July-September 2025

OLS investigated Portier, LLC dba Uber Eats (Uber Eats) for alleged violations of the Independent Contractor Protections (ICP) and App-Based Worker Minimum Payment (ABWMP) Ordinances. The company, which had approximately 35,000 Seattle workers in 2023, agreed to settle claims under both ordinances for a total of $15,025,521.75. Under the ICP Ordinance, OLS alleged Uber Eats failed to consistently pay workers in conformity with the terms of its contract; specifically, that workers did not receive Boost incentive payments as promised, and did not receive the "minimum fare amount” that it promised. OLS further alleged that Uber Eats failed to provide adequate pre-work written notices on the rate of pay for work, including incentive pay, and failed to provide payment notices that included the applicable price multipliers. Uber Eats agreed to settle the ICP Ordinance allegations for a total of $13,540,127.91 for back pay, interest, liquidated damages and civil penalties to 11,807 affected workers and $19,306.50 in fines to the City of Seattle. Under the ABWMP Ordinance, OLS alleged that Uber Eats failed to consistently provide minimum payments for cancelled orders when required, including when workers went to a pick-up location and reported to Uber Eats that an order needed to be cancelled for cause, for example, because the restaurant was closed, the restaurant was unable to complete the order, or the order was already picked up by someone else. Uber Eats agreed to settle the ABWMP Ordinance allegations for a total of $1,451,713.58 for back pay, interest, liquidated damages, and civil penalties to 5,920 affected workers and $14,373.76 in fines to the City of Seattle. The company also agreed to implement a written Cancellation with Cause policy.

OLS investigated BlueCrew, LLC for alleged violations of the Fair Chance Employment (FCE) Ordinance. The employer is an on-demand staffing agency that lists and provides various job opportunities for individuals that could be performed within the City of Seattle. OLS alleged the employer failed to provide an applicant a reasonable opportunity to explain or correct background check information that the company relied on in its adverse employment decision. OLS also alleged the employer failed to hold positions open for a minimum of two business days for eight applicants after notifying the applicants that it would be making an adverse employment decision. OLS further alleged the employer retaliated against an applicant when the employer failed to respond when the applicant alerted the employer to their rights under the ordinance and then denied them the opportunity to apply for or view job positions within Seattle area due to their background check information. The company settled the allegations, agreed to pay a total financial remedy of $11,763.74 to eight aggrieved parties and fines to the City of Seattle, agreed to develop and implement a written FCE policy, and ensure its local management would attend training on the FCE Ordinance.

OLS investigated Handy Technologies, Inc. (Handy) for alleged violations of the Domestic Workers Ordinance. Handy operates an online platform that provides residential cleaning, lawn care, and other home services. OLS alleged Handy failed to pay minimum wage to domestic workers for all hours worked and failed to provide domestic workers meal periods and rest breaks and/or pay domestic workers for missed meal periods and rest breaks. Handy reached a settlement with OLS and agreed to pay $135,723.53 in back pay, interest, liquidated damages, and civil penalties to 705 affected workers.

OLS investigated Rivas Painting Inc, dba Rivas Painting, for alleged violations of the Paid Sick and Safe Time Ordinance. OLS alleged that Rivas Painting failed to provide employees with a written PSST policy or notice of PSST accrual, failed to properly track employee accrual of PSST, and did not allow employees to use PSST. The company settled the allegations and agreed to pay a total financial remedy of $112,734.05 to 43 affected workers, and $8,288.59 to the City of Seattle. Rivas Painting also agreed to provide current employees with back accrual of PSST, provide employees with notification of PSST balances each pay period, and develop and implement a compliant PSST policy.

OLS investigated Volume Services Inc. dba Centerplate (Sodexo Live!) for alleged violations of the Secure Scheduling and Paid Sick and Safe Time Ordinances. The global hospitality service company is the food and beverage partner of the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park, where it provides concessions and catering services at home games, concerts, and other events. The company has approximately 1,000 employees in Seattle and 40,000 employees worldwide. OLS alleged that the employer failed to pay Seattle’s required premium pay for “clopening” hours for shifts scheduled that were less than 10 hours apart and failed to provide employees with a required written PSST policy and procedure. The company settled the allegations and agreed to pay a total financial remedy of $185,668.67 to 207 employees and $8,996.18 to the City of Seattle. The company also agreed to develop and implement a written Secure Scheduling policy.

OLS investigated Zifty Global LLC (Zifty) for alleged violations of the App-Based Worker Minimum Payment and App-Based Worker Paid Sick and Safe Time (PSST) Ordinances. Zifty is a network company whose Seattle operations connect businesses with drivers to complete catering deliveries. Zifty has approximately 10,000 app-based workers worldwide and approximately 200 app-based workers in Seattle. OLS alleged Zifty failed to provide Seattle minimum payment for Seattle offers, up-front offer information, electronic receipts, weekly statements, and written notice of rights under the App-Based Worker Minimum Payment Ordinance from January 13, 2024 to March 1, 2025. OLS also alleged that Zifty failed to provide PSST to its workers, written notice of rights, written notice of the company’s PSST policy, and notification of PSST balance under the App-Based Worker PSST Ordinance from May 1, 2023 to March 1, 2025. Zifty settled the allegations and agreed to pay a total of $57,843.68 to 163 affected workers and $1,000 to the City of Seattle.