When Restaurants Don’t Start an Order for DoorDash Drivers: Should They Compensate for Wait Time?

The question of whether a restaurant should pay a DoorDash driver for waiting time when the order has not been prepared touches on several factors including contractual agreements, operational practices, and fairness.

Factors to Consider:

Contractual Agreements

Typically, DoorDash drivers or Dashers are independent contractors, meaning they have a contractual relationship with DoorDash rather than with the restaurant directly. The payment structure generally compensates Dashers for the delivery itself, not for waiting time.

Restaurants usually have agreements with DoorDash that outline expectations for order preparation and delivery. If the restaurant fails to meet these expectations, it may affect their ratings or relationship with DoorDash but typically does not translate to direct compensation for the driver.

Operational Practices

Many restaurants have peak times and may struggle with managing order volume efficiently. If a driver arrives at a busy time and must wait, it is often seen as part of the delivery process rather than a service that warrants additional compensation.

Some restaurants may have policies in place to streamline order preparation, such as notifying Dashers of delays or providing estimated wait times.

Fairness and Customer Experience

From a fairness perspective, it may seem reasonable for drivers to be compensated for their time if they are waiting significantly, especially if it impacts their ability to take other orders. However, this could complicate the operational dynamics between DoorDash, the restaurant, and the drivers.

A better approach may be for DoorDash to adjust their pay structure to account for wait times, but this would require systemic changes within the platform.

Impact on Service Quality

Delays in order preparation can affect customer satisfaction. If drivers frequently experience long wait times, it could lead to negative reviews for both the restaurant and DoorDash.

Conclusion:

In summary, while it may seem fair for a restaurant to compensate a driver for waiting time, the current structure of the gig economy and delivery service agreements typically does not support this. Instead, it often falls on the restaurant to improve efficiency and communication with both drivers and customers to minimize wait times.

Any change in compensation practices would likely need to come from DoorDash as part of their service model rather than from the restaurants themselves.