Washington to adopt nation-leading family and medical leave for Uber drivers

Washington is poised to become the first state in the nation to mandate paid family and medical leave and unemployment benefits for Uber and Lyft drivers.

The defining bill, which passed the state legislature on Tuesday, guarantees ride-share drivers up to 12 weeks of paid time off to deal with medical issues or care for a new baby. It also makes temporary, pandemic-era unemployment benefits permanent for drivers.

During a hearing on the bill, Jennifer Heinlein said unemployment was a lifesaver for her. As a single parent with a child on the autism spectrum, she had to stop driving for Uber when schools closed.

“My daughter had to be homeschooled,” she said. “School shut down. I had nobody to teach her. She needs one-on-one direction. It’s not like I could give her the schoolbook and do it. So, it saved my life, I’m a huge supporter of it.”

Uber and Lyft also support the bill. The companies worked with lawmakers and drivers to craft the legislation.

State Rep. Liz Berry (D-Seattle) celebrated that stakeholder involvement at a hearing before the bill passed.

“We have everyone here today, lockstep together in support of this piece of legislation that will be groundbreaking and show that we can provide the benefits for these kinds of workers in the state of Washington,” she said.

Uber called the bill “a true compromise between state lawmakers, labor leaders, and transportation network companies to afford drivers historic new benefits while protecting the independence and flexibility they say they want,” in a statement to KUOW.

Washington is emerging as a leader in the campaign to give gig workers benefits afforded to traditional employees.

Last year, the state adopted a law guaranteeing paid sick time, a minimum wage, and other protections for drivers.

The bill that passed on Tuesday now heads to Gov. Jay Inslee’s desk to be signed.