Seattle PSST Policy, Procedures, and Notice of Rights

Beginning on May 1, 2023, Grubhub Delivery Partners who have performed delivery services in Seattle (“Seattle Delivery Partners” or “You”) within the last 90 days of their request will have the right to use Paid Sick & Paid Safe Time (“PSST”) consistent with Seattle’s App-Based Worker Paid Sick and Safe Time Ordinance (the “Ordinance”).

To read the full text of the Ordinance, please see here.

Seattle Delivery Partners will accrue 1 day (ie. one 24 hour period) of PSST for each 30 days the Seattle Delivery Partner accepts a Grubhub order that is picked up or delivered in Seattle. 

The amount of PSST compensation will be paid based on your “average daily compensation,” which is an average of the compensation you earned in the 12 month period immediately prior to requesting PSST and includes each day where you performed services at least partially in Seattle. 

Seattle Delivery Partners can use their accrued PSST for several reasons outlined in the Ordinance, including:

• Sick Time - Personal. For a personal mental or physical illness, injury, or health condition; to accommodate the app-based worker’s need for medical diagnosis, care, or treatment of a mental or physical illness, injury, or health condition; or an app-based worker’s need for preventive medical care.
• Sick Time - Care of Family Members. For care of a family member with a mental or physical illness, injury, or health condition; care of a family member who needs medical diagnosis, care, or treatment of a mental or physical illness, injury, or health condition; or care of a family member who needs preventive medical care.
• Safe Time - GH Suspension of Services by Order. If Grubhub has suspended or otherwise discontinued operations by order of a public official, for any health-related reason, to limit exposure to an infectious agent, biological toxin, or hazardous material.
• Safe Time - GH Suspension or Reduction of Services for Health / Safety Reasons. If Grubhub has reduced, suspended, or otherwise discontinued operations for any health- or safety-related reason.
• Safe Time - School or Childcare Closure. If the Seattle Delivery Partner’s family member's school or place of care has been closed.
• Safe Time - Domestic Violence Related Reasons. Reasons related to domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking for driver or family member (ie. seeking legal or law enforcement assistance, mental health counseling, etc). Includes seeking legal assistance, healthcare treatment, social services, counseling, and safety planning. 

Seattle Delivery Partners must use this form to submit requests for use of PSST time.

If the Seattle Delivery Partner has used more than 3 consecutive days of PSST, Grubhub may request that the Seattle Delivery Partner provide reasonable verification that he/she is using the PSST for an authorized purpose consistent with the Ordinance. Seattle Delivery Partners will be provided with at least 10 calendar days following the first day of the use of PSST to provide any such verification.  The Seattle Delivery Partner has the right to provide an oral or written explanation that they used PSST for an authorized purpose if standard verification methods such as a note from a healthcare provider would create an unreasonable burden or expense.  If the Seattle Delivery Partner provides such an explanation, Grubhub will respond within 10 days and provide alternatives for the Seattle Delivery Partner to meet the verification requirement in a manner that does not impose an unreasonable burden or expense. 

In the event that Grubhub determines the request for paid sick and safe time is not authorized, Grubhub will notify  the delivery partner via email of the decision. The delivery partner can contest the determination by providing an explanation or evidence that the use of paid sick and paid safe time was for an authorized purpose by contacting seattlepsst@grubhub.com. Grubhub’s expected response time to a contestation is one week.

Seattle Delivery Partners can use PSST in 24-hour increments.  The 24-hour increment of PSST use will run from the time the Seattle Delivery Partner indicates their use of PSST for the next 24 hours.  The Seattle Delivery Partner is expected to not accept a delivery for 24 hours after making the request.   For example, if the Seattle Delivery Partner requests PSST at 3:00 PM for a given day, the Seattle Delivery Partner is expected to not accept a delivery until 2:59 PM the following day.   If a Seattle Delivery Partner performs deliveries during the 24-hour increment of PSST use, Grubhub may determine that the Seattle Delivery Partner did not use the PSST for an authorized purpose, and Grubhub may withhold compensation for the requested day of PSST.

Grubhub will use the year period from May 1 - April 30 for purposes of accruing and carrying over PSST. Seattle Delivery Partners will be able to carry over to the next year up to 9 days of accrued but unused PSST consistent with the Ordinance. Any additional accrued but unused PSST will be forfeited.  

Seattle Delivery Partners will receive a monthly notice via email with the following information: the current rate of average daily compensation for use of paid sick and paid safe time; an updated amount of accrued, used, and available paid sick and paid safe time; the number of paid sick and safe time days accrued and used since the last month; the number of days worked in the month; worked days included in the average daily compensation; and total earnings within the last 12 months.

You will be protected from retaliation for exercising in good faith Your rights protected by the Ordinance. Grubhub will update this Policy with the Notice of Rights upon its publication by the Seattle Office of Labor Standards. To review the Notice of Rights published by the Seattle Office of Labor Standards, click here.