Uber, DoorDash and others discuss fund for drivers affected by coronavirus

Uber Technologies Inc., UBER -1.65% Lyft Inc., LYFT -2.86% DoorDash Inc., Postmates Inc. and Instacart Inc. are involved in the discussions and are weighing how to band together for potential payments, according to people familiar with the matter. The San Francisco-based companies are looking at paying workers in the U.S. who have been infected or quarantined by a public health agency. They continue to negotiate on details for a potential fund and are expected to make a decision in the coming days, the people said.

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Some drivers say compensation that is only available after a diagnosis or quarantine may not be enough. As independent contractors, most don’t receive paid time off, which would allow them to stop working if they were to experience any symptoms. Lawmakers and labor groups have begun to focus on that issue as a public health risk.

“If I don’t drive, I can’t pay my rent, I can’t pay for child support,” said Steve Gregg, a 51-year-old father of three who drives full-time for Uber in San Francisco. “If you’re only going to compensate us after we’re quarantined, it’s already too late,” he said.

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