Labor and Policy

  • Protestors confront ICE officers in Minneapolis, Minnesota
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    Stephen Maturen via Getty Images
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    Deep Dive

    ‘Fear’ and ‘chaos’ threaten employers’ 2026 immigration plans

    Even the attorneys to whom HR departments look for guidance are vexed by the Trump administration’s enforcement plan — which is expected to escalate.

    By Ryan Golden • Jan. 30, 2026
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    Permission granted by Square
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    What’s the restaurant industry outlook for 2026?

    After a bruising year, restaurants face another spell of serious uncertainty. But there are bright spots in beverage innovation and casual dining, and diner spending may improve.

    By • Jan. 30, 2026
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    Courtesy of Starbucks
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    Starbucks’ sales spike on traffic, show turnaround is working

    The coffee giant saw transactions increase among rewards members and non-members, the first time both cohorts saw traffic growth in nearly four years.

    By • Jan. 28, 2026
  • Fight for 15 protestors demand $15 an hour minimum wage in Washington, D.C.
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    Kevin Dietsch via Getty Images
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    Minimum wage increases hit 19 states in 2026

    A number of states crossed the $15-per-hour threshold that’s long been used as a rallying cry among worker advocates.

    By Ryan Golden • Jan. 12, 2026
  • Kiosks for ordering food sit in the dining area of a McDonald's restaurant located inside the company's new corporate headquarters on June 4, 2018 in Chicago, Illinois.
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    Scott Olson / Staff via Getty Images
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    Litigants end McDonald’s no-poach agreement saga after almost a decade

    Multiple fast food chains have since ceased using the restrictive hiring agreements at issue.

    By Ryan Golden • Jan. 7, 2026
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    Brett Dworski/Restaurant Dive
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    Column

    Fueling Up: How foodservice and QSRs can reshape c-store labor in 2026

    Hiring and retaining good workers has become an intractable challenge for the industry. Building first-class food programs could help retailers finally break through.

    By Brett Dworski • Dec. 16, 2025
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    Spencer Platt / Staff via Getty Images
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    Starbucks’ ‘illegal race-based’ DEI at center of Florida AG’s lawsuit

    Starbucks said its hiring practices are “inclusive, fair and competitive, and designed to ensure the strongest candidate for every job, every time.”

    By Caroline Colvin • Dec. 11, 2025
  • Colin Cochran tells reporters why he thinks Starbucks Workers United will win in Cheektowaga
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    Aneurin E Canham-Clyne/Restaurant Dive
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    By the numbers: 4 years of Starbucks Workers United

    Years after winning its first election, Starbucks Workers United remains without a contract despite election wins, shopfloor organizing and a national strike.

    By • Dec. 9, 2025
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    Getty Images
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    DC labor groups want $25 minimum wage and to kill the tip credit

    Buoyed by the success of Zohran Mamdani and goaded by the revision of Initiative 82, labor organizations in Washington, D.C., are picking a bigger version of a familiar fight. 

    By • Dec. 8, 2025
  • The Panda Express storefront in Hell's Kitchen, New York City.
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    "Hells Kitchen, NYC" by Ajay Suresh is licensed under CC BY 2.0
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    Panda Express to pay $1M in California carbon dioxide settlement

    A lawsuit in Riverside County alleged the brand failed to adequately train staff in handling potentially hazardous materials related to soda fountains.

    By • Dec. 5, 2025
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    Adam Gray via Getty Images
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    Starbucks to pay $39M in New York City labor settlement

    New York City alleged the company violated its Fair Workweek rules upwards of 500,000 times between 2021 and 2024.

    By • Updated Dec. 3, 2025
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    Courtesy of Panera Bread
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    Panera plans to reach $7B in sales by 2028

    The chain’s multi-part strategic plan includes investments in beverage and bakery items and front-of-house labor. 

    By • Nov. 18, 2025
  • A table set with strike materials for Starbucks Workers United's Nov. 17 national strike.
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    Starbucks Workers United launches 65-store strike

    The union said its members are prepared for the longest and most serious strike in the brand’s history, aimed at pushing Starbucks to agree to more favorable contract terms.

    By • Updated Nov. 13, 2025
  • Kelly McCulloch smiles at the camera. She is Inspire Brands chief people officer.
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    Courtesy of Inspire
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    Inspire hires Yum vet to lead HR operations

    Kelly McCulloch brings over two decades of QSR HR experience to her new position, where she will oversee a global system that includes 650,000 workers.

    By • Oct. 28, 2025
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    Duane Prokop via Getty Images
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    Taco Bell says education benefits have driven retention

    The chain is also emphasizing internal promotion of managers and area coaches through a training program meant to improve employees’ career paths.

    By • Oct. 24, 2025
  • A Starbucks barista pours foamed milk into a cup.
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    Courtesy of Starbucks
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    Starbucks poised to hire around 8K assistant mangers

    The chain is testing the assistant manager role — a step between hourly shift supervisor and salaried manager — at 62 stores to fine-tune the position before expanding it to nearly all U.S. and Canadian stores.

    By • Oct. 22, 2025
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    Courtesy of Yelp
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    Yelp adds AI Host and Receptionist to restaurant toolbox

     The customizable solutions can answer diner questions, ask follow-ups and book reservations, reflecting restaurant interest in voice technology.  

    By • Oct. 21, 2025
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    AleksandarGeorgiev via Getty Images
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    Sponsored by Circular Action Alliance

    Beyond compliance: How Circular Action Alliance supports producers through EPR

    As EPR laws for paper and packaging roll out across several U.S. states, producers must navigate a new and evolving regulatory landscape.

    Oct. 6, 2025
  • Patrons at a Chicago Starbucks after the coffee chain on Feb. 25, 2025.
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    Scott Olson via Getty Images
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    Starbucks to close roughly 400 stores, lay off 900 corporate workers

    The closures, which will largely take place over the next few days, follow a strategic review of the company’s North American store base as part of its larger turnaround plan.

    By • Updated Sept. 26, 2025
  • A zoomed in image of a building with gold signage. The sign says "P.F. Chang's."
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    Scott Olson via Getty Images
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    P.F. Chang’s settles claim it refused to hire applicant who asked for Sundays off

    The applicant’s stipulation constituted a religious accommodation request under Title VII, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission alleged.

    By Ryan Golden • Sept. 22, 2025
  • Olo founder Noah Glass on Olo's first day of trading
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    Permission granted by Olo
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    Olo lays off workers following Thoma Bravo acquisition

    The move marks the third time in three years the restaurant tech company has cut workers.

    By • Sept. 18, 2025
  • A smiling white man in a suit. He's wearing a jacket with peaked lapels and no tie, for what it's worth.
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    Permission granted by Starbucks
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    By the numbers: Starbucks’ first year under CEO Brian Niccol

    What’s changed 12 months after the chain’s dramatic restaurant leadership shakeup? The numbers reveal a mix of store growth, declining comp sales and continued labor strife. 

    By • Sept. 9, 2025
  • An image of a man sitting at a table inside a McDonald's
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    Courtesy of McDonald's
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    McDonald’s leaves NRA over policy differences

    The National Restaurant Association confirmed McDonald's terminated its membership after CEO Chris Kempczinski criticized the tip credit — a political keystone for the NRA — on CNBC.

    By • Sept. 4, 2025
  • Chili's Fast Food Financing pop-up
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    Courtesy of Chili's Grill & Bar
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    Why consumer confidence is the leading restaurant traffic indicator

    Dwindling confidence in macroeconomic growth means consumers are more price-sensitive than ever, in a potential win for value-oriented brands, Revenue Management Solutions said.

    By • Aug. 27, 2025
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    Getty Images
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    Uber Eats settles Seattle labor claims for $15M

    The delivery aggregator denied allegations by city authorities that it misled workers about potential earnings and paid them less than required.

    By • Updated Aug. 27, 2025