Jobs for the over 50's. Delivering takeaways?

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2023/aug/05/im-57-im-just-shattered-the-reality-of-being-a-deliveroo-rider-over-50

work?  don't swear at me

Hypothetically, should you take on a delivery job, what happens when it's a Greggs delivery?

They're living in cloud cukoo land as per usual. Deliveroo jobs are zero hours and aimed squarely at students etc for who the gig economy works. For everyone else they're crap jobs.

Can you imagine a hoard of 50+ people razzing up and down the roads on illegal Ebikes? It'd be chaos, funny but ultimately dangerous.

I know one fella who’s 30 who does JustEat. He drives a new 3 series and has a serious trainer habit.
Either it’s very lucrative or it’s not just pizza he delivers.
Maybe an option for over 50’s if you need easy access to some pharmaceuticals.

I know one fella who’s 30 who does JustEat. He drives a new 3 series and has a serious trainer habit.
Either it’s very lucrative or it’s not just pizza he delivers.

I think we all know the answer to that one. I was reading a similar article to the one TJ posted saying that, with all the waiting around factored in, he was effectively earning 3 quid an hour

Last Saturday I was scootering to the pub and one of those giant bikes overtook me like a precarious erratic firework. At the bottom of the hill a crowd were gathered around the young helmet less guy near a tree. I asked him if he wanted me to call an ambulance but he was insistent I didn't. I suspect he may not have the right to live in the UK.
Not sure an over 50s could compete with that level of enthusiasm.

I’m taking early retirement in a few years, I’ll probably need to earn a little extra for a while. Delivery driver sounds perfect, hassle free and easy to do. That said I’ve already had job offers.

if you want a job over 50 care homes are always looking for staff and in healthcare there is much less of the bias to the young.

I think I'd rather be slinging rock than deliverooing

Another example that this pathetic 'government' is completely bereft of ideas - and credibility.

I took the money and ran from Royal Mail when I was 53 , that was 14 years ago , talking to ex workmates who are that age now they are dead on their feet . All this keep working beyond 65 is a pipe dream if your job is physical. I had several different jobs before retirement and Drac's comment sounds somewhat naive I have to say . I did 7 years delivering meat for a local butcher , on the face of it a nice little job pootling round the countryside . It started like that but gradually more work got piled on , the main customers were pubs schools and restaurants, inevitably they all wanted their orders given priority so you were expected to be in 3 or 4 places at once even though they were 30 miles apart . Mobile ringing constantly, boss couldn't understand that I wouldn't answer while I was driving . To top it all I had my first speeding ticket after 40 years of driving 🙄

Got out of there then spent 3 years stacking shelves for Sainsbury's, I swear the only reason they took me on at over 60 was because it was a 5 am start including Sundays and kids didn't want to know . Bosses there treated you like you were shit as well even though they were half my age . Glad to get out too long in the tooth for crap like that .

My cousin down in Cornwall delivers for a Chinese takeaway X evenings a week (using a car). Been doing it for probably 15 years. Money must be okay and tops up pension and other little jobs she works. Different to Deliveroo obv.

There's a lot of part time jobs you could do for a bit of a top-up assuming pretty much retired. It would probably be ok a couple of days a week but not my first choice.

I suspect he may not have the right to live in the UK.

Would be an easy way to get work illegally, although someone else would have to register to own the account / take payment to bank account.

But, no one will ever check up on who is actually riding the bike....

Go on then Mel, lead the way, show us how it's done.

I'm not yet 50, but give it a couple of years.

I asked him if he wanted me to call an ambulance but he was insistent I didn’t. I suspect he may not have the right to live in the UK.

Or maybe he didn’t need an ambulance.

Or maybe he didn’t need an ambulance.

Or maybe he did. I'm not a health professional so would err on the side of caution if someone hits a tree at high speed.

Check with your local pharmacy. All our drivers tend to be retired and just looking for a couple of hours a day. Other places have longer days but split the week between a couple of drivers, who can cover each others holidays.

Sounds like a neat way of reducing the aging population.

Does nobody ever stop to think where the money is coming from to pay for all these delivered meals? Pharmacy deliveries? Of course. But delivery of a McDonalds? Either people have no idea what a pension fund is, or they are much wealthier than I realised. (I think I know the answer to that one). We now have a "Type Rating" fund - for every deliveroo, I just say "Type Rating" and the cooking starts!

Part-time postman on a background £35k pension from previous employment was one position I read recently. Of course the gentleman was having a great time getting his steps in and meeting people. Those are not, however, the people this article is aimed at.

A guy I used to work with took early retirement and now does a few days a week life-guarding at the local swimming pools to top up his pension and loves it by all accounts. Unfortunately due to council budget cuts at least one of the pools he works at is facing closure. What a great bunch this government is.

Neighbour opposite does pharmacy delivery, former colleague who was a DIY fanatic did 2-3 days a week at B&Q.

Civil service seems to be willing to take on older people,

Deliveroo jobs are zero hours and aimed squarely at students etc for who the gig economy works. For everyone else they’re crap jobs.

It maybe different in smaller towns etc but let's be real. Gig economy drivers and riders are overwhelmingly recent immigrants who don't have other options and/or are working illegally. It's common for passports and logins to be rented out to people who couldn't get them. I'm not blaming or criticising anyone for this - I would do exactly the same if I had to.

The gig economy doesn't work for workers - it works for the shitty tech companies that squeeze them and it works for us as lazy consumers that want a chip butty without getting out of bed. A pool of work insecure, non-unionised, immediately replaceable workers unsure of their access to healthcare, labour rights, social security etc keeps prices low. Constant pressure means there is risky behaviour on the roads. Criminals feel free attacking them.

We are all complicit and the tech companies benefit more than anyone.

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I work in social care my employer like many others is crying out for workers. That said you'll make more money doing deliveries

It maybe different in smaller towns etc but let’s be real. Gig economy drivers and riders are overwhelmingly recent immigrants who don’t have other options and/or are working illegally. It’s common for passports and logins to be rented out to people who couldn’t get them. I’m not blaming or criticising anyone for this – I would do exactly the same if I had to.

It certainly looks like that round here - and all on the same ebikes as well- so someone is making money hiring them the bikes.  Utter disregard for the law as well

I'm not sure which if there many problems the govt is trying to solve through this.  Are there Labour shortages in this sector - if so are they pushing up wages and so driving inflation - as mentioned the article - I think probably not.

Care sector - this is definitely an issue, but not exact pick up and drop casual work the Tories are suggesting.

Obviously the real solution is to reverse Brexit, reintroduce free movement and free trade - but that cannot be considered so increasingly odd ideas are suggested

This isn't a government policy, this is just one of those to55ers who will be booted out in the next general election thinking out loud.

Possibly lining up a soft landing for themselves.

Sounds like a neat way of reducing the aging population.

Official government policy is just to run the NHS into the ground, slightly longer term outlook, but highly effective at culling the old.

This isn’t a government policy, this is just one of those to55ers who will be booted out in the next general election thinking out loud

What it certainly is is a ringing endorsement of the employment practices of companies like deliveroo. In an ideal Tory world, that’s the future of work for all of us

Zero hours, paid per job and nothing more, no holiday pay, no sick pay, no NI contributions, no pension, no unions, worked like a dog. Tory nirvana

Yep, Poundland Britain as warned by those pesky remainers prior to Brexit. Can't imagine the French being told to get on their bikes.

Gardening, full or part-time. Even just lawn mowing.
There's definitely a demand for it and plenty of people willing to pay a decent price for the work.

Zero hours, paid per job and nothing more, no holiday pay, no sick pay, no NI contributions, no pension, no unions, worked like a dog. Tory nirvana

Sounds like being self-employed!! 🤣🤣

Interesting read...

https://theconversation.com/im-always-delivering-food-while-hungry-how-undocumented-migrants-find-work-as-substitute-couriers-in-the-uk-201695

Gardening, full or part-time. Even just lawn mowing.
There’s definitely a demand for it and plenty of people willing to pay a decent price for the work.

I’m constantly getting cards put through my letterbox advertising that sort of maintenance work, I could probably have a different person each day of the week! As for offering that service myself, I can barely work up the enthusiasm to do my own gardening, let alone anyone else’s, which is why I’m trying to develop the bottom half of mine into a wild flower area, leaving the patio and potted plants to take care of.
I started my last job when I was over 60, 62, IIRC, and I’d been out of work for a short while, and several people suggested I look at doing delivery drops; sod that! While I enjoy driving, (working as a logistics driver for a car auction company for two years isn’t much fun if you don’t), there’s no way I could do that sort of job, or even a deliveroo-type thing, I just don’t have the mindset or inclination to have to rush around dropping off parcels or whatever.

I might see if any of the local businesses who do vinyl vehicle graphics have a use for someone on a part-time basis, especially during the winter, I spent a year doing it at my last job, it was a contract that Cazoo had had to carry on with, and I asked to move over to it - being outdoors for 12 hours a day, the novelty had worn off, and I got fairly good at it; some old skills actually came in handy. As could some extra beer money… 😎

<p>I’m sat in my van half way through a shift delivering groceries. I do it 1 day a week, but also snipe occasional days overtime and do a bit of IT consultancy. </p><p>Its So much better than the daily grind I used to do before Covid upended my industry. If Covid hadn’t happened I suspect I would still be doing regular 50-60 hour weeks plus commuting so I don’t think I’m the target audience for his comments.</p>

The gig economy doesn’t work for workers – it works for the shitty tech companies that squeeze them and it works for us as lazy consumers that want a chip butty without getting out of bed.

Yup the  middlemen who couldn't give a flying **** about anyone but themselves and their fortune. In fact the vast majority of Tory voting business men I've ever met. Their only lament is how the work force aren't desperate enough and how wonderful/malleable workers from poor countries are!

What it certainly is is a ringing endorsement of the employment practices of companies like deliveroo. In an ideal Tory world, that’s the future of work for all of us

The acceptable face of exploitative employment of immigrant labour. The almost exclusively male Asian drivers love an old shape Toyota Yaris around here, strewn all over the roads next to Maccy d's. They have even got their own service points/rooms, so as not to upset the scabby individual customers as they get served first and faster because their doing bulk!

Anyone remember Sir Robert Deveraux? DWP top boy who oversaw the increase in state pension retirement age to 67. He'd had enough of his cushy office job at 61 (all that talking, supported by an admin team and those heavy meeting room doors) and retired with what I can only describe as a gold plated pension. What's good for goose and all that!

Someone I know is a tesco delivery driver - a whole different thing. Proper pay, reasonable schedule, proper terms and conditions

Someone I know is a tesco delivery driver – a whole different thing. Proper pay, reasonable schedule, proper terms and conditions

Another mate does 2 days a week with Tesco since retiring, he enjoys it, pays for his cycling and cafe habit the other 5 days

Utter nonsenses to think that a few thousand more minimum-wagers will make an material impact to the UK’s woeful productivity  - but it suits this Government just fine to blame someone else for the trashing of the economy. For the most, it means job insecurity, poor working conditions and rubbish management. My own experience was 8 months working as a postie - after 8 months of unroadworthy vehicles and incompetent management I quit.

I suppose working in a supermarket helps combat isolation.

Another mate does 2 days a week with Tesco since retiring, he enjoys it, pays for his cycling and cafe habit the other 5 days

A family member used to work as a coach for kids sports. He retired and got fat. Then he went to work 4 days a week short shifts at a supermarket, lost 30+kg, and loves it. He spends all day gabbling to people and running around.

But that's voluntary, and miles away from being shoved onto a moped to deliver kebabs door to door at night.

Another driver for 'a large retailer' here. Started as a temporary part timer 20 months ago after sacking off the shysters that are Royal Mail - and still doing it. Easiest job I've ever done - cycling to work and hoying a tonne of groceries up people's drives every shift keeps me fit. They expedited a transfer from South Wales when I told them I was leaving to move to Calderdale, so I had a job to go to. Management are pretty clueless, but not the actively mendacious and malevolent type like at Royal Fail. Fine as a semi-retirement gig in my mid 50s.

I'm 43 in December and should hopefully qualify into a new HCPC role about this time next year, are we wrote off at 50? I'm transitioning out of a mental health role, but I know that's a role that is chronically understaffed, and I certainly won't be dropping my bank contract for that, in the small trust I work for there is 100+ shifts out a week on various units, sure it's not for everyone, but plenty transition in fine and do a wonderful job, and with enhancements, it's not an awful choice of an "unqualified" role at band 3,

Healthcare is a bit of an exception with the age thing IMO

I would guess a fair few people who retire early do so because they come from well paid jobs and have the pension pot and money to allow them to do so.  If the state pension was a lot higher and the retirement age was 50 I would imagine a lot more people would retire as they would have the opportunity to do so that they don't have today.

I am in the former category but don't actually want to retire too early but if I did why would I want to work for almost minimum wage doing a job that is providing no satisfaction.  I would go back to a similar well paid job that I am already doing if I wanted to work or required more money.

personally I retired early because I was burnt out physically and mentally by my job and have retired on money many of you would think totally inadequate, Put simply I could no longer work in the profession I had  worked all my life in.  60 is not that early anyway but there was no way on earth I could have continued another 7 years,  I would have been off sick / on invalidity

I believe that actually a lot of folk my age and younger will "retire" to parttime work as many folk have totally inadequate pensions.

Employers and recruiters are staggeringly ageist. I am 58 and have years of senior management experience in IT. I was most recently an "IT Director" and held a number of "Head of IT" and Senior "IT manager" positions, leading medium size teams and managing large budgets. I took some time out and whilst I am fortunate enough to not have to work, I have applied for a number of roles that look interesting and my skills and experience appear an excellent fit for. I dont get a single phone call just the occasional "no thanks" email.

Desperate to get us 50 somethings who took early retirement back to work and paying tax.
Nah, not happening.

There was a story in the Guardian about someone who retired from a stressful job and was enjoying some lorry driving. I think there's a lot to be said for an easy part-time gig for a bit of pocket money and social interaction if the alternative is sitting at home by yourself watching daytime TV but it would be a miserable life if you're struggling for money and working all hours to make ends meet. It's also not likely to make much of a dent in our economic problems.

It’s also not likely to make much of a dent in our economic problems.

Of course it's not.  An odd concept for the tories to come up with really by attacking over 50s - the very people who vote for them.

Eldest_oab is Just Eat rider in Edinburgh.
He's worked out the system of when to work to get better rates and the bonus payments. Basically if the football is on, it's raining or cold, and in certain parts of town who tip...

He reckons to average £12-15 an hour. Last week me managed a 4 hour stint and cleared £86.

That said, he uses it as training and basically razzes round watching his heart rate...would/could I achieve that at my age (49)? Not at the intensity he does it, and so I would earn less.

The stairs would do it for me.  Could handle the riding but...

I have applied for a number of roles that look interesting and my skills and experience appear an excellent fit for. I dont get a single phone call just the occasional “no thanks” email.

This may partly be down to how job searches are done now. Applicants just don't get rejection emails but interviewees might.

If an applicant is applying for roles that are less senior than previous positions, some managers might find that offputting because they're unsure of their own skills and/or because they're worried the applicant is going to spend the whole time moaning about how they used to do it elsewhere or disagreeing on the approach. It's difficult because obviously seniority, age and experience are usually interlinked in reality.

Surfer - I'm not sure that's agism, but that towing around a big previous job title, especially if you're looking for a less senior role.

Are you applying for perm or consulting.  The latter will be a lot easier

I think WBO has a point there, recently our entire senior management across all functional areas has been purged with the responsibilities of one IT director and reports given to me.

Desperate to get us 50 somethings who took early retirement back to work and paying tax.
Nah, not happening.

A lot of over 50s who have retired are already paying tax. My dad's income is similar to mine.

The state pension is now above the income tax threshold if you get the maximum.   ridiculous.

@failedengineer Not sure I follow that? UK State pension is up to £203.85 per week which is £10,600.20 per year. The annual tax free allowance is £12,570.00

Spend some of that on an ebike and you’re quids in! All the pizzas you can deliver!

When are you getting your deliveroo jacket Binners?  would the greggs ever arrive?

Would anything ever arrive?

@bentandbroken - That's the maximum state pension without the old additional state pension added on.  I get just over £13,000.

failedengineer
Full Member
@bentandbroken – That’s the maximum state pension without the old additional state pension added on. I get just over £13,000.

So you're paying basic rate of tax on just over 500 quid?

Outrageous! What's wrong with paying in to the nash for 35 years with the intention of packing it in and ageing disgracefully?