DoorDash worked with the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office to expand support and protection for Caviar gig workers known as “Dashers” during the COVID-19 pandemic.

DoorDash is the largest food delivery network company in the United States. On Monday, the company’s CEO Tony Xu and Pennsylvania Attorney General Joe Shapiro announced their landmark public-private collaboration to expand financial, health, and childcare-related support for Caviar gig workers.

In a statement, Mr. Xu said, “We’re proud to partner with Attorney General Shapiro to expand our support to Dashers who are doing so much to support their communities during this crisis. Helping Dashers keep themselves and their families safe, healthy and cared for is our priority, and we know it is important for companies like DoorDash to do our part.”

On the other hand, AG Shapiro praised the company’s “strong leadership in setting a new standard” for gig workers.” He is hoping that other gig economy companies will be inspired to follow DoorDash’s action.

“We need other gig economy companies to step up and prioritize the health and safety of workers—especially those on the front lines still making deliveries and interacting with the public during the COVID-19 emergency,” added AG Shapiro.

Expanded support by DoorDash to Dashers

During the COVID-19 pandemic, DoorDash will:

• Expand COVID-19 Financial Assistance for Dashers who have been tested positive or diagnosed with a probable case of COVID-19, who have been instructed to self-quarantine, who are at higher risk for severe illness due to COVID-19, or who have a housemate who meets any of these criteria.
• Reduce its requirements for Dashers to qualify for the COVID-19 Financial Assistance. Previously, a Dasher must be active on DoorDash or Caviar for at least 60 days to obtain financial assistance. Now, Dashers who are active for 30 days and completed at least 30 deliveries are now qualified to get financial assistance.
• Provide subsidized telehealth access to any active Dasher for appointments related to COVID-19 concerns.
• Provide financial assistance to Top Dashers who have primary childcare responsibilities for children whose schools and daycare have been closed because of COVID-19.
• Establish a fund to enable select social service organizations to provide last-mile delivery of food and/or supplies to vulnerable communities throughout Pittsburgh and Philadelphia during the COVID-19 emergency.
• Partner with Pennsylvania hospitals to donate DashPass subscriptions to healthcare workers for free for at least 60 days, offering unlimited $0 delivery fees from thousands of local restaurants to healthcare employees.

DoorDash also provided free personal protective equipment to Dashers and no-contact delivery options to protect Pennsylvanians. It is supporting local Pennsylvania restaurants with five or fewer locations by cutting the delivery fee by 50 percent until the end of May.