The home delivery company Glovo has announced on Monday the dismissal of 250 workers, 6.5% of the workforce, a decision that the management regrets although it considers it “necessary”.
The news has been communicated by the CEO of the Barcelona-based firm, Oscar Pierre, in a message addressed to the workers.
In it, he assures that this personnel cut “was not in the plans six months ago” and points out that it is inevitable for the good evolution of the firm: “we have tried to avoid layoffs at all costs by evaluating various scenarios, reducing of costs and the improvement of the economic efficiency during the last nine months to pave the way forward”.
“The dismissal decision greatly affects the company’s headquarters in Barcelona in areas such as commercial support, recruitment and data,” adds the company’s top manager.
Company sources consulted by Efe have estimated that some 140 people are expected to be fired at the headquarters, located in the Catalan capital.
They have also specified that in the case of Spain an Employment Regulation File (ERE) will be initiated, although the departures will not be limited to this country and may affect Glovo workers in up to 25 countries.
“The international context of technological platforms and the new post-pandemic reality” explain the decision made by the management.
The layoffs, the company specifies, will not affect its supermarket workers or those known as ‘riders’ (deliverers).
In fact, the Catalan company, now controlled by the German group Delivery Hero, continues to operate with autonomous delivery drivers despite the entry into force of the Rider Law, unlike its competitors such as Just Eat.
Glovo accumulates 205.3 million in fines that affect 37,348 workers, penalties that generally cover the most important cities in which the company operates, although all these sanctions are related to processes prior to the entry into force of the aforementioned law .
Those who are on the staff are the delivery men who work in their supermarkets, although they will not be affected by the proposed ERE.
In his message to the staff, Pierre points out: “being fired and going through the process as an organization is traumatic for everyone. And as a team, we will need time to process everything. And although I know that this is the right decision for the future of Glovo, It’s emotionally upsetting for all of us, especially those affected.”
“While this is not easy for any of us, we will make it our priority to treat this process with the utmost care and dignity. I want to make sure everyone is treated with the utmost care.”
Recently, in November, Glovo inaugurated its new headquarters in Barcelona, ??which accommodates just over 1,700 workers in its more than 30,000 square meters, in a first phase.
Glovo is part of the German Delivery Hero group, which announced the start of its purchase process on January 31, 2021.
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