An El Pais investigation into working conditions for female, gig workers found women experienced a range of gender-specific risks while at work, from both customers and the general public. A recent New York City report found women make up 24% of delivery workers. Workers who spoke for the report described sexual harassment and threats from customers, difficulties managing menstruation owing to the demands of delivery targets and a lack of access to bathrooms, as well as the physical threats from pedestrians and traffic while carrying out deliveries, often without breaks.

Women gig workers described how their jobs are convenient, positively describing how they are able to manage working hours alongside care work in the home. However, women workers reported limited ability to participate in assembly, association and organizing spaces as male delivery workers can, owing to taking on a greater share of responsibilities in the home, and therefore activism among gig riders and drivers is often dominated by men. The field reportedly “ignores their particular needs such as protection from harassment or access to bathrooms during menstruation”, meaning gendered concerns are marginalised.

The Business & Human Rights Resource Centre invited responses from DoorDash, GrubHub and Relay. None of the companies provided a response.