Seattle PSST Policy, Procedures, and Notice of Rights

Beginning on July 13, 2020, 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 temporary Paid Sick and Safe Time for Gig Workers Ordinance (the “Ordinance”).

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

Seattle Delivery Partners will accrue 1 day of PSST for each 30 days the Seattle Delivery Partner accepts a Grubhub order that is picked up or delivered in Seattle. PSST starts to accrue beginning on October 1, 2019 or the first month You began Your partnership with Grubhub - whichever is later. Seattle Delivery Partners are entitled to accrue PSST until 180 days after the termination of the civil emergency proclaimed by the Mayor on March 3, 2020 or the termination of any concurrent civil emergency proclaimed by a public official in response to the COVID-19 public health emergency and applicable to Seattle, whichever is latest.

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

• For a personal mental or physical illness, injury, or health condition; to accommodate the Seattle Delivery Partner's need for medical diagnosis, care, or treatment of a mental or physical illness, injury, or health condition; or a Seattle Delivery Partner’s need for preventive medical care.
• 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.
• When the company 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.
• When the company has reduced, suspended, or otherwise discontinued operations for any health- or safety-related reason.
• When the Seattle Delivery Partner’s family member's school or place of care has been closed.
• For any of the following reasons related to domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking:
  • Seek legal or law enforcement assistance or remedies to ensure the health and safety of the Seattle Delivery Partner or family or household members, including but not limited to, preparing for, or participating in, any civil or criminal legal proceeding related to or derived from domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking;
  • Seek treatment by a health care provider for physical or mental injuries caused by domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking, or to attend to health care treatment for a victim who is the Seattle Delivery Partner’s family or household member;
  • Obtain, or assist a family or household member in obtaining, services from a domestic violence shelter, rape crisis center, or other social services program for relief from domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking;
  • Obtain, or assist a family or household member in obtaining, mental health counseling related to an incident of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking, in which the Seattle Delivery Partner or the Seattle Delivery Partner’s family or household member was a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking; or
  • Participate in safety planning, temporarily or permanently relocate, or take other actions to increase the safety of the Seattle Delivery Partner or Seattle Delivery Partner’s family or household members from future domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking.

Seattle Delivery Partners must use this form to submit requests for 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 PSST for an unauthorized 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 ten days and provide alternatives for the Seattle Delivery Partner to meet the verification requirement in a manner that does not pose an unreasonable burden or expense. 

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 leave 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 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.

If Seattle Delivery Partners still have the right to use PSST on July 1, 2021, Seattle Delivery Partners will be able to carry over up to 9 days of accrued but unused PSST consistent with the Ordinance.  Any additional PSST will be forfeited.  Grubhub will use the year period from July 1 – June 30 (the start of Grubhub’s’ third fiscal quarter) for purposes of accruing and carrying over PSST.

If You have taken advantage of Grubhub’s COVID-19 Support Pay prior to July 13, 2020, Grubhub will not reduce the amount of compensation provided to You under this Ordinance. 

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, and an updated amount of accrued, reduced, and available paid sick and paid safe time.

You will be protected from retaliation for exercising in good faith Your rights protected by the Ordinance. To learn more about Your rights under the Ordinance, please see the below Notice of Rights.