Effective July 13, 2020, the City of Seattle enacted the Seattle Gig Worker Paid Sick and Safe Time (PSST) Ordinance for gig workers working in Seattle.
Note: This ordinance expired April 30, 2023. For the App-Based Workers Paid Sick and Safe Time Ordinance effective May 1, 2023, click here.
Under the PSST Ordinance, gig drivers accrue one day of PSST for every 30 days worked in Seattle (i.e., completed at least one delivery that starts or ends in the City of Seattle) beginning on October 1, 2019. When a driver uses a day of PSST, they are paid a daily amount equal to the average daily compensation rate received in their highest earning month since October 1, 2019, or the date they made their first delivery in Seattle using the Roadie platform, whichever is later. This article outline’s Roadie’s policy and procedure regarding the PSST Ordinance.
How to Calculate PSST
A driver accrues 1 day of PSST for every 30 days where a gig was picked up or dropped off in the City of Seattle. The 30 days do not have to be in the same or consecutive calendar months.
The average daily compensation rate is calculated by taking the calendar month with the highest earnings since October 2019 (or the date a driver made their first delivery in Seattle using the Roadie platform, whichever is later) and dividing by the number of days where a gig was completed in that same calendar month. When a PSST day is used, pursuant to the ordinance, Roadie will increase the average daily compensation rate to include 12% interest.
You can only use PSST in 24-hour increments; you cannot use a portion/fraction of a day of PSST. If you work on a day that you claimed PSST, Roadie has the right to reject or rescind any PSST payments made to you for that day. Roadie uses a fixed, consecutive 12-month period of time for accrual and carry-over of PSST days.
Using PSST
You may use PSST for any of the following authorized purposes:
- Personal illness or medical care
- Family member illness or medical care
- Any days that Roadie operations are suspended or discontinued for health or safety reasons
- Driver’s family member’s school or place of care closes
- To escape domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking
Notice of Rights
If you have a right to PSST under the terms of Seattle’s ordinance you will receive a monthly email notifying you of your available PSST days, as well as your average daily compensation rate.
You have a right to be protected from retaliation for exercising in good faith the rights protected by the ordinance, including the use of accrued PSST.
Learn more about the PSST ordinance and your additional rights there under here and here. PSST Fact Sheets are available in Amharic, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, French, Hindi, Oromo, Somali and Spanish on the OLS Languages webpage.
Seattle PSST FAQs
Q: How do I use my PSST days?
A: To submit a request to use your Seattle PSST, please fill out the form here.
Q: What happens after I submit a request?
A: You will receive a confirmation email once your request has been processed and the funds have been added to your Roadie account.
If you need additional assistance, you can always contact us via chat on the website.