Here are some things to know about applying
for gig jobs during the pandemic.
WHO IS HIRING DELIVERY WORKERS?
The biggest hiring companies? Delivery services
for groceries and other essentials including
San Francisco-based Instacart, Target-owned
Shipt, Philadelphia-based startup goPuff and
New York-based FreshDirect. Amazon is also
adding independent contract drivers through its
Flex program.
Restaurant delivery apps not hiring as quickly,
with many of their small business partners
struggling under shutdown orders. DoorDash,
however, has launched a “priority access program”
to help laid off restaurant employees sign up for
delivery work. Uber has an internal app that helps
its ride-hailing drivers find work for Uber Eats and
other jobs. Lyft is partnering with government
agencies, nonprofits and health organizations to
help its out-of-work drivers find jobs delivering
essentials to people in need.
Beyond gig jobs, Domino’s, Pizza Hut, Papa
John’s and Little Caesar’s are also hiring more
delivery drivers.
IS GIG WORK PAYING MORE DURING
A PANDEMIC?Some delivery work has become more lucrative
because of a rise in orders and bigger tips.
Instacart and Shipt say tips have risen 30% on
average in recent weeks. DoorDash says courier
earnings have increased by $5 per active hour
compared to this time last year.
Most app-based companies, however, are not
directly boosting pay for their workers. Instacart