Carrabba's will pay $690K to settle EEOC sex harassment suit

The restaurant also will implement new policies, procedures and trainings aimed at preventing workplace misconduct.

By Katie Clarey • Dec. 16, 2021

Feds to revisit overtime, joint employment rules

Two labor agencies plan to propose updates early next year, according to a government-wide to-do list.

By Kate Tornone • Dec. 15, 2021

Companies plan 3.9% wage boost in 2022, highest rate since 2008

A surge in consumer prices this year may have already created a wage-price spiral causing still higher inflation.

By Jim Tyson • Dec. 15, 2021

Taco Bell to raise average minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2024

The chain's wage boost will only impact employees at corporate-owned stores, and these workers will also receive complimentary therapy. 

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Dec. 14, 2021

Grubhub sues NYC over restaurant data-sharing law

The delivery firm alleges the city's requirements for delivery companies to share data with restaurants are unconstitutional and present a security risk.

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Dec. 13, 2021

Starbucks Workers United confident of impending victory at 2nd store

The union believes the final count at a store in Cheektowaga, New York, will be in its favor, claiming six ballots were cast by ineligible voters. The union leads 15-9, with seven total challenges. 

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Dec. 10, 2021

IRC: 86% of restaurants may close without an RRF refill

A new survey from the Independent Restaurant Coalition reports a 4% jump since September in the number of operators who think they won't be able to keep their kitchens open.

By Alicia Kelso • Dec. 10, 2021

Starbucks workers vote to form union at 1 out of 3 NY stores

At a Buffalo location, the union organizing committee secured a 19 to 8 majority vote in favor of unionization. The Hamburg store voted against unionization, and no definitive results are available yet for its Cheektowaga unit.

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Dec. 9, 2021

Report: 54% of Topgolf employees report being sexually harassed

The percentage jumps to 63% for women and nonbinary employees and 100% of Black, Indigenous and/or Latinx/Hispanic women under 50 years old, a One Fair Wage survey finds. 

By Alicia Kelso • Dec. 8, 2021

Small businesses raise wages at record pace

As inflation rises and "help wanted" signs go unanswered, restaurants are raising wages at the fastest rate in many years.

By Jim Tyson • Dec. 8, 2021

Restaurant Law Center files suit against Biden administration's tip credit policy

The National Restaurant Association's Restaurant Law Center and the Texas Restaurant Association allege the Department of Labor's changes to tipping regulation are arbitrary and capricious.

By Alicia Kelso • Dec. 7, 2021

NYC expands vaccine requirement to all private-sector workers

The mandate, which may spark legal challenges, stretches the city's indoor dining vaccine requirement to include children aged 5 to 11 years old. 

By Ryan Golden • Dec. 7, 2021

Suit alleges Starbucks youth recruitment program was 'blatant' age discrimination

A suit claims managers over 40 years of age were denied promotions and fired at the coffee giant, as workers increase scrutiny on age discrimination. 

By Kate Tornone • Dec. 6, 2021

DoorDash plans to offer rapid delivery for retailers

To enable its entrance into the 15-minute delivery fray in New York City, the company has created DashCorps to employ full-time couriers. 

By Jeff Wells • Dec. 6, 2021

Survey: Majority of diners now tip 20% or more

Fifty-eight percent of customers have increased the amount they tip servers and delivery drivers since the start of the pandemic, according to Popmenu.

By Alicia Kelso • Dec. 3, 2021

Study: Teens make up nearly a quarter of limited-service restaurant workforce

The restaurant industry employs proportionally more teenagers, age 18 and younger, than it did in 2019, according to Black Box Intelligence data. 

By Alicia Kelso • Dec. 2, 2021

Ahead of Starbucks Union election, a look back at the campaign

On Dec. 9, the National Labor Relations Board will count ballots from three Buffalo-area stores voting on unionization, and Restaurant Dive will be on the ground to cover the outcome.

Nov. 30, 2021

SCOTUS to hear Taco Bell employee's arbitration case

A key point of contention concerns whether, as the employee claimed, her employer waived its right to arbitration by acting inconsistently with that right.

By Ryan Golden • Nov. 29, 2021

3 ways tipping laws have changed in 2021

From tipping pools to the 80/20 rule, the U.S. Department of Labor has made major revisions to how tips are calculated, which may pressure operators.

By Julie Littman • Nov. 24, 2021

Study: 28% of unvaccinated consumers would consider lying about their status in order to dine out

While 59% of U.S. consumers support businesses requiring vaccination, 21% do not, according to research from Qualtrics.

By Alicia Kelso • Nov. 23, 2021

Starbucks workers in Arizona petition for a union election

The growth of Starbucks' union drive may reflect increased labor power in the restaurant industry, visible in one-day strikes in non-union restaurant locations.

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Nov. 19, 2021

Burgerville and IWW ratify a contract in fast food first

The contract, which covers Burgerville's five unionized shops and expires in May 2023, secures wage raises and tipping, along with new benefits. 

By Alicia Kelso • Updated Dec. 20, 2021

The restaurant labor crisis in 5 stats

Data shows how the COVID-19 delta variant erased much of the recovery for operators and drove restaurant worker quit rates to a historic high.

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Nov. 12, 2021

Starbucks workers allege union busting

Employees claim the coffee chain violated the National Labor Relations Act two days before former CEO Howard Schultz visited Buffalo ahead of a union vote.

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Nov. 8, 2021

Court stays employer vaccine mandate

The 5th Circuit ordered the stay due to "grave statutory and constitutional issues with the Mandate."

By Kathryn Moody • Nov. 8, 2021