Uber is about to launch a really cool new initiative—in the United Kingdom. They’re offering 20 hours of subsidized childcare to their drivers with the goal of getting more female drivers onto the platform. Uber UK General Manager Andrew Brem took to Twitter to announce the latest recommendation. This plan will improve access to opportunity for drivers, many of whom are women that can’t juggle between work and childcare duties. The program is available to any Uber driver operating in the UK. Expanded collaboration operations. They don’t even need to maximize their free hours only during their driving shifts.
The step comes after a widely praised pilot program with 1,000 drivers, which participants rated with 4.96/5 average approval. According to Uber, 96% of survey takers said that free childcare was a difference-maker. It created the conditions for them to take on more work. Tania Naseer, a mother of three, called the new scheme a “massive boost.” It empowered her to refresh herself better and restore some balance to both her workplace and home life.
"As a mother, it's important for me to have my own batteries charged in order to be there for my children," said Tania Naseer.
Brem hailed the proposal as a positive sign. He’s confident drivers will love it enough to make them stick, and to keep drivers following through with childcare once the free hours expire. He referenced Uber’s current campaign to beef up their slate of female drivers on their platform.
"We really, really would like to attract more female drivers onto the Uber platform," Brem stated.
The program will remain open year-round in 2025. Uber will test it vigorously and will look to expand it once again. Drivers can view these hours through a nannying and babysitting app, opening up flexible new options for their childcare arrangements.
Yet, despite the promise of the initiative, it has been greeted with dubiety by many. The Independent Workers Union of Great Britain (IWGB) now represents thousands of Uber drivers. They panned the program as a "cynical PR stunt" and claimed that the problem lies with Uber’s pay model.
"If Uber really wanted to support families, they would pay drivers enough money so that they could afford time off to be with their children," stated the IWGB.
The union called attention to drivers being pushed to work hours due to insufficient fees. It’s taking a toll on their mental health and their relationships with their families. At the same time, Uber drivers in Glasgow have seen their incomes decrease even while customers are paying more per fare.
In response to these concerns, Brem noted that drivers could now access a weekly breakdown of their earnings and the portion taken by Uber. He conceded that pay increases would be better, but that the current system seems to be working for drivers.
"Ideally, yes, a pay rise would be great, but right now it seems to be working how it is," commented Tania Naseer.
Uber wants to address driver complaints by providing free childcare. This effort seems primarily intended to instill some long-awaited goodwill from the driver community. Sadly, Uber is not really committed to drivers. The firm has an enormous incentive to keep its platform working 24/7 and serving as many people as possible.