismissing the IWGB union appeal against past judgments on their status. The Court of Appeal verdict in favour of self-employment was unanimous among the three judges.

It said the fact that Deliveroo's riders did not have an obligation to provide services personally was a material factor. One of the judges described the decision as “inevitable”. This is the fourth court judgment in the UK that has determined Deliveroo riders are self-employed, following a judgment by the Central Arbitration Committee and two such judgments at the High Court.

Deliveroo argued this underlines the satisfaction riders feel with the self-employed work offered by the company and suggested a shift in the labour market, with more people choosing flexible self-employment over employment alternatives.

The risk of legal challenges to its employment model was one reason that some major investors shunned Deliveroo's London listing in March.