Evri, the UK’s most notorious parcel delivery company, has found itself in the doghouse with its workforce after announcing futuristic robot delivery dogs on the very same day it implemented significant pay cuts for its human couriers.
The timing has led many to accuse the company of using the headline-grabbing tech announcement as a convenient distraction from the financial squeeze being placed on its self-employed delivery drivers.
Robot Dogs: Not an April Fool’s After All
In what might be the only genuine surprise from Evri in recent memory (besides your parcel actually arriving when promised), the company announced on April 1st that it would be trialling robot delivery dogs later this year in Barnsley, South Yorkshire.
And no, despite the timing, this wasn’t an elaborate April Fool’s prank – though many couriers might wish it had been.
Evri confirmed the next day that these four-legged delivery bots, developed by Swiss firm RIVR, will indeed be hopping in and out of vans to deliver parcels “paw in hand” with human couriers.
According to Evri’s Chief Technology Officer Marcus Hunter, “Couriers always have and always will be the heart of our business. Robots will never replace them, but we are dedicated to finding new and innovative methods to support our couriers.”
The trial will see the robotic canines working alongside couriers to “take some of the leg work out” for delivery drivers.
Meanwhile, a separate trial with Delivers AI will see small EV robots making deliveries to selected streets in Barnsley.
Pay Cuts Fetch Growls from Human Couriers
As Evri’s PR team was busy unleashing news of their robot dogs, the company have been quietly implementing a different kind of release – one that’s left a much messier deposit on couriers’ earning potential.
The changes (which came into force at the beginning of April) include a new “Small Packet” banding paid at a lower rate, which reportedly affects over 60% of all courier deliveries, and an expansion of the “Packet” banding to include larger parcels previously paid at higher rates.
This effectively amounts to an overnight pay cut of approximately 8% for every Evri courier.
Couriers have taken to social media to express their fury at what they see as a deliberate attempt to bury bad news beneath a pile of robot-themed PR.
“Funny how they announce robot dogs the same day they slash our pay below minimum wage,” wrote one courier on X (formerly Twitter). “Maybe the dogs work for dog biscuits, but I’ve got bills to pay.”
Another courier commented: “After 3 years of loyal service, Evri’s thanking me with a pay cut that puts me below minimum wage after fuel and car expenses. But hey, at least they’ve got robot dogs now!”
Many couriers report being pressured into “renegotiating” their rates with the company, with the only alternative being to look elsewhere for work.
One driver noted: “They announced robot dogs to the press while sending us emails about pay cuts. Perfect distraction technique. The public talks about robots while we worry about feeding our families.”
A Ruff Future Ahead for Evri Couriers?
Evri insists the robot dogs will never replace human couriers, but the timing of the announcement has left many questioning the company’s priorities and long-term strategy.
Critics argue that by not accounting for couriers’ true expenses and time spent travelling, sorting, loading, and delivering parcels, the new rates will inevitably push many below the National Living Wage, which currently stands at £12.21 per hour.
As Evri’s robot dogs prepare for their summer debut in Barnsley, the company’s human workforce faces a much less certain future.
For a delivery company with a reputation already as fragile as a poorly packaged parcel, alienating its own delivery force might prove to be a trick even a robot dog can’t fetch its way out of.
One thing’s for certain – while Evri might be teaching new dogs old tricks, its couriers aren’t planning to roll over quite so easily.
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