• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia

Trendingnow

1

Former U.S. Secret Service agent says bringing your authentic self to work stifles teamwork: 'You don’t get high performers, you get sloppiness'

2

Current price of oil as of June 22, 2026

3

Current price of silver as of Monday, June 22, 2026

1

Former U.S. Secret Service agent says bringing your authentic self to work stifles teamwork: 'You don’t get high performers, you get sloppiness'

2

Current price of oil as of June 22, 2026

3

Current price of silver as of Monday, June 22, 2026
TechDeliveroo
Europe

Deliveroo is spending an estimated $230,000 to give a handful of riders 15 hours of childcare—after years of lobbying to avoid paying sick leave, PTO, and pensions

Ryan Hogg
By
Ryan Hogg
Ryan Hogg
Europe News Reporter
Down Arrow Button Icon
Ryan Hogg
By
Ryan Hogg
Ryan Hogg
Europe News Reporter
Down Arrow Button Icon
March 18, 2024, 8:19 AM ET
Deliveroo workers have been protesting falling pay in the U.K. as the company swings into first profit.
Deliveroo workers have been protesting falling pay in the U.K. as the company swings into first profit.Artur Widak/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

Deliveroo burst into its first profit last year, and the company appears to be shelling out a small fraction of that windfall to its self-employed riders.

Recommended Video

The delivery app is partnering with Bubble, an on-demand childcare platform that matches parents with babysitters, to give a small portion of its 50,000 U.K.-based riders free childcare.

Deliveroo will give 1,000 of its riders 15 hours of childcare to access through Bubble’s app, the pair announced. 

But the initiative might appear hollow to riders who are going on strike as the group campaigns to avoid millions of gig workers from being recognized as employees.

Deliveroo shelling out some benefits

Bubble says the typical cost for a babysitter in London, the most expensive city in the U.K., is about £12 an hour.

That would make the cost to Deliveroo for 15 hours of childcare for 1,000 of its riders at about £180,000 ($230,000), a fraction of the £2 billion ($2.55 billion) the group made in revenue last year. The group made £85.4 million ($109 million) in profit in 2023.

Fortune wasn’t able to verify the cost of the program with Deliveroo or Bubble.

“We’re really proud to be working with Deliveroo on this partnership which recognizes the vital importance of care to a large proportion of riders,” Ari Last, founder and CEO of Bubble, told Fortune in an emailed statement. 

“We are thrilled to help riders be better able to work flexibly and efficiently; plus we know the benefits of offering this type of support has a hugely positive impact on wellbeing and fulfillment.”

The initiative is considered to be a trial, and could be rolled out to other Deliveroo riders if it proves successful. 

Deliveroo’s battle with riders

The announcement of free childcare will likely be appreciated by the selected riders, but the estimated £180 payment is also a reminder of the gaping benefits hole faced by self-employed workers at Deliveroo.

Along with Uber, Deliveroo campaigned against an EU law that would see 5.5 million gig economy workers in Europe recognized as employees, giving them access to benefits like sick leave, minimum wages, and paid time off. 

Even as that law passed, the group won a symbolic victory, with a holdup from Belgium meaning that individual member states will have most of the say on how they enact the law in their country.

Deliveroo CEO Will Shu was bullish about the company’s battle with regulators in an earnings call last week. 

Shu explained that 90% of the company’s gross transaction value was in the U.K. and France, where lawmakers had ruled that Deliveroo riders and other gig economy workers should be recognized as being self-employed.

Deliveroo argues that its riders enjoy the flexibility provided by self-employment, with many using it as a side hustle or a stepping stone to other careers. 

But it has faced several issues with its riders, coming to a head on Valentine’s Day last month when thousands of riders went on strike in protest of falling income.

A 2021 investigation by The Bureau of Investigative Journalism, which analyzed invoices for 300 U.K.-based riders, found a third were earning less than the minimum wage.

The publication even detailed the struggles of one rider in Yorkshire who earned the equivalent of £2 ($2.55) an hour over 180 logged hours of work.

Deliveroo has offered some benefits to its most regular riders, including a lowly £35 ($44.57) payment for sick days and a £1,000 one-off payment for new parents. 

The latter figure would be the equivalent of about two weeks’ pay if the riders were employed, based on calculations of the average salary of food delivery workers in the U.K. by Glassdoor.

Deliveroo didn’t immediately respond to Fortune’s request for comment. 

About the Author
Ryan Hogg
By Ryan HoggEurope News Reporter

Ryan Hogg was a Europe business reporter at Fortune.

See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

Latest in Tech

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • World's Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
  • Lists Calendar
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

Latest in Tech

Exclusive: Crypto analytics startup Allium raises $40 million to tame blockchain data for Wall Street
CryptoCryptocurrency
Exclusive: Crypto analytics startup Allium raises $40 million to tame blockchain data for Wall Street
By Ben WeissJune 23, 2026
39 minutes ago
Probook founders (from left to right) Ben Cervantez, George Eliadis and Lewis Zhang
Startups & VentureTerm Sheet
Exclusive: A founder who went from pressure washing to Wharton just raised $40 million to put AI to work for plumbers, electricians, and HVAC crews
By Lily Mae LazarusJune 23, 2026
55 minutes ago
ravi
CommentaryAI agents
Yale School of Management: surveillance pricing is just the beginning. AI agents will be the real test of corporate trust
By Ravi Dhar and Jon IwataJune 23, 2026
1 hour ago
elon
CommentaryElon Musk
Elon Musk’s trillion dollars aren’t real — and that’s the point
By Douglas P. McCormickJune 23, 2026
1 hour ago
SpaceX and Tesla founder Elon Musk
InvestingElon Musk
SpaceX’s drop-off sees Elon Musk’s net worth fall $240 billion—roughly the same value as computing giant IBM
By Eleanor PringleJune 23, 2026
1 hour ago
Senior businesswoman speaking to colleagues in modern conference room
AICFO Daily
Corporate America’s top ranks are nearing a retirement tipping point, expert says
By Sheryl EstradaJune 23, 2026
1 hour ago

Most Popular

Former U.S. Secret Service agent says bringing your authentic self to work stifles teamwork: 'You don’t get high performers, you get sloppiness'
Success
Former U.S. Secret Service agent says bringing your authentic self to work stifles teamwork: 'You don’t get high performers, you get sloppiness'
By Sydney LakeJune 21, 2026
2 days ago
Current price of oil as of June 22, 2026
Personal Finance
Current price of oil as of June 22, 2026
By Joseph HostetlerJune 22, 2026
24 hours ago
Current price of silver as of Monday, June 22, 2026
Personal Finance
Current price of silver as of Monday, June 22, 2026
By Joseph HostetlerJune 22, 2026
24 hours ago
NBC’s Tom Llamas climbed from 15-year-old intern to the top anchor chair—and still isn’t satisfied: ‘If you're not growing, you're dying'
Success
NBC’s Tom Llamas climbed from 15-year-old intern to the top anchor chair—and still isn’t satisfied: ‘If you're not growing, you're dying'
By Preston ForeJune 21, 2026
2 days ago
The Fed is fed up with inflation and will bring down the hammer with a series of rate hikes this year, reversing earlier cuts, BofA says
Economy
The Fed is fed up with inflation and will bring down the hammer with a series of rate hikes this year, reversing earlier cuts, BofA says
By Jason MaJune 22, 2026
20 hours ago
By 7 a.m., Bank of America’s CEO has already read 5 newspapers, his email inbox, and hit the gym—he says if you’re late to meetings, you’re ‘selfish’
Success
By 7 a.m., Bank of America’s CEO has already read 5 newspapers, his email inbox, and hit the gym—he says if you’re late to meetings, you’re ‘selfish’
By Preston ForeJune 22, 2026
22 hours ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.