Delivery drivers say city’s new wage rule makes it harder to make ends meet

Many changes have come to the food delivery industry in New York City, including a new wage formula that some drivers say is making it harder to pay their bills.

For those placing an order for delivery on apps like DoorDash, tipping is no longer an option until after checkout. That’s just one of the changes consumers are facing after the city’s new wage formula went into place for delivery workers to earn at least $18 per hour with yearly increases.

"Before everything used to match up for me, you know, I make $500 on DoorDash. I can make $300 on tips,” said DoorDasher Jamal Harris. “Now, I can make $300 on DoorDash or $50 worth of tips. That's what last week looked like."

Harris says DoorDash can no longer serve as a full-time job for him. He says that thanks to the city’s new rules, he can’t just go on and start working like he used to – he says he now has to make a schedule because of the changed rules.

“If it wasn't for having another job, I would be at one of the shelters,” said Harris. "In order for us to survive in this city working as gig workers and all that, we need the best benefits and that rule did not look out for us.”

Some platforms opposed to the change even responded by limiting work hours. The city’s rule allows apps to pay delivery workers around $30 an hour on average for active time spent on deliveries, or the option of $18 per hour for the entire time logged in.

News 12 reached out to the city and DoorDash for comments on these delivery worker concerns and are awaiting responses.