Addison Lee defeated over gig economy rights

Addison Lee has become the latest company to be defeated in a gig economy case after a tribunal ruled that they had wrongly classified their cycle couriers as “independent contractors”.  According to Employment Judge Joanna Wade, cycle courier Christopher Gascoigne was a “worker” due to the control the company exerted over him (he was required to wear Addison Lee branded bags and T-shirts, responded to a central controller and used Addison Lee IT devices, some of which had no “decline” button when a job was offered).  He was therefore entitled to backdated holiday pay.  The decision follows the recent publication of the Taylor review which made a number of recommendations designed to improve the working conditions of atypical workers and individuals working in the gig economy.