For Immediate Release
Contact Information
Cynthia Santana
Phone: 206-256-5219
Email: cynthia.santana@seattle.gov
 |
Seattle App-Based Worker Deactivation Rights Ordinance Provides New Worker Protections
Effective January 1, 2025
Seattle, WA – (January 6, 2025) – Seattle Office of Labor Standards (OLS) announces that the App-Based Worker Deactivation Rights Ordinance went into effect on January 1, 2025. The law covers certain app-based workers (sometimes referred to as gig workers) and provides several deactivation-related rights and protections for covered workers.
As of January 1, 2025, the App-Based Worker Deactivation Rights Ordinance protects app-based workers from unfairly being blocked, or “deactivated,” from using the apps where they earn income. A deactivation is a permanent or temporary blocking of a worker’s ability to perform services for a network company.
Between January 1, 2025, and May 31, 2027, OLS has limited enforcement authority. During this time, OLS can investigate issues such as whether a network company provided:
- A Notice of Rights;
- A deactivation policy;
- Evidence substantiating the deactivation;
- A procedure where the worker can challenge the deactivation; and
- Followed the required steps before and after deactivating an app-based worker.
OLS is not permitted to investigate whether a network company deactivated a worker for a permissible reason until June 1, 2027. At any time, OLS may investigate issues of retaliation.
“Seattle is first in the nation to pass a law that protects app-based workers from unreasonable deactivations. App-based workers now have the right to know why they are deactivated, what information the network company used to make its decision, and how to challenge the deactivation, thus creating more stability and job security,” said OLS Director Steven Marchese. “OLS will be providing outreach, education, and resources to both workers and network companies to ensure everyone is fully aware of their rights and responsibilities under the App-Based Worker Deactivation Rights Ordinance.”
For more information and resources about the App-Based Worker Deactivation Rights Ordinance and other app-based worker laws including the App-Based Worker Paid Sick and Safe Time and App-Based Worker Minimum Payment Ordinances please visit the OLS App-Based Worker Ordinances webpage by clicking here. For questions, please call 206-256-5297 or email laborstandards@seattle.gov.
- Help for network companies: for free and private assistance for compliance with Seattle’s labor standards, call 206-256-5297, email laborstandards@seattle.gov or click here to fill out an online request form.
- Help for app-based workers and the public: to ask a question, file a complaint, or provide information, call 206-256-5297, email laborstandards@seattle.gov, or click here to fill out a web form.
በአማርኛ ለማንበብ እዚህ ላይ ጠቅ ያድርጉ፣, للقراءة باللغة العربية، اضغط هنا.点击此处以阅读中文版本, pour lire en français cliquez ici, करें, हिंदी में पढ़ने के लिए यहां क्लिक करें, らをクリック、日本語はこちらをクリ, 한국어로 읽으려면 여기를 클릭, Afaan Oromoo dubbisuuf as tuqi, Чтобы прочитать текст на русском языке, нажмите здесь, Si aad luuqada Soomaaliga ugu akhrido halkaan guji, Haga clic aquí para ver este mensaje en español, i-click ito, upang mabasa sa wikang Tagalog, ብትግርኛ ንምንባብ ኣብዚ ጠውቑ , Türkçe okumak için buraya tıklayın, Щоб прочитати українською мовою, натисніть тут, để đọc bằng tiếng Việt, hãy nhấp vào đây.
###