Who is out of order here?

[fornical]

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?

Why not hire someone in London to collect the food then drive it to Essex to deliver? No early start then.

Wow

Full on Tory behaviour OP. Bad form.
I hope she leaves you in the shit. Your own business isn't viable if you can't pay your staff/contractors properly.

Do you pay her the 45p per mile for the Essex to London drive?

I agree with you all but just one thing is that she chose to work in London. We don't get paid to travel to work, ie the mileage. That bit is on her

But if she's working elsewhere she may be paying tax and ni. That four hours would be party of that.

You have a healthy meal company, but don't pay your staff enough to have a healthy lifestyle.
You want her to get her daughter up at 6:30 on a weekend?

Why don't you do the early hour yourself?

You disgust me, OP!

Who could afford to live in London on a £10ph wage?

So make a counter offer. It’s just a negotiation.

However, I don’t think she’s being unreasonable. £10/hour is very low.

OP, I guess your employees have to claim benefits to supplement their wages? The taxpayer is subsidising your 'healthy' business then.

Yes you can you are choosing not too.

Why don't you work those four hours as you clearly don't think the people you pay have any value.

YABU not to consider this. I think you'd struggle to replace her for £10/hr especially for someone reliable.

No one is being unreasonable. She has told you what she wants, it's up to you to accept or not. If £10/hr is reasonable, then you won't have a problem replacing her.

Hilarious that you think getting 82p above minimum wage is a “good” wage 🤪

Yes. You work for £40 yourself OP.

How healthy can YOU afford to eat on that?

Wow. I know people don't usually get paid to travelling to work, but if she's making her own way to you for barely minimum wage, I don't blame her for not wanting to change her agreed hours unless there's a pay rise in it for her.

my first thought too!

That's dreadful pay, really bad.

I have to agree.

Fair dos, you changed the terms and she changed her price, check mate. You either look for another driver or pay her.

Your attitude stinks. The jobs you offer are poverty pay and crap conditions. You will lose good staff.

She's not taking the piss, you are. It's a shame you can't see it.

I'm definitely on the driver's side here.

OP, if the company is doing OK I’d feel morally obliged to pay all drivers a decent wage.

You will be surprised how good it feels to share the profits (in the form of a pay rise) with those who’ve helped create them. Even if the profits are modest.

YABVU

I think her rate seems reasonable I’d pay it

And pay her from home!