DoorDash, Uber Cost Drivers $550 Million in Tips, NYC Says

Core Insights - DoorDash Inc. and Uber Technologies Inc. have reportedly deprived New York delivery workers of over $550 million in tips due to changes in their app interfaces [1][6] - The companies moved tipping prompts to less visible locations after new pay standards for delivery workers were implemented in December 2023, resulting in a significant drop in average tips [2][6] Company Actions - The Mayor's administration indicated that the companies raised service fees to subsidize new pay rates while altering the in-app tipping function to appear after checkout, making upfront costs seem lower [2] - DoorDash has publicly disputed the findings of the report, claiming that delivery workers receive 100% of tips placed through the app [3] Regulatory Environment - Mayor Mamdani's administration is focused on improving working conditions for delivery workers, having signed an executive order to address junk fees and misleading subscriptions, specifically targeting Uber and DoorDash [7] - New amendments to the city's delivery worker laws require apps to provide more prominent tipping options, including the ability to tip during checkout and offering a selectable 10% tip suggestion [9] Legal Challenges - DoorDash and Uber have jointly filed a lawsuit against the city to block the new tipping requirements, arguing that they infringe on their First Amendment rights [10] Future Outlook - New laws protecting workers' tips are set to take effect in 2026, with the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection committed to transparency regarding the practices of delivery app companies [11]