For Immediate Release
Contact Information
Cynthia Santana
Phone: 206-256-5219
Email: cynthia.santana@seattle.gov
Office of Labor Standards Announces App-Based Workers Paid Sick and Safe Time Ordinance Effective May 1, 2023
Seattle is first jurisdiction in the country to create permanent benefits for gig workers
Seattle, WA – (May 1, 2023) The Office of Labor Standards (OLS) announces the City of Seattle’s App-Based Workers Paid Sick and Safe Time Ordinance is effective today May 1, 2023.
Seattle is the first jurisdiction in the country to establish permanent labor standard requirements for network companies to provide Paid Sick and Safe Time (PSST) for food delivery workers and we are pleased that this important legislation will go into effect on International Workers’ Day.
Passed by City Council, and signed by the Mayor in March, this law makes permanent the rights and obligations of the temporary PSST for Gig Workers Ordinance extended to app-based workers during the COVID-19 pandemic and updates its provisions.
The first phase of the App-Based Workers PSST ordinance applies to food delivery network company (FDNC) workers who work for a network company that hires more than 250 workers. PSST benefits will be available to all other app-based workers covered in the legislation beginning on January 13, 2024.
Under the new law, workers:
- Will accrue one day of sick leave for every 30 days worked on the app that includes stops in Seattle
- While taking leave, workers’ pay is based on average daily compensation and time can be used in day-long increments
- Companies affected by the legislation will create accessible systems so app-based workers can check and request to use their PSST
Workers who accrued PSST under the temporary ordinance, have the right to retain and use those benefits.
“PSST protections are the cornerstone of workers’ rights across all industries. In 2020, Seattle led the country in protecting workers through temporary access to PSST for many gig workers. Under the temporary pandemic ordinance, OLS resolved $5,800,000 in settlements that impacted nearly 21,000 gig workers. The permanent protections under the new App-Based Workers PSST Ordinance will reinforce our ability to provide outreach, education, and enforcement for an even larger group of workers,” said OLS Director Steven Marchese.
More information about this law can be found on the App-Based Workers Paid Sick and Safe Time Ordinance webpage.
- Gig Workers: File a complaint with OLS or ask a question via the Worker Inquiry form
- Hiring Entities: Contact OLS to request assistance with compliance, or training via the Employer Inquiry form
You can also call 206-256-5297 or email laborstandards@seattle.gov.
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