A rideshare company may not take any adverse action or retaliate against a driver who exercises their driver rights afforded by the law. The Companies may not use the driver’s exercise of their rights as a negative factor in any deactivation, restriction in account access, or other adverse action.
The exercise of these rights may include:
- Right to paid sick time.
- Compensation rights.
- Tip and gratuity rights.
- Right to reimbursements or other amounts due to the driver.
- Right to utilize the Driver Resource Center (DRC).
- Right to testify or intend to testify in any proceeding related to any driver rights.
It is unlawful for a rideshare company to:
- Interfere with, restrain, or deny the driver from exercising any of their driver rights.
- Adopt or enforce any policy that counts the use of paid sick time as time off the platform that may lead to or result in temporary or permanent deactivation.
- Take any adverse action against a driver because they:
- Intend to file, file a complaint, or take private action against the company.
- Institute or cause to be instituted any proceeding related to any rights under the law.
- Testify or intend to testify in any proceeding related to any rights under the law.
Adverse action means any action taken or threatened by a rideshare company against a driver for exercising their rights under the law. Adverse action may include:
- Denying use of, or delaying payment for, paid sick time, compensation, all tips and gratuities, reimbursements, or any other amounts due to a driver.
- Deactivating an account as defined by RCW 49.46.300(1)(a) and associated rules.
- Restricting any account access.
- Altering any of the driver's rates of pay.
- Preventing a driver’s alternate compensation rate tier opportunities.
- Threatening to take, or taking action, based upon the immigration status of a driver or a driver's family member.
- Preventing a driver from working in any other lawful occupation or business.
- Altering a driver’s rating.
If a driver suspects the rideshare company has retaliated against them, they can file a Driver Rights Complaint.