Seattle Office of Labor Standards Reaches Settlement with Instacart for Alleged Violations of App-Based Minimum Payment Law

City of Seattle, Washington sent this bulletin at 09/24/2026 08:09 AM PDT
Office of Labor Standards logo - press release version

Press Release

For Immediate Release

Contact Information
Cynthia Santana
Phone: 206-256-5219
Email: cynthia.santana@seattle.gov

Seattle Office of Labor Standards Reaches Settlement with Instacart for Alleged Violations of App-Based Minimum Payment Law

Seattle, WA (September 24, 2026) – The Office of Labor Standards (OLS) announces a settlement with Maplebear Inc. dba Instacart for alleged violations of the App-Based Worker Minimum Payment (ABWMP) Ordinance.

Instacart agreed to settle the allegations for a total of $149,786.22 in back pay, interest, liquidated damages, and civil penalties to 846 affected workers.

Under the ABWMP Ordinance, OLS alleged that Instacart failed to provide the mandatory ABWMP minimum payment for orders originating from two restaurants situated within Seattle city limits near the Shoreline boundary.

“The law is clear, app-based workers who are picking up orders that start in Seattle are entitled to minimum payment. We are seeing this issue come up more frequently, which makes enforcement especially important. While we want to ensure all businesses are following the law, we also want to ensure workers know their rights and feel empowered to come forward if they believe they are not being paid what they are owed,” said OLS Director Steven Marchese.

"App-based workers are a vital part of Seattle's economy, yet many face barriers to accessing information about their rights. Through our partnership with the Seattle Office of Labor Standards, Growing Contigo helps bridge that gap by delivering culturally relevant, language-accessible outreach and education directly in the communities where app-based workers live and work. We empower app-based workers to better understand their rights, navigate complex processes, and become educated about how to operate as an app-based worker," said Founder and CEO Growing Contigo José Manuel Vasquez.

"After multiple failed attempts to get Instacart to fix a simple pay issue, I appreciate the help that the staff at OLS provided to make it right," said Rick N. Instacart Shopper - six years’ experience.

The company has over 5,000 app-based workers who perform work within the City of Seattle.

  • Help for app-based workers, independent contractors, 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 an online request form.
  • 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.

For more information, visit the App-Based Worker Minimum Payment Ordinance webpage. We will never ask for immigration status.

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