On April 1, Westlaw Today featured John Harras in a Q&A discussing New York City’s laws governing grocery and food delivery workers contracted through app-based platforms. The following is an excerpt:
Westlaw Today: How have New York City's new laws regarding delivery worker rights changed the employment landscape for gig workers and their employers?
John Harras: NYC recently passed laws that require companies operating in the city to provide "gig" workers, such as food delivery workers and ride-share drivers, who are traditionally classified as independent contractors, with rights similar to those of employees.
For example, Section 20-1522 of the NYC Administrative Code requires minimum pay rates for food delivery drivers—a right typically reserved for employees, not independent contractors. Additionally, on Jan. 17, 2027, pursuant to Sections 20-1532 and 20-1539 of the NYC Administrative Code, delivery service platforms will have to prove "just cause" for deactivating a delivery worker from the app-based delivery platform—a protection from "at-will" employment reserved only for employees represented by a labor union.
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