On or before November 1, 2024, rideshare drivers in Massachusetts are gaining a valuable new benefit: paid sick leave. This means they can take time off to recover from illness or handle family medical needs without sacrificing their income. Here’s how it works:
Earning Sick Leave
- Drivers will accrue 1 hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours they spend actively working (picking up and driving passengers).
- This accrual continues until they reach a maximum of 40 hours of sick leave per year.
- Drivers can start using their accrued sick leave once they’ve worked 90 hours.
Example:
- John drives for a rideshare company and works an average of 40 hours per week.
- After 3 weeks (120 hours of work), he will have accrued 4 hours of paid sick leave.
- If he catches a cold and needs to take a day off, he can use his sick leave to get paid for that day.
Using Sick Leave
- Drivers can use sick leave for any reason allowed under Massachusetts law, such as their own illness, a family member’s illness, or issues related to domestic violence.
- They can typically use sick leave in increments of up to 1 hour at a time.
- If a driver needs to take more than 3 consecutive days of sick leave, they may need to provide a doctor’s note or other documentation.
- It is unclear at this time if 8 hours of sick time is considered 1 day of sick leave.
Getting Paid
- For each hour of sick leave used, drivers will be paid $20.
- This rate may increase over time to keep up with inflation or changes in minimum wage.
- The companies will be modifying their apps to allow for requesting sick leave through the app.
Important Details
- Unused sick leave up to 40 hours can be carried over to the next year, but drivers are not entitled to use more than 40 hours in one calendar year.
- The Companies shall not be required to pay out any accrued but unused paid sick time.
- If a driver doesn’t work for 365 consecutive days or their contract is terminated, they lose any unused sick leave.
- Companies can’t ask for details about the driver’s illness or domestic violence situation, but they can require a form stating the sick leave is used for a covered purpose.
Overall, this new benefit provides important financial security for rideshare drivers, allowing them to prioritize their health and well-being without worrying about losing income.