“This is something we believe in,” Belling said in an interview. “We definitely want to see more employees in our business if we feel we can get there.”
Menulog is continuing its bid to reshape food delivery work after unsuccessfully applying to create a new award tailored to its riders. TheFair Work Commission instead decided in January one already existed – the road transport distribution award,which covers many truck drivers.
However,Belling said the conditions were unsuitable for the 22 part-timers who made up its pilot,with the award requiring four-hour minimum shifts,banning split shifts and setting ordinary hours of work between 5.30am and 6.30pm,with penalties for peak times such as nights and weekends.
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“I don’t order any takeaway at 5.30 in the morning. It doesn’t make sense when the peak of our orders is after 6.30pm and we get a high proportion of orders on Friday and Saturday nights,” Belling said.
“It literally means we have to pay almost public holiday rates when we are getting the majority of our orders,which doesn’t make it sustainable in the long run.”
Belling said as a result of being placed on the road transport award,its riders in the trial would not be delivering on Sundays or after 6.30pm on weekdays. A number had had to accept fewer hours because of a lack of flexibility,with one resigning on that basis,he said.