Leyland And Others v. Hermes Parcelnet Ltd

Leyland and Others v. Hermes Parcelnet Ltd is the latest tribunal judgement in an increasingly long line of case law regarding the status of gig-economy workers. Following on from the Supreme Court decision in Pimlico Plumbers, Hermes reasserts that the courts are concerned with the reality of the underlying relationship as opposed to contracts often carefully tailored to avoid the application of worker status.

In this case, the claimants were a group of parcel couriers for Hermes Parcelnet Ltd (Hermes). All parties accepted that the claimants were self-employed, but the couriers alleged that they were also workers. This would have the effect of giving them statutory rights to national minimum wage and paid holiday, among other benefits.