In a letter to Uber, Postmates and other gig economy companies, Sen. Mark Warner called for them to help ease the financial burdens of gig workers who fall ill or self-quarantine to avoid spreading the novel coronavirus.
A prominent Senate Democrat is calling on the biggest gig economy companies to make it easier for on-demand workers to take time off amid the coronavirus outbreak, and several of the companies have cautiously signaled they are open to the notion.
“A health emergency for which they bear no responsibility should not place an undue financial burden on workers and their family,” the letter continues.an open letter Uber’s senior vice president of global rides and platform, Andrew Macdonald, said: “We are supporting drivers and delivery people who are diagnosed with COVID-19 or placed in quarantine by a public health authority. Drivers and delivery people in these situations will receive compensation for a period of up to 14 days. This has already begun in some markets and we are working to implement mechanisms to do this worldwide. We believe this is the right thing to do.
Postmates spokesperson Ashley De Smeath said that while the company is “operating with business as usual,” there are plans to brief Warner’s office about the company’s ongoing efforts “and policy options to invest in the well-being of our flexible workforce.”
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