"Delivery giant Hermes faces HMRC inquiry into low pay allegations", 20 October 2016

The UK’s chief taxman has referred the parcel delivery giant Hermes to HM Revenue and Customs compliance officers following complaints by couriers that they are being paid at levels…below the national living wage…[A] Guardian investigation…revealed [that] some self-employed couriers for the company, which delivers for retailers including John Lewis and Next, were taking home less than the national living wage…[T]heir self-employment meant they received no paid holidays or sick pay. They also…risked losing work…because of ill-health…Hermes said HMRC had confirmed…it was right to class its couriers as self-employed and said it is “committed to ensuring that our couriers receive earnings that are equivalent or higher than the national living wage…[and] will co-operate fully with any investigation…”…Hermes invited couriers…to request a review of their parcel delivery rates…A Hermes spokeswoman said: “Three out of four of the pay rate cases that were reviewed by the service complaints panel…received a rate increase…”