The sick reality of the gig companies’ COVID sick leave policies

Almost every major gig company has now released a PR statement claiming they’re protecting sick workers and public health by offering us paid sick leave. The reality is, the sick leave systems they’re setting up do nothing to ensure sick workers can afford to stay at home. These policies put workers, customers, and the public at risk.

What’s this page for?

This page is a deep dive onto policies on each app — eligibility requirements, how to apply, and the fine-print language on what they’ll pay. Digging into those details reveals every single major app has set up significant loopholes to prevent the vast majority of sick workers from accessing aid.

Why is it so important? (+)

Making sure gig workers can take paid sick time is a matter of public health. Chronic underpayment means very few gig workers can choose to take time off without pay, even if they’re sick — and policies like the ones outlined below mean sick workers will continue shopping, delivering, and driving, risking the spread of coronavirus to our customers and communities.

Scroll down to see how each app’s policy works, and learn about the loopholes. Then, sign on to our demand for real paid sick leave for gig workers.

Note: Since workers have started speaking out, several apps have expanded their policies. But no company has gone far enough, and the vast majority of workers with COVID-19 still aren’t covered. We need to share our experiences to make this happen — if you’ve applied for financial aid with a gig company, tell us about what happened here. We’ll keep this page updated with new policy changes as apps respond to our demands (last updated 3/30).

KEY

 
sick leave key.png
 

Sick pay policies by app

 

Shipt

 
 

DoorDash

Postmates

 
 

Grubhub

Uber / Uber Eats

 
 

Lyft

 

Here’s the big picture — how gig companies are preventing workers from accessing sick pay.

Eligibility loopholes (+)

  • Most apps only offer aid to drivers who have a positive COVID test or have been placed in mandatory quarantine by a public health agency (like the CDC or a local health department). Very few workers, even those who are very sick, can access a test or get a mandatory order to quarantine.
  • A few apps say you’ll also qualify if you’ve been ordered by a doctor to self-isolate. But they require documentation that specifies your risk of spreading the virus — so many doctors’ notes won’t qualify.
  • In addition to making pay difficult to access, these policies put a strain on our healthcare system by requiring workers to go seek medical attention unnecessarily — some apps are even requiring doctors to submit info directly to them (which doctors are saying they won’t do because of HIPAA laws).
  • So far, no app covers workers who need to self-isolate due to having high risk factors for COVID — even with a doctor’s note.

Unclear processes for accessing pay (+)

  • Some apps have written policies on their websites, but no clear info about how to apply. Others create bureaucratic delays with their claim systems by requiring workers to fill out a form explaining their situation, then having to wait for instructions to submit proof.
  • Workers across apps are reporting that after they submit a claim, they’re going back and forth with support bots being asked to provide documentation they can’t access.
  • Many are deactivated immediately when they submit a claim, and it’s unclear how they can get their accounts reactivated — so they can’t work even if they aren’t approved for sick pay.

Sneaky formulas to reduce what they pay out (+)

  • For the few workers who jump through all the hoops & access pay, they’re seeing payouts that are extremely low compared to their usual income.
  • Some apps are calculating pay based on what workers made in the last two to four weeks — when they were likely sick and not working, or may have been seeing lower demand.
  • And some don’t factor in tips — which account for about a third of pay on some apps.

These policies are a threat to workers, customers, and public health.

Don’t let gig companies continue to operate as “essential businesses” without providing their workers with essential protections. Sign on to the demand for sick pay that actually pays & share this page to spread the word.