For Immediate Release
Contact Information
Cynthia Santana
Phone: 206-256-5219
Email: cynthia.santana@seattle.gov
Seattle Office of Labor Standards Announces Final Rules for App-Based Worker Deactivation Rights Ordinance
Seattle, WA (March 26, 2025) The Office of Labor Standards (OLS) announces final rules, Seattle Human Rights Chapter 260, for the App-Based Worker Deactivation Rights (ABWDR) Ordinance. The ordinance covers certain app-based workers (sometimes referred to as gig workers) and provides several deactivation-related rights and protections for covered workers.
A deactivation is a permanent or temporary blocking of a worker’s ability to perform services for a network company. Key rights and obligations under the ordinance include:
- Certain types of deactivations are unlawful
- A network company must provide app-based workers with its deactivation policies
- Must describe what may lead to deactivation
- Must be reasonably related to the network company’s safe and efficient operations
- A network company must follow certain procedural steps before most deactivations
- Network companies must establish a process for app-based workers to challenge their deactivation with the company
- A network company must provide notice to an app-based worker before most deactivations
- A network company must provide the worker with access to records substantiating the deactivation
Both the App-Based Worker Deactivation Rights Ordinance and the SHRR Chapter 260 can be viewed on the OLS website by clicking here.
- Help for workers and the public: to ask a question, file a complaint, or provide information, call 206-256-5297 or to submit a deactivation complaint click here.
- Help for employers: 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 employer inquiry web form.
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