Yodel playing the role of Scrooge this Xmas, GMB says

The GMB union has hit out at parcel carrier service Yodel after it emerged that full-time workers will not be paid their wages for December until they return to work in the New Year.

Meanwhile, temporary workers at the company, owned by the Barclay brothers, are to be paid every two weeks and therefore will be paid between Christmas and New Year. At the same time, the self-employed will be offered no company discount scheme despite “delivering parcels for low rates all year round on Yodel’s behalf”.

“We know some companies love to play the role of Scrooge over the festive period and say ‘Bah humbug!’ when it comes to paying their staff on time. In this case Yodel are putting pounds before people,” says Steve Garelick, GMB’s London Regional Organiser.

“It may find that GMB members feel such behaviour is counter-productive, after all a happy workforce is a productive workforce. Perhaps Yodel management have missed this in their management manuals."

Changing times

“Reflective of our new business operation, earlier this year we informed employees and trade unions about updates to our payment processes,” says Mike Hancox, CEO at Yodel.

“This meant that, from September, monthly pay has been credited to our employees on the first day of each month, or the next working day. The changes mean that our employees were paid on 2nd December 2019 and will next be paid on 2nd January 2020.”

“Recognising that these changes may have had an impact on colleagues as they adjust to the new payment period, where necessary we have worked with them to help minimise any potential disruption,” he adds.