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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Who is out of order here?

427 replies

fornical · 20/02/2023 20:30

I run a healthy meal delivery company. I have several delivery drivers, however, having an issue with one in particular. My delivery drivers are self employed. Deliveries happen on a Saturday.

Long story short, I've had one of my delivery drivers for over a year now. I pay her £10 per hour and 45 pence per mile. She drives from Essex to London to collect the deliveries then back to Essex to deliver them every Saturday. She arrives to collect them at 9 am.

I text her asking for the next six weeks if she could be at pick up point at 8 am rather than 9 am.

She replied - 'See to be honest, it’s unsociable hours with it being so early at the weekend and having to get Amelia out of bed etc. I’d have to put my price up to £15 per hour. Let me know if you would be happy to go ahead with that or not. If you can’t though don’t worry I understand, It just means I’ll have to be getting up at 6.30 on a Saturday and my daughter too. Just wouldn’t be worth my while for tenner an hour xx'

AIBU to think this is totally unreasonable and out of the blue? How did she jump from £10 an hour to £15 because I asked her to come in one hour earlier. Am I being unreasonable?

OP posts:
Soubriquet · 20/02/2023 20:31

Unsociable hours my arse.

I was laid for unsociable hours. They stopped at 6am.

itswednesdayy · 20/02/2023 20:32

She’s self employed though. I wouldn’t say she’s being out of order as she can set her own fees. You don’t have to pay it though. Presumably you can terminate your contract and hire someone else.

Livinghappy · 20/02/2023 20:32

Yes, £10.00 isn't a good wage.

44PumpLane · 20/02/2023 20:32

She is not being unreasonable to ask, you would not be unreasonable to decline.

Shy bairns get nowt as they say though.

Soubriquet · 20/02/2023 20:33

Livinghappy · 20/02/2023 20:32

Yes, £10.00 isn't a good wage.

Why isn’t it? Minimum wage is £9.18 an hour so she’s already getting more than minimum

America12 · 20/02/2023 20:35

There was a similar thread to this before , from the driver's POV

Mistystar99 · 20/02/2023 20:35

You are changing the terms. She doesn't like them so is charging more. Fair enough on her part. Don't use her if you don't want to!

ZenNudist · 20/02/2023 20:35

Just sat no. Then stick with 9am. Or find someone who can do 8am

C4ou56 · 20/02/2023 20:36

It isn’t unreasonable. You’ve asked her to change her working pattern, she’s made it clear she doesn’t want to but would be willing to help you out for a higher fee. It is up to you if you are willing to pay that for the next six weeks or if you’d rather find someone else

Mumoftwoinprimary · 20/02/2023 20:36

She’s self employed which means she gets to set her own prices. She has decided that her price to have to leave at 6:30am is £15 per hour.

Your choice is accept or decline.

JustGotToKeepOnKeepingOn · 20/02/2023 20:37

She's telling you that her family situation means she'd have to make different arrangements if you need her there an hour earlier. Which to be honest sounds like it's not great for her. So she's asking you to make it worth her while.

If she's a good worker why not pay her?

Clymene · 20/02/2023 20:37

@Soubriquet but it's not a minimum wage job. It's driving, which is skilled. Plus I'm guessing she uses her own car and the OP pays the standard HMRC rate of 45p/mile which hasn't moved since 2011 and in no way reflects the current cost of running a car.

I'd tell you to sod off too OP.

Dominoeffecter · 20/02/2023 20:37

Soubriquet · 20/02/2023 20:31

Unsociable hours my arse.

I was laid for unsociable hours. They stopped at 6am.

Not everyone would go as far as to get laid for unsociable hours 🤭

LeggyLinda · 20/02/2023 20:37

I don’t think anyone is “out of order” here.
She is perfectly reasonable to ask and you would be reasonable to say no and find someone else.

icelollycraving · 20/02/2023 20:38

She can ask, you decline and find someone else. 8am is not unsociable hours.

AltheaVestr1t · 20/02/2023 20:38

No one is BU. She provides you with a service, you have asked for a change to the agreed conditions. She has told you what it would take for her to meet this change in conditions. It's time to negotiate, and if you can't find an arrangement to suit both parties, she can take her services somewhere else and you can find another driver.

Sugarplumfairy65 · 20/02/2023 20:38

Soubriquet · 20/02/2023 20:33

Why isn’t it? Minimum wage is £9.18 an hour so she’s already getting more than minimum

Show quote history

Minimum wage is the minimum that you are legally allowed to pay someone. Less than £1 over minimum wage is not a good wage. She's got her own tax and national insurance to pay out of that too which would take her well below minimum wage

Original poster
fornical · 20/02/2023 20:38

JustGotToKeepOnKeepingOn · 20/02/2023 20:37

She's telling you that her family situation means she'd have to make different arrangements if you need her there an hour earlier. Which to be honest sounds like it's not great for her. So she's asking you to make it worth her while.

If she's a good worker why not pay her?

Because £10 per hour to £15 is quite a jump

OP posts:
Clymene · 20/02/2023 20:38

Oh sorry, I see the OP is already paying his drivers the bare minimum.

I hope the business fails.

Tinkerbyebye · 20/02/2023 20:38

Find another driver

SnarkyBag · 20/02/2023 20:39

Seems fair enough to me. She can set her terms you’re paying a fairly low hourly rate without any of the expenses of having to employees. You can’t have it all your own way!

Soubriquet · 20/02/2023 20:40

Dominoeffecter · 20/02/2023 20:37

Not everyone would go as far as to get laid for unsociable hours 🤭

Show quote history

Bastarding autocorrect Grin

amiold · 20/02/2023 20:40

So is she wanting £15 for that extra hour or all her hours put up to £15?

I think she's trying it on. I'd reply "totally understand, no worries. I'll see if another drive can help xx"

JustGotToKeepOnKeepingOn · 20/02/2023 20:40

But if she's a good worker and is reliable why get rid of her because she's asking for more ££?

maddy68 · 20/02/2023 20:40

Soubriquet · 20/02/2023 20:33

Why isn’t it? Minimum wage is £9.18 an hour so she’s already getting more than minimum

Show quote history

Minimum wage isn't a target. It's a minimum.
I wouldn't do that for £10 and hour and disturb my family day like that either