If you drive in Seattle, you have deactivation rights
Most gig workers have almost no due process when an app deactivates them. Seattle is the exception. The App-Based Worker Deactivation Rights Ordinance (SMC 8.40, effective January 1, 2025, upheld by the Ninth Circuit in 2026) gives drivers in Seattle enforceable rights that the platforms don't advertise.
What the ordinance gives you
- Advance notice — about 14 days before most deactivations, with the reason in writing.
- The records the company used to justify the deactivation, on request.
- A fair investigation and an internal challenge you can file within 90 days.
- Reinstatement plus back pay if the company can't justify the deactivation.
- A private right of action — you can sue after the company's initial response, or 14 days after you file your challenge.
It applies to companies with 250+ workers (DoorDash, Uber, Lyft, Instacart, Amazon Flex, and Walmart Spark all qualify) and covers you if a meaningful share of your work was in Seattle or the incident happened there. The ordinance also bars deactivating you solely on aggregate customer ratings or a background check, absent egregious misconduct.
How to use it
File your company challenge within the 90-day window, and file a complaint with Seattle's Office of Labor Standards (olsconnect.powerappsportals.us/deactivation, laborstandards@seattle.gov, 206-256-5297). Reinstara writes the platform appeal; the ordinance is the leverage behind it. If you're pursuing the private right of action, that's the point to talk to an attorney.
Information, not legal advice. Reinstara helps you write your appeal and can note your Seattle rights in it; it is not your legal representative in a challenge or lawsuit.
FAQ
Does the Seattle ordinance cover DoorDash, Uber, and Instacart?
Yes. It applies to app-based companies with 250 or more workers, which includes DoorDash, Uber, Lyft, Instacart, Amazon Flex, and Walmart Spark.
How long do I have to challenge a deactivation in Seattle?
You have up to 90 days from the deactivation notice to file the company's internal challenge, and you can sue after the company's initial response or 14 days after filing.
Can they deactivate me just for a low rating in Seattle?
The ordinance bars deactivating you solely on aggregate customer ratings or a background check absent egregious misconduct, which is a strong angle for a Seattle appeal.