Getting food delivered in New York is simple. For the workers who do it, getting paid is not

A wage law in New York City meant to protect food delivery workers is getting backlash from app companies like Uber, GrubHub and DoorDash. They've cut worker hours and made it more difficult to tip. The apps say the changes are to cut costs and reduce worker downtime, in line with the law's incentive structure. However, workers are navigating weekly changes from the app companies, including changes to pay calculations and reduced work flexibility. The pay protections that went into effect in December guarantee companies pay $18 an hour for delivery work, which averaged around $14 in the past. Seattle also passed a minimum wage law in January, covering even more app-based work.