DoorDash Paying SF Delivery Drivers A Mere 78 Cents In Hazard Pay During The Pandemic

Image: GoToVan via Flickr

Some companies are offering generous hazard pay for front-line essential workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. The delivery service DoorDash is offering hazard pay too — but just a measly 78 cents per day, and only in San Francisco, and only because the government forced them to.

Drivers for @DoorDash are risking their lives during COVID-19 to earn the CEO millions.

In acknowledgement of their efforts, DoorDash just sent out an email offering them a bonus of… *checks notes* …just 78 cents per day. ? pic.twitter.com/USznHDMM7Y

— Gig Workers Rising (@GigWorkersRise) August 4, 2020

As we see above from the gig worker advocacy group Gig Workers Rising, DoorDash is not providing any form of protective equipment whatsoever to the drivers who are out risking their asses delivering food, medicine, and essentials to the homebound. Instead, DoorDash is giving those drivers the massive insult of 78 cents a day for taking the responsibility of COVID-19 protections that DoorDash itself is unwilling to provide.

Another friend mentioned tipping — please give as much as you can (depending on cost of living) — but also try to make sure it's in cash or something to go around however the platform handles it https://t.co/7n1OmkV5hK

— Cassandra Jacobs | acab | blm | wtf (@BayesForDays) August 4, 2020

DoorDash says in an email that “San Francisco’s ‘Emergency Ordinance – Grocery Store, Drug Store, Restaurant, and On-Demand Delivery Service Employee Protections’ ensures local essential workers, including Dashers, receive an additional deposit for wiping down frequently touched surfaces in their vehicles. For each day you complete at least one delivery in the CA: San Francisco Starting Point, you’ll receive an additional $0.78 daily deposit on top of your regular earnings.”

But a look at the actual wording of that Emergency Ordinance says that companies who use on-demand delivery drivers are required to “Provide to or reimburse employees for the reasonable cost of purchasing necessary hand sanitizer, disinfecting cleaning supplies, and any needed personal protective equipment such as gloves and face masks.”

Postscript: while @DoorDash is offering their drivers paltry $0.78 bonuses, they're spending $30M on a ballot campaign to rob their workers of their rights.

It's called Prop 22. And you should vote #NoOnProp22 so they don't get away with it!

— Gig Workers Rising (@GigWorkersRise) August 4, 2020

That’s masks, hand sanitizer, gloves, and disinfectant, and all the driver gets is 78 fucking cents. And this is not even DoorDash policy, DoorDash is only making this piddling contribution because the SF government is forcing them to do so within the city and county of San Francisco.

Meanwhile, DoorDash has contributed $30 million to campaign to support Prop. 22, a November ballot measure that would allow tech companies to deny any and all protections to gig workers. If this infuriates you, make sure to vote against Prop. 22 in November, and at the very least, tip your delivery driver.