Courier work is notoriously high risk, especially in the crowded streets of London, so it’s interesting to see Perkbox taking the plunge and offer accident cover to Deliveroo riders. According to ROSPA figures some 18,477 cyclists were injured in 2016, with 75% of those collisions occuring at junctions. As most Deliveroo couriers are self employed some type of accident/sickness insurance has to be good news. It is something that riders have been complaining about for years – there is definitely a gap in the market.
So for those who depend on their freelance income to pay rent and other bills, Deliveroo riders can now access the first sickness and accident insurance available in the UK. The new industry-leading cover, from Bikmo, accessible exclusively through Perkbox, means Deliveroo riders can claim 75% of their average weekly income for up to 26 weeks if they are unable to work due to illness or as a result of an injury while working.
Cyclists will also have access to public liability insurance, a first-of-its-kind policy for food delivery cyclists says Perkbox. The new scheme will give Deliveroo riders up to £2 million in public liability insurance, a product previously unavailable to those working on a bicycle – according to Perkbox – although we found Towergate and Park Insurance in Bristol both offering public liability cover online.
The illness and accident cover is the first such product available to on demand food delivery platform riders in the UK. The policy is wide ranging, with other measures including:
● Up to £2,500 in annual medical expenses cover
● £1,500 annual cover for an overnight hospital stays, and up to £750 for family members
to accompany them during their stay
● Up to £2,000 for dental repair
● 20 days of jury service cover up to a total of £700
● Up to £200 phone cover if damaged during an injury causing accident
The availability of the new Bikmo product through Perkbox comes following Deliveroo’s recent submission to the Government’s Taylor Review, in which the company outlined its commitment to end the trade off between flexible working and security.
Commenting, Deliveroo Managing Director UK&IE, Dan Warne said:
‘This is the first income protection insurance for on-demand food delivery riders in the
UK. This new industry leading insurance package is hugely important for all those who
ride with Deliveroo.
‘We know the thing our riders value the most is flexibility to fit their work around their
lifestyle. But they also deserve security while they’re out on the road. This new insurance gives riders security in the event of an injury.
‘We would like to go further, in offering the security we offer riders, but we are currently
constrained by the law. As we outlined to the Government’s Taylor Review, we’re
committed to providing the flexible work that riders want, alongside the security we
believe they deserve. Giving riders access to these products is just one way that we are
working to do this but we also want to see the law updated so on demand companies
can offer both flexibility and security. We are grateful for Perkbox’s collaboration in
making this happen, and look forward to continuing to work together in the future.”
Chieu Cao, CMO and Co-Founder at Perkbox commented:
“As new economies and labour markets flourish, it is important that those in the on
demand economy and their families have access to the protection and security they
deserve.
“We are thrilled Deliveroo has taken this hugely positive step with us, and look forward to partnering with other companies to do the same.”
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