At WorkWhile, our mission has always been built on a single, unwavering principle: we are a worker-first company. WorkWhile is a marketplace that allows workers the opportunity to find flexible work that matches their skills, schedule, and location. By empowering drivers with flexibility, independence, and fair earnings, we believe we build a stronger community for everyone.

Today, we are announcing a settlement with the City Attorney for the City of San Francisco to resolve the City’s claims concerning the classification of California delivery drivers who have used our platform in past years. While we strongly disagree with the City’s allegations, this resolution allows us to put workers first, delivering tangible financial support to the people who power our platform, while staying focused on our mission.

Honoring the Will of Californians

In 2020, Californians decisively passed Proposition 22, establishing that on-demand app-based drivers may be classified as independent contractors. After subsequent legal challenges, the California Supreme Court confirmed Proposition 22 as settled law.

Proposition 22 reflects what drivers have consistently told us they value: the freedom to choose when, where, and how they work. It is also the law Californians voted for. While some of the City’s claims relate to periods that predate Proposition 22, others seek to challenge its application, an issue that remains actively disputed.

WorkWhile will continue to defend the voter-approved framework set out in Proposition 22 and drivers’ right to flexibility and independence. At the same time, resolving claims tied to prior periods allows us to deliver immediate benefits to workers and move forward without unnecessary distraction.

This settlement is limited to claims involving California delivery drivers and is separate from a prior, disputed resolution with the City relating to certain non-driver workers.

Settlement Terms

• $4.1 million in worker distributions, distributed directly to eligible California drivers
• $400,000 in penalties, paid to the City of San Francisco

We believe this resolution prioritizes putting money directly into the hands of workers while allowing the company to focus on the future.

Looking Ahead

WorkWhile remains firmly committed to Proposition 22 and to defending the will of the Californians who passed it. Resolving claims tied to past periods does not change our commitment to challenge the City’s efforts to undermine Proposition 22 going forward.

We are also committed to fully complying with all applicable laws and to applying the legal frameworks that govern our business consistently across our platform.

Most importantly, we are focused on action. We will continue investing in platform users, defending their right to choose how they work, and building a worker-first platform that serves communities across California.