Madison, Wisconsin —Today, leaders in Wisconsin’s State Senate and Assembly made unprecedented progress toward providing portable benefits to eligible app-based workers across the state when both chambers passed portable benefits legislation. The bills (Senate Bill 256 and Assembly Bill 269) allow platforms like DoorDash to contribute money to a flexible benefits account—savings that can be used for benefits from health care to retirement–without compromising their ability to work flexibly and independently.
Wisconsin State Senator Julian Bradley (R-28) and Representative Alex Dallman (R-39) championed the bills, which have been extremely popular among Dashers and other workers throughout the state, with 67% of union households supporting. The passage of this legislation follows the success of portable benefits pilot programs that DoorDash has already established in Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Georgia, but that do not carry the force of law, like this legislation would.
In a recent committee hearing in front of the legislature Maliki Krieski, a Ripon Dasher, mom of three, and small business owner told lawmakers:
“This bill sets up a portable benefits system so that platforms can contribute to accounts that we, as workers, control. These benefits would be flexible, portable, and follow us — no matter how or where we choose to work. This is about modernizing our systems so that app-based workers throughout Wisconsin can be set up for success. I shouldn’t have to choose between earning flexibly and planning for my future. This legislation offers a modern solution that respects the independence I value while planning for the future.”
Max Rettig, DoorDash Global Head of Public Policy, applauded the bipartisan effort:
“Today is a resounding victory for the more than 100,000 app-based workers in Wisconsin. The legislature has now sent a clear, bipartisan message–these workers deserve to maintain their access to flexibility and independence while also gaining access to critical benefits. DoorDash is proud to have supported this legislation, and we look forward to working with Governor Evers to get it signed into law.”
The bill now heads to Gov. Tony Evers’ desk, where he has the opportunity to make Wisconsin the first state in the nation to allow apps to provide benefits for eligible workers. So far, Dashers and customers in Wisconsin have sent hundreds of letters to the Governor, urging him to sign the bill into law. DoorDash will continue to champion legislation throughout the country to give Dashers and other independent workers the benefits and protections they deserve.
