11th Cir. OKs 'Salt Bae' restaurant's compensation scheme

The case hinged on whether a nonvoluntary "service charge" added to a customer's bill should be treated as a tip.

By Emilie Shumway • March 21, 2022

Starbucks shareholders urge for 'neutrality' in face of union's spread

Seventy-three shareholders representing $3.4 trillion in assets are concerned with the optics of alleged retaliatory firings and "captive audience meetings."

By Emma Liem Beckett • March 17, 2022

7 details restaurants need to include in sexual harassment policies

With Sexual Assault Awareness Month in April, it's time to develop new restaurant and bar policies and take a harder look at existing ones, writes Jarrett Wagner, a risk control representative at Society Insurance.

By Jarrett Wagner • March 17, 2022

EEOC sues Chipotle over sexual harassment in Washington state

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission alleges several female employees were sexually harassed from October 2019 to June 2020.

By Alicia Kelso • March 15, 2022

In absence of RRF, restaurants can use tech to boost recovery

A provision that would refill the Restaurant Revitalization Fund was nixed from the final version of the omnibus spending bill, but operators have the tools they need to thrive, writes Ben Pryor, head of innovation for SpotOn.

By Ben Pryor • March 10, 2022

Starbucks union wins 3 more stores in Buffalo elections

The coffee chain's union organizers have secured more momentum than expected, but still face more than 100 elections and "a war of attrition," according to a labor expert.

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • March 10, 2022

Congress should double down on the Restaurant Revitalization Fund at this critical juncture

Restaurants have survived but need more help in this "New Hospitality" era, writes Chris Comparato, CEO of Toast.

By Chris Comparato • March 7, 2022

Starbucks Workers United wins first store election outside of Buffalo

With national political momentum and more than 100 stores organizing, Starbucks Workers United's movement continues to grow after a location in Mesa, Arizona, voted yes. 

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Feb. 25, 2022

California's $15 minimum wage begins this year. Debate on the next increase has already begun.

Advocates say the change is needed to keep up with living costs, but one management-side attorney said municipal governments may struggle to adapt.

By Ryan Golden • Feb. 25, 2022

Checkers & Rally's to deploy Valyant AI at franchisee drive-thrus

Valyant's conversational artificial intelligence, called "Holly," is currently used at 12 of the chain's franchised restaurants. The chain will deploy Presto's AI at all of its corporate units. 

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Feb. 23, 2022

Chipotle hikes executive pay ties to DEI, environmental targets

Annual bonuses will be impacted by up to 15%, up from 10% in 2021.

By Emma Liem Beckett • Feb. 23, 2022

Starbucks union drive tops 100 stores, Arizona ballot count postponed

The Starbucks Workers United movement is still too small to bring corporate to the bargaining table on a national scale, experts say, but its momentum may spark change.

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Feb. 17, 2022

White Castle brings cooking robot to 100 more restaurants

The burger chain will soon use Miso Robotics' Flippy 2 robot, which can perform the work of a whole fry station, at nearly one-third of its units. 

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Feb. 15, 2022

91% of NYC restaurants say permanent outdoor dining is 'very important' to future survival

Mayor Eric Adams and the NYC Hospitality Alliance, along with nearly 70% of the city's residents, support creating a permanent outdoor dining program, a NYCHA survey finds. 

By Alicia Kelso • Feb. 14, 2022

7shifts raises $80M to grow workforce management tech

The company will use the latest round of funding to double the size of its team and build more products to support and expedite restaurant HR processes.

By Alicia Kelso • Feb. 11, 2022

California reinstates COVID-19 leave for workers, promises $150M in restaurant grants

Gov. Gavin Newsom signed two bills into law on Tuesday, granting workers access to 80 hours of paid COVID-19 sick leave and offering eligible restaurants up to $25,000 in individual grants.

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Feb. 11, 2022

Burgerim sued by federal government in wake of franchise infractions

The suit, filed Monday in California, claims Burgerim's inaccurate franchise disclosure documents and refusal to disburse promised refunds left franchisees with "substantial debt or ruined credit."

By Emma Liem Beckett • Feb. 8, 2022

Despite January job gains, the restaurant industry continues to struggle

Foodservice saw the largest net jobs gain of all sectors in January. But the leisure and hospitality sector's unemployment remains about double the national unemployment rate.

By Alicia Kelso • Feb. 7, 2022

The Restaurant Dive Outlook on 2022

Restaurants are investing in labor-saving technology, wage hikes and new delivery strategies to prepare for a year that may still be squeezed by labor, supply chain and inflation pressure. 

Feb. 4, 2022

Starbucks union organizing reaches 60 stores in 19 states

The union drive is small compared to the coffee behemoth's roughly 9,000 U.S. corporate stores, but the movement may still mark a milestone for organized labor.

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Feb. 1, 2022

TGI Fridays offers general managers up to $2,500 in vacation reimbursements

The casual dining chain is also giving these employees bonuses to help cover health insurance costs to boost retention, Bloomberg reports. 

By Alicia Kelso • Jan. 27, 2022

The restaurant labor crisis won't end in 2022. But it's improving.

Quits are high, but hires are higher, signaling a slow recovery this year for restaurants who can offer competitive pay, benefits and culture.

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Jan. 27, 2022

Pret a Manger settles Illinois suit challenging use of fingerprints for timekeeping

State law strictly limits employers' use of biometric technology.

By Kate Tornone • Jan. 26, 2022

OSHA pulls temporary vaccine rule, says permanent mandate is in the works

At the agency's request, the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals dismissed challenges to the emergency temporary standard as moot.

By Kate Tornone • Updated Feb. 18, 2022

NRA: Refilling RRF would boost restaurant staffing amid omicron challenge

Eighty-eight percent of restaurants report declines in on-premise diner demand due to the COVID-19 variant, pushing 51% to reduce hours, per a National Restaurant Association survey.

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Jan. 24, 2022