Answer · confidence: partial
Did DoorDash and Upwork's 2025 and 2026 reports change worker-status costs or results?
Research question: Do FY2025 and FY2026 10-K filings from DoorDash, Upwork, and similar platforms report changes to misclassification accruals or to classification outcomes, and how do those disclosures compare with the 2020 to 2022 filings in the record?
The records show DoorDash's FY2025 10-K says it is still involved in putative class actions, PAGA representative actions, and individual claims challenging Dasher classification 5, using the same description as its FY2024 10-K 6. Its FY2025 10-K also warns that laws on contractor status are subject to change and divergent interpretations 11, and the annual report says Dashers are maintained as properly classified but may be reclassified 14. The 2020 to 2022 filings describe the San Francisco District Attorney's June 2020 misclassification suit 17, its December 2020 withdrawal of a preliminary injunction request 18, and a reasonably possible loss that could not be estimated as of March 31, 2022 23. The newest fact is a Q1 2026 10-Q filed 2026-05-06 7, about five months before today, and the record contains no accrual figures and no Upwork filings to compare.
Checked 2026-10-23. Only documented and supported facts are used.
Dig deeper on this questionSources
[1] documented
Waitr's 2021 10-Q warns that the change in presidential administration could lead to more misclassification claims against the company.
"The change in presidential administration could result in increased misclassification claims against the Company."10-Q Waitr Holdings Inc. (ASAPQ) (CIK 0001653247) 2021-08-09
[2] supported
Just before Trump left office, the DOL issued a company-friendly independent contractor standard that was set to take effect in March 2021.
"Additionally, just before President Trump left office, the DOL issued a new, company-friendly independent contractor standard via regulation that was set to go into effect in March 2021."10-Q Waitr Holdings Inc. (ASAPQ) (CIK 0001653247) 2021-08-09
[3] documented
After President Biden took office, the DOL paused and then rescinded the independent contractor regulation in May 2021.
"However, after President Biden took office, the DOL paused and ultimately rescinded implementation of the regulation in May 2021."10-Q Waitr Holdings Inc. (ASAPQ) (CIK 0001653247) 2021-08-09
[4] supported
As of mid-2021, the DOL had not proposed a substitute regulation, so the older, more worker-friendly standard remained in effect.
"The DOL has not yet proposed a substitute regulation, meaning that previous, more worker-friendly standard is still"10-Q Waitr Holdings Inc. (ASAPQ) (CIK 0001653247) 2021-08-09
[5] documented
DoorDash's FY2025 10-K says it is currently involved in putative class actions, PAGA representative actions, and individual claims, in court and in arbitration, challenging the classification of Dashers as independent contractors.
"We are currently involved in putative class actions, representative actions, such as those brought under PAGA, and individual claims, both in court as well as arbitration, and other matters challenging the classification of Dashers on our platform as independent contractors."10-K DoorDash, Inc. (DASH) (CIK 0001792789) 2026-02-18
[6] documented
DoorDash's FY2024 10-K says the company is currently in putative class actions, PAGA representative actions, and individual claims, in court and in arbitration, challenging the classification of Dashers as independent contractors.
"We are currently involved in putative class actions, representative actions, such as those brought under California Labor Code Private Attorneys General Act (“PAGA”) and individual claims both in court as well as arbitration and other matters challenging the classification of Dashers on our platform as independent contractors."10-K DoorDash, Inc. (DASH) (CIK 0001792789) 2025-02-14
[7] documented
DoorDash reports that it is currently involved in putative class actions, PAGA representative actions, and individual claims, in court and in arbitration, challenging the classification of Dashers as independent contractors.
"We are currently involved in putative class actions, representative actions, such as those brought under California Labor Code Private Attorneys General Act (“PAGA”), and individual claims, both in court as well as arbitration, and other matters challenging the classification of Dashers on our platform as independent contractors."10-Q DoorDash, Inc. (DASH) (CIK 0001792789) 2026-05-06
[8] documented
The San Francisco District Attorney sued DoorDash in June 2020, alleging it misclassified California Dashers as independent contractors rather than employees.
"in June 2020, the San Francisco District Attorney filed an action in the Superior Court of California, County of San Francisco, alleging that we misclassified California Dashers as independent contractors as opposed to employees"10-K DoorDash, Inc. (DASH) (CIK 0001792789) 2026-02-18
[9] documented
DoorDash states that laws governing independent contractor status are subject to change and divergent interpretations by authorities, which creates uncertainty for the company.
"Laws and regulations that govern the status and classification of independent contractors are subject to change and divergent interpretations by various authorities, which can create uncertainty and unpredictability for us."10-K DoorDash, Inc. (DASH) (CIK 0001792789) 2025-02-14
[10] documented
DoorDash states that laws governing independent contractor status are subject to change and divergent interpretations by authorities, which it says creates uncertainty and unpredictability for the company.
"Laws and regulations that govern the status and classification of independent contractors are subject to change and divergent interpretations by various authorities, which can create uncertainty and unpredictability for us."10-Q DoorDash, Inc. (DASH) (CIK 0001792789) 2026-05-06
[11] documented
DoorDash warns that laws governing independent contractor status are subject to change and divergent interpretations, creating uncertainty for the company.
"Laws and regulations that govern the status and classification of independent contractors are subject to change and divergent interpretations by various authorities, which can create uncertainty and unpredictability for us."10-K DoorDash, Inc. (DASH) (CIK 0001792789) 2026-02-18
[12] documented
DoorDash says other Dashers have challenged or threatened to challenge their independent contractor classification under U.S. federal, state, and international law, seeking monetary, injunctive, or other relief.
"Various other Dashers have challenged or threatened to challenge, and may challenge in the future, their classification on our platform as an independent contractor under U.S. federal and state and international law, seeking monetary, injunctive, or other relief."10-Q DoorDash, Inc. (DASH) (CIK 0001792789) 2026-05-06
[13] supported
The FY2024 10-K does not include 2022 discussion or 2023-versus-2022 comparisons; those are in the FY2023 10-K filed February 20, 2024, so the 2020 to 2022 period is not covered in this filing.
"Discussions of 2022 items and year-to-year comparisons between 2023 and 2022 are not included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K and can be found in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in Part II, Item 7 of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, filed with the SEC on February 20, 2024."10-K DoorDash, Inc. (DASH) (CIK 0001792789) 2025-02-14
[14] documented
DoorDash states it maintains that its Dashers are properly classified as independent contractors, but acknowledges they may be reclassified as employees due to changes in the law or its interpretation.
"While we maintain that Dashers that utilize our platform as independent contractors are properly classified as independent contractors, such Dashers may be reclassified as employees due to changes in the law or its interpretation."ARS DoorDash, Inc. (DASH) (CIK 0001792789) 2026-04-20
[15] documented
DoorDash reports that it is currently involved in putative class actions, representative actions under PAGA, and individual claims, in court and in arbitration, challenging the classification of its Dashers as independent contractors.
"We are currently involved in putative class actions, representative actions, such as those brought under PAGA, and individual claims, both in court as well as arbitration, and other matters challenging the classification of Dashers on our platform as independent contractors."ARS DoorDash, Inc. (DASH) (CIK 0001792789) 2026-04-20
[16] documented
DoorDash says laws governing contractor classification are subject to change and divergent interpretations by authorities, which it describes as creating uncertainty for the company.
"Laws and regulations that govern the status and classification of independent contractors are subject to change and divergent interpretations by various authorities, which can create uncertainty and unpredictability for us."ARS DoorDash, Inc. (DASH) (CIK 0001792789) 2026-04-20
[17] supported
DoorDash reported that the San Francisco District Attorney sued in June 2020, alleging that Dashers were misclassified as independent contractors rather than employees, and sought restitutionary damages and a permanent injunction.
"in June 2020, the San Francisco District Attorney filed a claim against us in the Superior Court of California, County of San Francisco, alleging that we misclassified Dashers as independent contractors as opposed to employees."10-K DoorDash, Inc. (DASH) (CIK 0001792789) 2022-03-01
[18] supported
The San Francisco District Attorney withdrew its request for a preliminary injunction that would have barred DoorDash from classifying Dashers in California as independent contractors while the case was pending.
"The request for the preliminary injunction was withdrawn in December 2020."10-K DoorDash, Inc. (DASH) (CIK 0001792789) 2022-03-01
[19] documented
The Marko settlement resolves PAGA claims and worker misclassification claims for Dashers in California (August 30, 2016 to December 31, 2020) and in Massachusetts (September 26, 2014 to March 31, 2021).
"Marko settlement which resolves claims under PAGA and claims alleging worker misclassification for Dashers in California for the period of August 30, 2016 through December 31, 2020 and claims alleging worker misclassification for Dashers in Massachusetts for the period of September 26, 2014 through March 31, 2021."10-Q DoorDash, Inc. (DASH) (CIK 0001792789) 2022-05-06
[20] supported
DoorDash said Dasher classification litigation had grown in volume since the California Supreme Court's 2018 Dynamex ruling, and it was involved in putative class actions, PAGA actions, and individual arbitration claims over Dasher classification.
"We have been involved in and continue to be involved in numerous legal proceedings related to Dasher classification, and such proceedings have increased in volume since the California Supreme Court’s 2018 ruling in Dynamex."10-K DoorDash, Inc. (DASH) (CIK 0001792789) 2022-03-01
[21] supported
In June 2020, the San Francisco District Attorney sued DoorDash in California state court, alleging that Dashers were misclassified as independent contractors rather than employees and seeking restitution and a permanent injunction.
"In addition, in June 2020, the San Francisco District Attorney filed an action in the Superior Court of California, County of San Francisco, alleging that we misclassified Dashers as independent contractors as opposed to employees in violation of the California Labor Code and the California Unfair Competition Law, among other allegations."10-Q DoorDash, Inc. (DASH) (CIK 0001792789) 2022-05-06
[22] supported
The San Francisco District Attorney withdrew its request for a preliminary injunction that would have barred DoorDash from classifying Dashers in California as independent contractors.
"The request for the preliminary injunction was withdrawn in December 2020."10-Q DoorDash, Inc. (DASH) (CIK 0001792789) 2022-05-06
[23] documented
DoorDash states that a loss from the San Francisco District Attorney misclassification action is reasonably possible, but the possible range of losses cannot be estimated given the case's status.
"It is a reasonable possibility that a loss may be incurred; however, the possible range of losses is not estimable given the status of the case."10-Q DoorDash, Inc. (DASH) (CIK 0001792789) 2022-05-06