Even with the best of intentions, companies can do the wrong thing. Last summer, Uber Eats, Postmates, and DoorDash announced they would waive delivery fees for black-owned restaurants. These policies were implemented during times of heightened social unrest and the unprecedented economic challenges of COVID-19. While the expressions of goodwill may have been sincere, their new corporate race policies were a mistake.
Our office filed charges against the companies and alleged that these race-based price distinctions pushed restaurant and small business customers to make choices based on a proprietor’s skin color, not the content of their products or services. That is discrimination based on race, which our office alleged is contrary to Arizona law. The Arizona Civil Rights Act, and other similar laws around the country, were enacted to promote equality and prohibit discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, or ancestry. Thankfully, we reached an amicable settlement with Uber Eats, Postmates, and DoorDash to stop these discriminatory practices in Arizona.
