OLS settles first Gig Worker Paid Sick and Safe Time Investigation with DoorDash: Remedies include over $15,000 to ten workers and nearly $145,000 in voluntary payments to nearly 900 workers
Seattle, WA (May 3, 2021) – The Office of Labor Standards celebrates App-Based Workers during the month of May in honor of the 22nd annual May Day celebration of international workers’ rights.
In June 2020, the Seattle City Council passed laws to provide paid sick and safe time (PSST) and premium pay for certain gig workers during the COVID-19 civil emergency, providing essential workers with protections and ensuring drivers are properly paid and have access to basic benefits. Since implementation, more than $470 thousand dollars in remedies have been assessed to 6,046 workers under the Gig Worker PSST and Premium Pay Ordinances. To date, OLS has resolved six investigations under these laws.
“Many Seattle drivers have been disproportionately impacted during the pandemic by a lack of standard worker protections and faced challenges accessing unemployment and healthcare. App-Based Workers are essential to our community. During the pandemic, businesses and consumers relied on drivers for deliveries. Now more than ever, drivers are a vital part of our economy as we move toward fully reopening. OLS is proud to recognize their contributions with App-Based Workers Appreciation Month,” said Steven Marchese, OLS Director.
Following a three-month investigation, DoorDash voluntarily settled with OLS for violations of the Gig Worker PSST Ordinance and agreed to pay ten food delivery network company workers over $15,000 in back wages, interest and penalties/fines.
Additionally, DoorDash agreed to voluntarily pay out any unused accrued Caviar PSST days totaling nearly $145 thousand to 891 workers. Caviar PSST days were accrued by Caviar Couriers who completed delivery requests in Seattle via the Caviar Courier app before DoorDash replaced the Caviar Courier app in August 2020.
“We’re pleased to have resolved this matter and thank the Seattle Office of Labor Standards for its work throughout this process and appreciate the opportunity to collaborate on this voluntary settlement to ensure the ten Caviar Couriers receive their Paid Sick and Safe Time payment,” said Max Rettig, Global Head of Public Policy at DoorDash. “We remain focused on continuing to support Dashers, restaurants, and customers in Seattle and around the country.”
Seattle app-based worker J.S. said, “OLS is an important and effective resource for protecting and fighting for fair wage rights of gig workers and other low-income workers!”
Seattle has a long history of protecting worker rights through legislation. Seattle voters passed its first minimum wage in 1912, and now, 109 years later, the Office of Labor Standards is responsible for implementing 16 labor laws.
For more information on Seattle’s labor laws contact the Office of Labor Standards at http://www.seattle.gov/laborstandards or call 206-256-5297.
###