City of Seattle, WA

12/11/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 12/11/2024 11:00

Effective January 1, 2025, Seattle App-Based Worker Deactivation Rights Ordinance to Provide Worker Protections

Contact Information
Cynthia Santana
Phone: 206-256-5219
Email: [email protected]

Seattle, WA - (December 11, 2024) - Seattle Office of Labor Standards (OLS) announces that the App-Based Worker Deactivation Rights Ordinance goes 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.

Starting 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.

"The City of Seattle is once again leading the nation in worker protections and app-based worker rights. Beginning January 1st, app-based workers will have the right to understand the reasons behind their deactivation, the information network companies used to make the decision, and the process for challenging the deactivation," said OLS Director Steven Marchese. "OLS is committed to providing outreach and education to both workers and network companies to ensure everyone is informed of their rights and responsibilities under this new law."

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 [email protected].

  • Help for network companies: for free and private assistance for compliance with Seattle's labor standards, call 206-256-5297, email [email protected] 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 [email protected], or click here to fill out a web form.

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Office of Labor Standards, Source: Labor Standards