What Glovo's proposal to its riders tells us about Italy: working under extreme heat for a few cents

With the arrival of summer heatwaves, which have brought temperatures in some cities to reach 40 degrees , leaving the house has become a challenge and the possibility of having lunch or groceries delivered to your home becomes a salvation. But not for delivery company riders , who find themselves making deliveries by scooter or bike while crossing prohibitive temperatures. To try to cope with this difficult situation, Glovo has introduced a so-called " hot bonus ": a percentage increase (from 2% to 8%) of the compensation for deliveries made under the scorching sun between July and August. The percentage corresponds to a minimum of about 5 and a maximum of 20 cents per delivery. The measure has been defined as "compensatory" by the company, but branded as a "dangerous incentive" by unions, workers and institutions due to the concrete risk of pushing the most precarious workers to accept risky roles for just a few cents more.

How the bonus works… and how much it is really worth

The introduction of the bonus was announced to Glovo workers via an email: “The increase in temperatures in various areas of Italy requires us to pay particular attention to those who work outdoors,” the communication begins. “Your safety is our priority. We know that the ongoing heat emergency may lead to unexpected costs to protect you. For this reason, if you make deliveries with Glovo in the months of July and August, you will be entitled to a financial contribution for the purchase of sunscreen, mineral salts and water ,” the email continues.

The company has announced that the increase varies depending on the temperature: between 32 and 36 degrees, the bonus is 2% (about 5 cents for a delivery of 2 euros and 50 cents); between 36 and 40 degrees, it is 4% (about 10 cents ), above 40 degrees, it rises to 8% (about 20 cents ) for each completed order. The payment, however, does not occur immediately: the prize will be paid cumulatively in the invoice of September 21. Any costs of "sunscreen, mineral salts and water" incentivized by Glovo will therefore have to be paid in advance by the riders.

Compensation or “perverse incentive”?

The Nidil Cgil union has strongly criticized the initiative, calling it a “ perverse incentive ” that transforms a health risk factor into an economic resource: “We considered the implicit message of this communication to be serious, as it risks transforming a health hazard into an economic incentive,” commented the union, which sent a formal letter to Glovo, underlining that “no compensation can justify working in conditions of extreme risk.” Nidil emphasizes that the riders’ work exposes them “directly to the sun, often without the possibility of shelter,” and that heat stress, according to Legislative Decree 81/2008, must be assessed and prevented by the company, as it is a health risk . “We have therefore asked the company to immediately correct the communication, clarifying that: In the event of “high” heat waves, the activity must be suspended. Health comes before bonuses,” declared the New Work Identities union.

The company defended itself, explaining that the bonus would be a “ compensatory measure ,” not an incentive for working in difficult conditions: “The current collaboration model guarantees each rider maximum freedom of choice on when and how to work, even in the presence of difficult weather conditions. In this context, the so-called bonus provided during periods of extreme heat was born as a compensatory measure and does not in any way represent an incentive for performance ,” the company said.

In the meantime, during these heat waves, several Regions have issued ordinances to prohibit work during the hottest hours for work activities carried out outdoors: similar bans have been imposed in Lombardy, Abruzzo, Emilia Romagna, Veneto and Basilicata. While these regions refer to the construction sector, agricultural and quarry workers and logistics, the Piedmont Region has explicitly included delivery platform workers in the “anti-heat” ordinance: since yesterday, an ordinance has been active in the region that prohibits deliveries between 12:30 and 16:00 on red-flag days.

Why the hot bonus is not enough

Behind Glovo's "hot bonus" lies a controversial logic: addressing a climate emergency with a symbolic economic tool. But there are many critical issues, and the bonus - as it was conceived - does not appear to be able to offer real protection for riders. First of all, even in its most generous form (8% for temperatures above 40 degrees) the bonus translates into a handful of cents per delivery. In operational reality, this means that - even working several hours - the rider manages to get a maximum of 4 or 5 euros more per shift. Too little to represent real compensation and too dangerous if it becomes a push to accept deliveries in extreme conditions.

Furthermore, it is an individual solution to a collective problem : the bonus is activated only if the rider decides, alone, to continue working. No suspension of activities, no reorganization of shifts, no limitations in the most critical moments. A rule that protects everyone is not introduced: an incentive is offered to those who accept the risk. The result is that the platform is exempted from responsibility, while the worker is forced to choose between health and earnings. Then there is the lack of real protection : mandatory breaks, free access to hydration, shelter in the most critical moments. Above all, there is a lack of an organizational model that puts safety before productivity.

Finally, in a piecework system, without a contract, without sick leave, without vacation, an extra payment can sound like bait and risks reinforcing the idea that risk can be monetized . It is a typical mechanism of the so-called “gig economy”, where workers are formally autonomous, but in practice constrained by algorithms, implicit pressures and the absence of alternatives. In this context, a few cents can guide choices that put health at risk.

Ultimately, the hot bonus appears to be a poorly placed patch on a structural flaw : that of the absence of fully enforceable rights for thousands of workers who keep the home delivery system afloat. Much more is needed than just an extra percentage. A reform of the model is needed, which puts health, dignity and safety at the center, not the profit of the platforms.