Instawork maintains a strict cancellation policy to create a reliable platform for both Pros and Partners. Understanding these rules will help you keep your account in good standing.
Types of cancellations:
Cancellations with more than 24 hours' notice:
Tagged as early/non-urgent cancellation.
You can cancel without risk of immediate suspension.
These cancellations still affect your cancellation score and Top Pro status.
Frequent cancellations, even with notice, may lead to account suspension
Cancellations within 24 hours of shift start:
Tagged as late/urgent cancellation.
Subject to account suspension.
You may submit an appeal within 24 hours of the suspension taking effect.
Frequent urgent cancellations will result in removal of all upcoming shifts.
No-shows (cancellations after shift start time):
1 no-show within 30 days = 7-day suspension.
2 no-shows within 30 days = 30-day suspension.
Additional no-shows may lead to permanent account deactivation.
Support cannot excuse no-shows unless you worked the shift.
Special situations:
Grace period (Free Cancel):
You have 15 minutes after booking a shift to cancel without penalties.
Important: If you book a shift 1 hour or less before the shift start time, the grace period will not apply.
Ongoing shifts:
Canceling during a shift typically incurs a late cancellation fee (e.g., 4-hour fee).
You cannot cancel once you've clocked in.
Long-term assignments:
You cannot cancel individual dates in an assignment.
Options: Cancel the entire assignment or submit a "Leave of Absence" request.
Click here to explore the details about LTA Cancellation Rules.
Multi-Day Shift Assignments:
You cannot cancel individual days within a multi-day booking - the entire set must be canceled.
Canceling a multi-day assignment may result in higher violation points since each shift counts as a separate cancellation.
If you need to miss just one day, contact your on-site supervisor directly to see if they can adjust to that specific day.
There is no option in the app to request a day off for a single date in a standard multi-day booking. For more details about canceling multi-day shifts click here.
Partner cancellations:
You may receive up to 4 hours of compensation if you arrive on time and the Partner cancels.
Shift cancellation due to Inclement weather, public safety/emergencies, and late arrival will not subject for a payment.
Requesting A Paid Sick Leave
You can request paid sick leave for a shift you missed due to illness. Have your medical documentation or doctor's note ready when you make the request. You can check this article for more information: How to Request Paid Sick Leave. Note: Paid sick leave is only available for W2 shifts.
Reminders:
Cancellations due to inclement weather will not negatively impact your account. No penalties should be applied to your account, and no payment compensation will be provided. If you need to cancel due to unsafe weather condition, please contact support with your shift details and specify the specific weather warning or emergency.
For shift cancellations due to dangerous or emergency conditions, such as hazardous road status, no penalties should be applied to your account but still align with the cancellation policy of Instawork. You can reach out to support, and it is subject to verification.
Note: You may be asked by support to share any documents or proof for any cancellation made due to dangerous or emergency conditions, such as hazardous road status.
How to cancel a shift:
Open the Instawork app
Tap "Shifts" in the bottom-left corner
Tap "My Shifts"
Select the shift you need to cancel
Scroll down and tap "I can't make it"
Enter your reason for cancellation
Tap "Cancel shifts"
For payment disputes after cancellations, go to "Past Shifts," select the shift, and request an hour's adjustment with an explanation.