January-March 2024
South Seattle Women’s Health Foundation, a healthcare non-profit organization, agreed to an informal resolution under the Independent Contractor Protections (ICP) Ordinance. Allegations included failure to make timely payment in accordance with the terms and conditions of a pre-work written notice or contract and failure to compensate a worker for work performed. In response to the Office of Labor Standards’ (OLS) Notice of Complaint, South Seattle Women's Health Foundation agreed to pay $4,000.20 for the work performed and a $300 civil penalty remitted to the complainant.
OLS investigated MOD Super-Fast Pizza LLC (MOD Pizza) for alleged violations of the Secured Scheduling Ordinance. MOD Pizza employs more than 20,000 employees worldwide and has several Seattle locations. This constitutes a second violation of the Secure Scheduling ordinance for MOD Pizza at one of its Seattle locations. OLS alleged MOD Pizza failed to provide employees with a written work schedule at least 14 calendar days before the first day of the work schedule at its University District location. MOD Pizza reached a settlement with OLS and agreed to pay $83,000 in civil penalties to 83 employees and $622.85 in fines to the City of Seattle.
OLS investigated Zinoff Enterprises, LLC dba DeliverThat and Zinoff & Company, LLC dba DeliverThat (DeliverThat) for alleged violations of the Gig Worker Premium Pay, Gig Worker Paid Sick and Safe Time (PSST), and App-Based Worker PSST Ordinances. The food delivery network company has approximately 17,000 drivers worldwide and has dozens of drivers in Seattle. OLS alleged DeliverThat failed to provide premium pay and a notice of rights to gig workers in violation of the Gig Worker Premium Pay Ordinance. Additionally, OLS alleged the company failed to establish an accessible PSST system for gig workers to request and use PSST and failed to provide a monthly notice of PSST balance information, a notice of rights, and a written PSST policy as required by both the Gig Worker PSST Ordinance and the App-Based Worker PSST Ordinance. DeliverThat settled the allegations and agreed to pay a total of $27,407.32 to 56 workers.
Archimedes Consulting LLC, a technology consulting firm, agreed to an informal resolution under the Independent Contractor Protections (ICP) Ordinance. Allegations included failure to make timely payment in accordance with the terms and conditions of a pre-work written notice or contract and failure to compensate a worker for work performed. In response to OLS’s Notice of Complaint, Archimedes Consulting LLC agreed to pay $12,338.63 for the work performed and a $300 civil penalty remitted to the complainant.
OLS investigated Nordstrom, Inc. for alleged violations of the Secure Scheduling Ordinance and the Wage Theft Ordinance. The fashion retail business employs more than 50,000 employees worldwide and has one Seattle location. OLS alleged Nordstrom failed to provide premium pay for changes to employee schedules with less than 14-day advance notice and failed to provide required meal breaks to employees on the Visual Merchandising Team at the downtown Seattle location. Nordstrom agreed to a settlement to resolve the allegations and to pay a total financial remedy of $68,721.30 to 35 employees. The company also agreed to develop and implement a written secure scheduling policy.
OLS investigated Fresh Flours Inc dba Fresh Flours Bakery & Café, Fresh Flours Beacon Hill, Fresh Flours South Lake Union, and Fresh Flours West Seattle, under its former ownership, for alleged violations of the Wage Theft and PSST Ordinances. OLS investigated allegations including misclassifying bakers as overtime-exempt; failing to provide paid, 10-minute rest breaks for every four hours worked and unpaid, 30-minute meal breaks during shifts of over five hours; and requiring employees to cover till shortages out of their tips. OLS also investigated an allegation that an employee was terminated following protected use of PSST. The former owners of Fresh Flours agreed to pay total financial remedies of $400,026.93 to 134 employees.
OLS investigated Instacart for alleged violations of the Gig Worker Paid Sick and Safe Time (PSST) Ordinance. The network company operates nationwide and has several thousand gig workers in Seattle. OLS alleged the company failed to establish an accessible system for gig workers to request and use PSST due to its policy of requiring verification in instances where gig workers only requested three days of PSST, failed to allow gig workers to use PSST due to their deactivated status, and failed to provide accurate average daily compensation rates in its monthly notice of PSST balance information to gig workers. The company settled the allegations and agreed to pay a total financial remedy of $730,041.15 to 5,567 affected workers and $18,685.50 in fines to the City of Seattle.
OLS investigated Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (“Chipotle”) for alleged violations of the Secure Scheduling and Paid Sick and Safe Time (PSST) Ordinances. The fast casual restaurant chain employs more than 500 employees worldwide and has eight Seattle locations. OLS alleged the employer failed to consistently provide premium pay for schedule changes when required; retaliated against employees for declining to work or consent to a shift change made with less than 14 days’ notice; retaliated against employees for requesting not to be scheduled at certain times in conflict with a second job; and failed to maintain records of original work schedules, as required by the Secure Scheduling Ordinance. OLS also alleged Chipotle failed to provide PSST accrual at the correct rate; lacked a compliant written PSST policy; and retaliated against an employee for calling out sick. Chipotle settled the allegations and agreed to pay a total financial remedy of $2,895,716.73 to 1,853 employees and $7,308.63 to the City of Seattle. Chipotle also agreed to develop and implement a written Secure Scheduling Ordinance policy and require its Seattle General Managers to attend OLS’ online webinar on the Secure Scheduling Ordinance.
OLS investigated Dollar Tree Stores, Inc. for alleged violations of the Paid Sick and Safe Time (PSST), Wage Theft, and Secure Scheduling Ordinances. The discount variety store chain has more than 15,000 locations worldwide and operates three Seattle locations. OLS alleged the employer failed to provide employees with a written PSST policy, provide required rest and meal breaks, and provide 14 days’ advance notice of work schedules. Dollar Tree settled the allegations and agreed to pay a total financial remedy of $180,266.00 to 301 employees and $6,230.88 to the City of Seattle.
Roadie, Inc., a network company with over 100 Seattle app-based workers and over 200,000 drivers worldwide, agreed to an informal resolution of allegations that Roadie did not provide app-based workers with the required minimum pay under the App-Based Worker Minimum Payment Ordinance for the period of January 13, 2024 through February 13, 2024. In response to OLS’ inquiry, Roadie conducted an analysis of completed offers during that period and agreed to pay a total of $22,283.88 in back wages to 185 app-based workers.
Essor Limited dba Secret Food Tours, a food tour company operating worldwide, agreed to an informal resolution under the Independent Contractor Protections (ICP) Ordinance. Allegations included failure to make timely payment in accordance with the terms and conditions of the contract. In response to OLS’s Notice of Complaint, Essor Limited dba Secret Food Tours agreed to pay $400 for the work performed.