Seattle Office of Labor Standards Announces New and Expanded App-Based/Gig Worker Protections

App-Based Worker Minimum Payment Ordinance

Seattle’s App-Based Worker Minimum Payment (ABWMP) Ordinance goes into effect January 13, 2024.

The ordinance applies to certain app-based workers (sometimes referred to as gig workers) and provides for several rights and protections for covered workers including:

• Minimum Payment: Right to minimum pay based on the time worked and miles traveled for each offer.
• Transparency: Right to upfront disclosures of offer-information and right to receipt and payment records.
• Flexibility: Right to access the network platform without limitations (except for health and safety limitations), right to not be penalized for limiting availability or refusing offers, and the right to cancel an offer with cause.

Minimum compensation: Network companies must pay the greater of

• Minimum per-minute amount of $0.44 and minimum per-mile amount of $0.74

OR

• Minimum per-offer amount of $5

Rate Updates: Updated rates for the per-mile, per-minute, and per-offer amounts are effective on January 13, 2024, and January 1 of each year thereafter. These rates will increase based on annual inflation and standard mileage rate adjustments. The first adjustment of per-offer amount will be on January 1, 2025.

Please visit https://www.seattle.gov/laborstandards/ordinances/app-based-worker-ordinances/app-based-worker-minimum-payment-ordinance for more information.

App-Based Worker Paid Sick and Safe Time Ordinance

Beginning on January 13, 2024, the App-Based Worker Paid Sick and Safe Time (ABWPSST) Ordinance applies to all app-based workers who work at a network company that hires more than 250 workers worldwide.  

On May 1, 2023, the law applied to Food delivery network company workers who work for a network company that hires more than 250 workers.

App-based workers can earn at least one day of PSST for every 30 days worked in Seattle. Under ABWPSST, app-based workers receive payment for PSST based on the worker's "average daily compensation" for each day worked for the network company. Average daily compensation is recalculated every month to reflect changes in gig worker's earnings

Learn more about ABWPSST ordinance at https://www.seattle.gov/laborstandards/ordinances/app-based-worker-ordinances/app-based-worker-paid-sick-and-safe-time-ordinance.

For questions about either of the app-based worker ordinances please call 206-256-5297 or email laborstandards@seattle.gov.

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