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Michael Sippitt comments on Uber losing UK legal appeal against drivers’ rights

Landmark ruling sees company lose ruling its drivers should be classed as workers rather than self-employed.

Taxi-hailing firm Uber has lost its appeal on Friday (10 November) against a ruling that its drivers should be classed as workers rather than self-employed.

In 2016, a tribunal ruled that drivers James Farrar and Yaseen Aslam were “Uber staff” and entitled to holiday pay, paid rest breaks and the minimum wage.

Michael Sippitt, chairman of Clarkslegal, said the scale of the prospective liability for national minimum wage, sick pay and holiday pay, that Uber could face all but guaranteed the company would escalate the legal tussle.

“However, contrary to Uber’s statement, worker status is flexible for the business engaging the services because there is no ongoing obligation to provide work. This case does not extend to full employee status, which would confer entitlement to redundancy payments or to claim unfair dismissal, to these workers.”

Read full article here: International Business Times

“The scale of the prospective liability for national minimum wage, sick pay and holiday pay, that Uber could face all but guaranteed the company would escalate the legal tussle.”

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Michael Sippitt

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