Earn on your own schedule

Seattle Gig Worker Premium Pay

November 17, 2023 / US

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Notice of Rights
The Gig Worker Premium Pay Ordinance went into effect on June 26, 2020 and ended on November 1, 2022 after Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell’s announcement to end the Civil Emergency Proclamation after October 31, 2022 and with Washington State’s and Governor Inslee’s decision to end the statewide state of emergency.
What Were Your Rights Under the Premium Pay Ordinance?
This Notice of Rights describes your rights under the Premium Pay ordinance from June 26, 2020 through November 1, 2022.  During that time you were entitled to an additional:
$2.50 for one pick-up point or one drop-off point in Seattle;
$1.25 for each additional pick-up point in Seattle; and
$1.25 for each additional drop-off point in Seattle.
The Premium Pay ordinance also granted you the following rights:
The right to be protected from retaliation for exercising in good faith the rights protected by this ordinance; and
The right to file a complaint with the Seattle Office of Labor Standards (OLS) or bring a civil action for a violation of the requirements of this ordinance, including Uber’s denial of premium pay as required by the ordinance and Uber’s retaliation against you or other person for asserting the right to premium pay or otherwise engaging in an activity protected by this ordinance.
Retaliation prohibited
A courier has the right to be protected from retaliation for exercising in good faith the rights protected by the Ordinance. Uber shall not interfere with, restrain, or deny the exercise of, or the attempt to exercise, any right protected under the Ordinance.  Uber will not adopt or enforce any policy to:
Reduce or otherwise modify the areas of the City that are served by the hiring entity;
Reduce a courier’s compensation; or
Limit a courier’s earning capacity, including but not limited to restricting access to online orders.
Add customer charges to online orders for delivery of groceries.
In addition, Uber will not take any adverse action against any person because the courier has exercised in good faith the rights protected under the Ordinance.  Uber will not communicate to a person exercising rights protected under the Ordinance, directly or indirectly, the willingness of to inform a government worker that the person is not lawfully in the United States, or to report, or to make an implied or express assertion of a willingness to report, suspected citizenship or immigration status of a courier or family member of the courier to a federal, state, or local agency because the courier has exercised a right under the Ordinance.
Enforcement Power and Duties
The Seattle Office of Labor Standards (OLS) and any division therein (“Agency”) shall have the power to investigate violations of the Ordinance and shall have such powers and duties in the performance of these functions as are defined in the Ordinance and otherwise necessary and proper in the performance of the same and provided for by law.
The Agency is authorized to coordinate implementation and enforcement of the Ordinance and may make known guidelines or rules for such purposes.  Furthermore, the Office of Labor Standards is responsible for enforcing the Ordinance and ensuring that couriers are not retaliated against. 
A courier has the right to file a complaint with OLS or to file a lawsuit for a violation of the requirements of the Ordinance, including Uber’s refusal to pay Premium Pay or Uber’s retaliation against a courier for engaging in an activity protected by the Ordinance. 
OLS also provides free technical assistance, brochures, posters, and other resources. For more information from OLS, call 206-256-5297 or visit here.