Something for the weekend: California-based cannabis organisation Caliva has boosted the pay and employee benefits for its delivery drivers, offering up to $16 (£12.62) an hour and a 401K pension scheme.
Caliva, which grows its own cannabis to use in a range of consumer products, available in shops or online, has increased pay for its delivery drivers to between $14 (£11.04) and $16 an hour, depending on experience; this is to align with new regulations introduced in January 2019, which state that delivery drivers should be classified as employees rather than independent contractors. This means they are therefore entitled to the minimum wage and a minimum level of benefits.
Delivery drivers at Caliva are now offered an addictive benefits package, according to San Francisco Bay focused website SFGate. It reports that Caliva drivers can now receive health insurance, annual leave, a 401K pension plan and stock options, as well as the opportunity to purchase stock during the organisation’s investment round.
Part-time employees are also able to benefit from the improved offering; they can earn stock options after a set tenure, can purchase shares during the investment round and access a 401K plan.
Caliva, which conducts around 2,000 deliveries a day, has hired around 200 drivers since the beginning of 2019, all of whom will be able to advantage of the new employee benefits. The organisation employs 550 staff as at the end of quarter one; 370 people joined the business in 2018 and more than 100 have been hired in 2019 so far. Common job roles at Caliva include growers, bud trimmers and scientists.
Dennis O’Malley, chief executive officer and president at Caliva told SFGate: “It’s a regulatory requirement but we’ve really leaned into it. We asked ourselves, given the regulation, how can we make this the best environment for drivers?
“We rely on the people who are delivering our product to be the face of Caliva. That’s a very powerful role. We are very proud to have 200 great drivers on staff to deliver empowerment and health and wellness and happiness, working for [an organisation] that offers full-time employment, full benefits and stock options in a really great environment. That is an amazing opportunity for a lot of people.”
Here at Employee Benefits, we think Caliva has done a great job of rolling up a new benefits package for delivery drivers, while a pay rise should certainly give staff a high…