Companies like Zomato, Swiggy, bigbasket, Delhivery, and Zippee, are moving beyond just insurance to more comprehensive health and well-being benefits – like employee welfare funds for financial support during emergencies, on-road SOS support and emergency helplines, and regular health camps – designed to ensure better financial protection, higher retention and improved service quality.
Delhivery has set up an employee welfare fund (EWF) under which it has disbursed over Rs 1 crore to support delivery partners facing medical emergencies, accidents, or other unforeseen events during employment. The company has 50,000-odd delivery partners.
“We have also held multiple health camps to aid riders with regular check-ups and are exploring partnerships with healthcare providers and wellness organisations to expand the range of benefits available to our delivery executives,” Suraj Saharan, cofounder of Delhivery, told ET.
Future expansions may include telemedicine services, a counselling support helpline, and wellness incentives for delivery partners. Companies have also invested in on-road support for delivery partners.
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Zomato has introduced an SOS button on the app’s home screen, which delivery partners can access during roadside emergencies or accidents for immediate support, including assistance with ambulance coordination, direct police contact for crime reporting, and a helpline to reach Zomato’s emergency teams. A 24×7 SOS team aids them with support for issues such as accidents, medical emergencies, threats, or hostage situations, said a spokesperson.Swiggy has enhanced on-road safety of its 4 lakh delivery executives by equipping them with smart gear like reflector strips, raincoats, winter jackets, and BIS-approved helmets. The Bengaluru-based company, which recently went public, also organises road safety workshops in collaboration with state traffic and police departments, reinforcing safe riding practices.
Zippee is expanding rest areas, increasing access to drinking water and essentials, and improving route optimisation tech to make deliveries smoother, said Madhav Kasturia, founder and CEO of Zippee.
Others like Bigbasket and Delhivery have put in place comprehensive insurance programmes.
Bigbasket offers insurance coverage including medical, accident, and term life insurance from the first day of joining. The medical insurance benefits are further extended to the family of the delivery partner and cover their spouse and children too, as well as including maternity-related expenses and pre-existing concerns, said Tanuja Tewari, CHRO.
At Delhivery, riders enrolled in the fixed-salary model are covered under the Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC), giving them access to free medical treatment at ESIC hospitals and dispensaries for them and their dependents.
Zippee is looking to expand its insurance coverage to ensure its riders have greater financial security.
Female delivery partners, too, remain a core priority.
While Zippee, Zomato, and Delhivery have rolled out maternity leave for women riders, Zomato has also introduced paid period leave and maternity insurance. The firm has also introduced self-defence training to empower and protect its female delivery partners by equipping them with the necessary skills to respond confidently in challenging situations.
