October 9, 2024
In June 2024, Uber reached an agreement with Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell that gives drivers access to new protections and benefits. This blog post describes Uber’s policies, your rights, and your protections as an independent Massachusetts Uber Rides driver1.
Minimum Earnings for Massachusetts Rides Trips
For Rides trips that begin in Massachusetts, you are guaranteed minimum earnings of $32.50 per hour during active time.
Active Time
Active time begins when you are en route to a Rides trip. Active time ends when you drop off a rider at their destination.
Your active time will only be calculated on Rides trips that begin in Massachusetts. Delivery trips, or any Rides trips that begin outside Massachusetts, do not contribute to your active time. Any active time on overlapping trips (i.e shared Rides) will count only once.2
Under Uber’s agreement with the Attorney General, only certain time during canceled trips qualifies as active time.
- The time you spend driving before a rider cancels does count toward your active time; the time you spend driving after you have been notified of a rider cancellation does not.
- The time you spend driving on a trip where you cancel before dropping off your passenger does not count toward your active time.
How Uber guarantees your minimum earnings
Your minimum earnings are calculated over a two-week earnings period (“minimum earnings period”). The minimum earnings period begins at the same time as your current Uber pay schedule, every Monday at 4:00 AM ET.
At the end of each minimum earnings period, Uber will review how much you made in trip fares and incentives, along with your active time. If you earned less than the minimum you should have earned for that minimum earnings period, Uber will make supplemental payments to meet your minimum earnings hourly rate. If you earned at or above the minimum earnings hourly rate, you will not receive a supplemental payment for that minimum earnings period. Supplemental payments are processed following the end of the minimum earnings period. You may receive more than one supplemental payment to meet your earnings guarantee.
On-trip incentives and guarantees are considered as part of your earnings when your minimum earnings are calculated. Tips, customer-charged fees (like tolls and cleaning fees), and offline promotions such as referrals are not included when calculating your minimum earnings.
How to view your active time and guaranteed earnings
You can review your recorded active time directly in the Driver App by accessing the MA Benefits Hub, which is a tile located within the Earnings Hub. You can review your stats by selecting “Minimum Driver Pay,” and clicking on the specific biweekly period.
You can also review your active time and guaranteed earnings online. Visit the “Activity” page at https://drivers.uber.com/earnings, where you can view a full breakdown of your Active Time by clicking “View Details” on your “Earnings guarantee” activity (under “Events” column).
Annual Increases of the hourly minimum earnings rate
Currently, the minimum earnings rate is $32.50 per hour. On January 15, 2025, and then annually on that date, Uber will increase the hourly minimum earnings rate.3
Paid Sick Leave (PSL)
Beginning November 1, 2024, Massachusetts drivers can earn up to 40 hours of paid sick leave (PSL) annually. Uber will pay you $20 per hour when you claim PSL.
How you accrue Paid Sick Leave (PSL)
For Rides trips that begin in Massachusetts, you will accrue one (1) hour of paid sick leave (PSL) for every 30 hours of active time.
In a calendar year, you can accrue up to 40 hours of PSL. You may also claim up to 40 hours of available PSL in a calendar year. You may also carry over up to 40 hours of PSL to the following calendar year. If you do not record any active time for 365 consecutive days, any unclaimed PSL will expire.
How to use your accrued PSL
You can claim PSL for yourself, or to care for your child, spouse, parent, or spouse’s parent. Massachusetts Drivers can use their accrued PSL for any of the reasons listed below:
- Mental or physical illness, injury, or health condition (you do not have to have a diagnosis or require medical care when you request PSL);
- Diagnosis, care, or treatment of a mental or physical illness, injury, or health condition; or a need for medical diagnosis or preventive care;
- Absence from work when you or your child has been the victim of domestic violence.
Uber will not ask you about your illness or any details related to domestic violence incidents. Similarly, Uber will not require you to submit documentation of the reason for your PSL claim.
How to view and claim your accrued PSL
You can claim your PSL directly in the Driver App by accessing the Massachusetts Benefits Hub and clicking “Paid Sick Leave” > “Claim Time”. PSL claims can be made in one (1) hour blocks. In a calendar day, you can claim up to 8 hours of PSL. In a calendar year, you can claim up to 40 hours of PSL. After claiming PSL in the Driver App, you can expect to receive payment within 14 days.
Annual Increases PSL Rate
Beginning November 1, 2024, the PSL rate is $20 per hour. Uber will increase the hourly PSL rate annually on January 15th.4
Occupational Accident Insurance
As of October 1, 2024, Uber provides occupational accident insurance coverage for Massachusetts Uber Rides drivers. Drivers are covered for their rides activity in the state, including time online, waiting for a trip request, en-route to pick up passengers, and while on trips starting in Massachusetts. This insurance helps protect against unforeseen medical expenses and eligible earnings loss resulting from a covered accident. If you are injured while driving on the Uber platform, and you are unable to work, this insurance will cover up to $1,000,000 of medical expenses and disability payments.
Learn more by visiting the Insurance Hub in the Uber Driver App.
Paid Family Medical Leave Insurance
As of October 1, 2024, Massachusetts Uber Rides drivers will be eligible for a quarter-end payment equal to half the cost of enrolling in the state’s Paid Family Medical Leave insurance program. This payment will be made automatically, irrespective of whether the driver has opted into the program, with the first payment coming after the end of that quarter. Uber will make the first payment at the end of January 2025.
For details on how to enroll in Paid Family Medical Leave, visit the Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave website here.
Portable Health Fund
Beginning in March 2025, Massachusetts Uber Rides drivers with at least 15 hours per week of active time in a calendar quarter will be eligible to qualify for a cash stipend towards the cost of a qualifying health plan.
- Drivers averaging at least 25 hours per week during the calendar quarter will be eligible for a full stipend;
- Drivers averaging between 15 and 25 hours per week during the quarter will be eligible for a half stipend. To meet the eligibility requirements for the medical stipend, you may combine your Uber active time with your active time on other rideshare platforms.
More information about qualifying health plans can be found at the Massachusetts Health Connector website.
We’ll update this page with more information in the coming months.
Account Deactivation Appeals
Uber Rides drivers in Massachusetts will continue to have access to our Deactivations Review Center in the event they feel their account has been mistakenly or wrongfully deactivated. For more information or to access the DRC, click here.
Massachusetts Benefits Questions
More information about the benefits described above can be found in the Massachusetts Benefits Hub within the Driver App. If you believe you have not received the benefits described above, or you have questions regarding your eligibility, you may reach out to Uber support at any time in-app by selecting “Help” on the home screen, or by visiting help.uber.com.
1Uber’s agreement with the Massachusetts Attorney General applies only to select Rides activity originating within Massachusetts. Uber Eats activity is not subject to this agreement.
2Active time has the same definition for all Massachusetts Benefits described in this blog post. You can learn more about calculating your active time here.
3Annually, by January 15, Uber will increase the hourly minimum earnings rate for Massachusetts drivers by an amount that is the lower of (i) a 3 percent annual rate; or (ii) the average inflation rate for the preceding calendar year as reflected in the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Price Index for Wage Earners (“CPI-W”) for the Northeast Region. The hourly minimum earnings rate may also increase if the Massachusetts state minimum wage increases.
4Annually, by January 15, Uber will increase the hourly paid sick leave rate for Massachusetts drivers by an amount that is the lower of (i) a 3 percent annual rate; or (ii) the average inflation rate for the preceding calendar year as reflected in the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Price Index for Wage Earners (“CPI-W”) for the Northeast Region
Posted by Uber
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