Starbucks inside NYC Amazon Go files for union election

Recent election filings indicate the campaign is regaining organizing momentum, which slowed this summer, union sources told Restaurant Dive.

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Oct. 28, 2022

Report: NYC restaurants with outdoor dining recovered sales faster

Areas participating in New York City’s Open Streets program saw 19% higher taxable sales than pre-pandemic levels from March 1, 2020 to Aug. 31, 2021.

By Julie Littman • Oct. 26, 2022

Applebee’s hires Papa Johns, BJ’s vet as culinary lead

Chef Scott Rodriguez has over two decades of casual dining experience, and helped chains create new offerings through research and development. 

By Emma Liem Beckett • Oct. 24, 2022

Conservative nonprofit urges EEOC to investigate Starbucks diversity programs

The America First Legal Foundation, led by a former advisor to President Donald Trump, claims the chain’s minority mentorship programs violate federal law. 

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Oct. 19, 2022

8 union workers sue Starbucks, manager over false kidnapping claim

The lawsuit follows a police investigation that revealed a manager’s allegations of kidnapping and assault by Starbucks workers, which led to the suspension of 11 employees, were false. 

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Oct. 18, 2022

Seattle, Uber Eats reach $3.3M settlement in gig worker pay case

In the largest settlement under the city’s COVID-19 Gig Worker Premium Pay Ordinance, the aggregator will pay thousands of workers for alleged violations. 

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Oct. 17, 2022

DOL proposes ‘totality-of-the-circumstances’ test for independent contractors

Uber’s shares sunk sharply on the news of the proposed rule change, which would make it harder for firms to classify workers as independent contractors.

By Ryan Golden • Updated Oct. 11, 2022

Uber adds debit card, instant deposit for drivers

The Uber Pro debit card will provide drivers up to 10% cashback on gas, 12% on EV charging and instant pay after completion of a ride or delivery. 

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Oct. 7, 2022

Automated phone tech may ease restaurant labor, boost consistency

Robotic answering services promise increased reliability and ticket sizes, but customer adoption remains low.

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Oct. 6, 2022

Why ‘tipping fatigue’ isn’t impacting restaurant servers the way you’d think it is

Diner tips were 9.9% higher in Q2 2022 compared to the year-ago period, and digital payments hold opportunity for robust gratuity, says Kelly Esten, SVP & GM of enterprise at Toast. 

By Kelly Esten • Oct. 5, 2022

Report: 51% of CA restaurant owners concerned FAST Recovery Act will drive up food costs

Forty percent of these operators are afraid of losing employees to a QSR that could pay workers more, according to Homebase’s Owners Pulse Survey. 

By Julie Littman • Oct. 4, 2022

Food delivery robots to roam Chicago in pilot program

Robot operators will partner with restaurants and grocery stores to test the app-based robot deliveries while city leaders examine device boundaries and risk. 

By Katie Pyzyk • Oct. 3, 2022

Papa Johns expands college benefits to more hourly workers

The chain will offer free tuition to corporate employees working as little as 10 hours per week, and offer discounts to franchise employees.

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Sept. 29, 2022

NRA urges SBA to lower rates, accrued interest on COVID-19 loans

A study from the NRA shows more than three-quarters of restaurants that took out Economic Injury Disaster Loans do not think they can pay them back.

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Sept. 27, 2022

Austin restaurant operator pays $230K after requiring workers to share tips with managers

"Tips are the property of tipped employees who earn them, plain and simple,” a DOL representative said.

By Kate Tornone • Sept. 26, 2022

Chicago Mayor proposes to make city’s outdoor dining program permanent

The proposal includes some changes to the Windy City’s program, which was initially introduced in 2020 and has been extended twice.

By Alicia Kelso • Sept. 23, 2022

Boston Starbucks strike ends after 64 days

Starbucks Workers United members signaled Wednesday they were willing to go back to work unconditionally, ending the longest strike in the chain’s history. 

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Sept. 22, 2022

Report: Tipped wages negatively impact Black women

Fifty-three percent of Black women workers said tips didn't cover the difference between subminimum wage and minimum wage at least once in the past month, according to One Fair Wage.

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Sept. 21, 2022

Chipotle and New Jersey reach $7.75M child labor settlement

New Jersey alleged Chipotle violated child labor laws governing meal breaks and hours, but the company disputes those claims despite the settlement.

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Sept. 21, 2022

Bloomin’ hires HR vet as chief human resources officer

Suzann Trevisan brings over 27 years of experience in human resources to her role at the company, which has faced labor cost growth. 

By Julie Littman • Sept. 19, 2022

The 4 biggest takeaways from Starbucks’ Investor Day

The coffee chain laid out plans to target loyalty growth, labor efficiency and international openings, with a goal of reaching 45,000 stores by 2025.

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Sept. 14, 2022

Starbucks debuts kitchen system to boost speed while keeping customization

In a demonstration during the the chain’s Investor Day, a barista could make a mocha frappuccino almost 50 seconds faster than with Starbucks’ old model. 

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Sept. 14, 2022

Starbucks expands non-union benefits with savings, student loan repayment tools

Starbucks maintains its position that it can’t legally extend benefits to unionized stores without bargaining on a store-by-store level, but the union claims these perks are meant to quash organizing. 

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Sept. 13, 2022

EEOC: Bojangles transferred employee for alleging sexual harassment

Effective reporting procedures for sexual harassment are necessary for Title VII compliance, the agency said in announcing a lawsuit.

By Kate Tornone • Sept. 12, 2022

Starbucks will rehire 7 pro-union workers it fired in February

The 6th Circuit Court of Appeals denied the company’s request to stay an injunction ordering the company to offer to rehire fired organizers.

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Sept. 9, 2022