Committee advances amendments to renew COVID workplace protections for grocery, restaurant and gig workers

The Government Audit and Oversight Committee on Feb. 18 adopted amendments to a proposed ordinance that would require grocery store, drugstore, restaurant and on‑demand delivery covered entities to provide COVID‑related protections to workers and then continued the item for a final vote on March 4.

Sponsor Supervisor Raza Haney framed the proposal as a response to frontline risks for cashiers, deli clerks, bakery staff and app‑based delivery workers who continued working through the pandemic. "Cashiers, bakers, deli clerks, pharmacy clerks, and on‑demand food delivery service workers put their lives at risk during this pandemic so we can safely shelter in place at home," Haney said. The ordinance would require covered entities to provide face coverings, gloves, hand sanitizer and disinfectant, implement social‑distancing protocols, pay workers for time spent disinfecting high‑touch surfaces, provide a translated notice to workers on the City website, and prohibit retaliation for workers who exercise rights under the ordinance.

Office of Labor Standards and Enforcement staff told the committee that outreach to covered employers led to policy changes among several on‑demand delivery providers and that two corrective actions had produced restitution to workers; they said they had not received further complaints after those corrective actions. Members of the public — including many current and former gig workers — called in to describe paying for PPE out of pocket, insufficient cleaning reimbursements (one caller cited a company payment of "78¢ per day" for cleaning time), fear of exposure and requests for enforcement of anti‑retaliation protections.

Deputy City Attorney Anne Pearson and supervisors discussed which offered amendments are substantive (requiring a later hearing) and which are not. Because several substantive edits were circulated, the committee accepted amendments and continued the item to the March 4 meeting for final action so the Board will avoid any gap in coverage when the prior emergency ordinance expires in mid‑March.

Action and next steps: The committee voted to adopt Supervisor Haney’s amendments and to continue the item to March 4 for final consideration. Department staff will provide more detail on enforcement, penalty limits and precise implementation mechanics at the next hearing.