Workers at a Pizza Hut franchise in Scotland are accusing the company of “blatantly unlawful” practices, claiming that their wages have been docked, timesheets altered, and payments per delivery stopped. The Glenshire Group, which operates all 22 Pizza Hut delivery outlets in Scotland, is at the center of the allegations, which have been raised by the Unite union on behalf of its delivery drivers.
The union grievance states that drivers were informed of significant changes to their pay through text messages, without prior consultation. Cian, a 30-year-old delivery driver from Glasgow who has worked for Glenshire for over two years, told the BBC that the company’s actions demonstrated “complete disdain” for both staff and customers, calling the situation “abysmal.”
Glenshire, in response, stated that it is “absolutely committed to robust employment practices” and is “listening to our colleagues to understand where there are concerns.”
Changes to Pay Structure Spark Outrage
Cian, who has always been paid the National Living Wage plus £1.45 per delivery, says his terms were altered without warning or consultation. Two weeks ago, he and several other drivers were told via text message that their hourly rate had increased to £12.21. However, this came at the cost of the £1.45 delivery payments, which the company referred to as “discretionary driver commissions.”
“That £1.45 was essential for covering fuel and some car running costs,” Cian explained. “I’ve been living paycheck to paycheck, and now, several drivers have quit because they can’t afford to work without being reimbursed for fuel. Some shops have lost all their drivers.”
A letter from Glenshire, dated March 10, notified staff of the removal of the “discretionary driver commissions,” stating that the change was necessary for “the sustainability of operations.” However, the letter did not mention any plans for Glenshire to cover drivers’ expenses.
The company later clarified that while driver commissions were no longer paid per delivery, the compensation model had shifted to a “per mile” basis rather than a per-delivery rate.
Union Leaders Decry Practices as “Unlawful”
Bryan Simpson, Unite’s head of hospitality, accused Glenshire of attempting to “offload over 100 drivers” in advance of a rise in employers’ National Insurance Contributions and the National Minimum Wage (NMW) on April 1. He described the actions as “blatantly unlawful” and noted that the loss of per-delivery commissions could result in workers earning below the minimum wage.
“This is the worst example I’ve seen in over a decade in the industry,” Simpson said. “These workers are going to lose thousands of pounds a year, and this is effectively a ‘fire and rehire’ tactic under a different name.”
Allegations of Fraudulent Timesheet Manipulation
The Unite grievance also claims that Glenshire acted “fraudulently” by retroactively adding unpaid 20-minute rest breaks to old staff timesheets. A text message from Glenshire director Zibby Ghafoor, seen by the BBC, instructed store managers to “add breaks in” to the previous week’s timesheets.
Unite further alleges that Glenshire unlawfully deducted these breaks from employees’ wages. Glenshire denied this, stating that there had been “no changes to break policies.”
One manager, who asked to remain anonymous, said that breaks are impossible to take during busy hours. “You don’t get your 20 minutes of uninterrupted time ever,” he said. “Now, not only do we not get breaks, but we’re being charged for breaks we can’t even take.”
Workers Speak Out Despite Risks
Cian said he felt a “civic duty” to speak out, despite the risk of losing his job. “I’m trying to help those who can’t stand up for themselves,” he said. “The way Glenshire has treated everyone is appalling, and the long-term consequences of their actions are not worth keeping my job.”
Glenshire employs more than 200 staff, including over 100 delivery drivers. However, sources told the BBC that several drivers have recently quit over the pay changes.
In the March 10 letter, Glenshire attributed the changes to the rising costs of National Insurance and the National Living Wage, stating that it was reassessing its delivery model to “retain business viability.” The letter also gave drivers the option to switch from employed to self-employed status, though it emphasized that this would be a voluntary decision.
Glenshire confirmed there would be “no blanket changes to self-employed contracts.”
Legal Concerns Over Minimum Wage Compliance
Employment lawyer Joanne Moseley from Irwin Mitchell warned that Glenshire could be in breach of minimum wage regulations following the National Living Wage increase on April 1. “If Glenshire doesn’t reimburse its drivers for expenses like petrol, they will be in violation of NMW regulations,” Moseley said. “HMRC has the authority to impose financial penalties in such cases.”
Calls for Investigation
A manager who works for Glenshire called on Pizza Hut to investigate the franchise. “Please be aware of what this company is doing to your brand and your staff, all to save money,” he urged.
In response, a spokesperson for Pizza Hut UK emphasized that the company is “deeply committed to ensuring a safe and fair working environment for all employees.” They acknowledged that while Glenshire operates independently as a franchisee, they take these allegations seriously and would continue to engage with concerned employees and investigate the situation further.
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