For Immediate Release
Contact Information
Cynthia Santana
Phone: 206-256-5219
Email:cynthia.santana@seattle.gov
 |
Instacart Settles with Seattle Office of Labor Standards for Alleged Violations of Gig Worker Paid Sick and Safe Time Ordinance
$730,041.15 in Remedies Returned to 5,567 Workers
Seattle, WA (March 26, 2024) – The Seattle Office of Labor Standards (OLS) investigated Instacart for alleged violations of the Gig Worker Paid Sick and Safe Time (PSST) Ordinance from July 13, 2020 – March 6, 2024.
The company settled the allegations and agreed to pay a total financial remedy of $730,041.15 to 5,567 affected workers and $18,685.50 in fines to the City of Seattle.
- The Gig Worker Paid Sick and Safe Time Ordinance went into effect during the COVID-19 pandemic on July 13, 2020, and ended with the lifting of the pandemic emergency on April 30, 2023, and applied to gig workers of Food Delivery Network Companies (FDNC) and Transportation Network Companies (TNC) of 250 or more gig workers worldwide (for more detailed information about Covid-19 gig worker protections click here). As of May 1, 2023, these temporary rights were made permanent by a new law called the App-Based Worker Paid Sick and Safe Time Ordinance.
“Regardless of work environment, all workers, including gig and app-based workers, many of whom are immigrants and people of color, deserve protections against subminimum pay and access to PSST,” said Office of Labor Standards Director, Steven Marchese. “The pandemic-era Gig Worker Paid Sick and Safe Time Ordinance, along with its permanent successor, was created to provide fundamental fairness in the workplace and strengthen Seattle’s economy. Quite simply, when workers are ill or need to take care of loved ones, as a city, we want them to be able to do so without fear of financial loss or repercussions. Now Instacart drivers will receive compensation for the alleged failure of Instacart to follow the provisions of Seattle’s gig worker PSST protections.”
Instacart operates nationwide and has several thousand gig workers in Seattle.
Gig Worker Ordinance information can be found here. For more information on App-Based Worker Ordinances providing new and expanded protections for app-based/ gig workers please click here.
- 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. ###