The state’s Minimum Wage Act provides basic rights for you as a rideshare driver. It also provides a way to file a driver rights complaint if you believe your rights have been violated.
There are three ways you can file a complaint:
- File a Driver Rights Complaint online.
- Download and mail a completed Driver Rights Complaint form (F700-219-000).
- Visit your nearest L&I office.
The Driver Rights Complaint form is available in the following languages:
- Amharic (F700-219-201).
- Arabic (F700-219-203).
- Chinese Simplified (F700-219-220).
- Chinese Traditional (F700-219-221).
- Dari (F700-219-226).
- French (F700-219-232).
- Hindi (F700-219-242).
- Oromo (F700-219-283).
- Punjabi (F700-219-346).
- Russian (F700-219-294).
- Somali (F700-219-303).
- Soninke (F700-219-304).
- Spanish (F700-219-999).
- Tigrinya (F700-219-312).
- Vietnamese (F700-219-319).
Note: If you need a complaint form in a language not listed here, call 360-902-5316.
You can file a worker rights complaint in the following areas:
- Minimum compensation.
- Unauthorized deductions.
- Tips and gratuities.
- Paid sick time.
- Reimbursement for tolls, fees, surcharges.
- Notice of rights.
- Driver receipts.
- Weekly trip notices.
- Retaliation.
It is against the law for a rideshare company to take adverse action or retaliate against a driver who exercises their rights afforded by this law. If L&I does not have the authority to investigate your complaint, we may refer you to the appropriate agency.
Information to include
In your complaint, you should:
- Clearly state why you are filing a complaint and what rights you believe have been violated.
- Provide any relevant information or documents that support your case.
- File your complaint within three years of when the violation occurred. For cases involving retaliation, you have 180 days to file your complaint.
During an investigation
In order to investigate, we will need to give the rideshare company your name and a copy of your complaint. L&I’s role is to act in an impartial fashion. While investigating, we may request records such as pay statements, paid sick time policies, witness statements, and receipts including time and mileage records from you and the rideshare company.
Investigations typically take up to 60 days to complete, but some cases may take longer to resolve. It is very important to stay in contact with the investigator assigned to your complaint once the investigation has started. If you don't send information and documents in a timely fashion, the investigator may have to close your case.
Completing an investigation
There are several possible outcomes after we complete our investigation:
- We may provide education to the rideshare company and/or try to find a mutually acceptable outcome between you and the company.
- If the evidence gathered does not substantiate your claim, we will close the complaint and send a letter to you and the rideshare company. This letter will state we could not find a violation and will not take further action.
- If your complaint is substantiated, or if your employer fails to respond to our inquiries, we may issue a citation and order the rideshare company take corrective action and/or pay any compensation owed. L&I will make every attempt to, but cannot guarantee, collection.
Both parties have 30 days to appeal a determination. Appeals must be submitted to L&I in writing by following the instructions in the determination letter. Appeals are conducted by the state Office of Administrative Hearings.
Public disclosure
Public disclosure laws allow access to most complaints once L&I closes an investigation. L&I redacts protected or confidential information from complaint files before releasing them.