App-Based Worker Research Consultant Partnership

Seattle’s App-Based Worker Minimum Payment Ordinance became effective on January 13, 2024. The ordinance applies to certain app-based workers (sometimes referred to as gig workers) and provides for several rights and protections for covered workers. Key rights include:

• Minimum Payment: Right to minimum pay based on the time worked and miles traveled for each offer.
• Transparency: Right to upfront disclosures of offer information and right to receipts and payment records.
• Flexibility: Right to access the network platform without limitations (except for health and safety limitations), right not to be penalized for limiting availability or refusing offers, and the right to cancel an offer with cause.

The Seattle Office of Labor Standards (OLS) published its first App-Based Worker data report in April 2026. This report is based on the analysis of data submitted by the five largest delivery network companies covering the period from January 15, 2024 to June 29, 2025, the first 18 months of the ordinance’s effective period. OLS continues to collect and analyze data from these and other smaller network companies. All records collected and analyzed pertain to the period after the ordinance took effect; therefore, the report does not include a pre- and post-ordinance comparison.

Following a competitive request for proposal process the Seattle Office of Labor Standards (OLS) awards Porsesh Policy Research Institute (PORSESH) $129,795 in funding to conduct mixed methods research (e.g. surveys, focus groups, interviews, participant observation) on app-based workers in Seattle. The research will provide a comparison of working conditions in this industry before and after the implementation of the City’s App-Based Worker Minimum Payment Ordinance, and to understand the impacts of the law.

PORSESH will conduct this research in collaboration with Makari Consulting and Future Emergent.

This research seeks to better understand:

• how “transparency” rights to access offer information and receipts impact workers’ app-based work experience;
• how workers spend uncompensated online time and how such behaviors may be influenced by different apps and business models;
• how app-based work fits into other needs and obligations in workers’ lives; and
• how pay structures and earnings have changed for workers on smaller network company platforms.

The pre- and post-ordinance comparison will be conducted for different worker groups with different primary languages, working hours (e.g. full-time vs part-time), levels of consistency (e.g. consistent work across the year, seasonal, or sporadic), services provided (e.g. delivery, house services, moving, healthcare, shift work), etc.

If you are interested in learning more about and/or participate in this research, please contact OLS Senior Policy Analyst Shuxuan Zhou, shuxuan.zhou@seattle.gov