Labor and Policy: Page 2

  • 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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    Starbucks CEO’s 4-part strategy hinges on coffeehouse roots

    In a letter to workers and consumers, Brian Niccol laid out a multipart strategy for revitalizing the chain’s core business in the U.S.

    By • Sept. 10, 2024
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    Courtesy of Chipotle
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    Deep Dive

    Brian Niccol was hired to transform Starbucks. Is that possible?

    Niccol must contend with the coffee chain’s growing brand identity and consumer perception problems, and balance its “third place” value proposition with efficient digital fulfillment.

    By • Sept. 9, 2024
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    Courtesy of Pinstripes
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    Pinstripes warns of corporate layoffs as losses mount

    This workforce reduction is part of the chain’s plan to save $4 million in corporate costs, and follows a series of venue-level cost cutting measures.

    By • Sept. 5, 2024
  • An exterior shot of the U.S. Department of Labor's headquarters.
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    Kate Tornone/Restaurant Dive
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    5th Circuit tosses DOL’s tip credit final rule

    The department’s “80/20” guidance for dual job workers is inconsistent with the Fair Labor Standards Act, the court held.

    By Ryan Golden , • Aug. 27, 2024
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    Thinkstock via Getty Images
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    Pennsylvania restaurant must pay $1.3M in back wages, withheld tips

    The DOL found the operator of a La Tolteca Authentic Mexican Restaurant violated the Fair Labor Standards Act by creating an illegal tip pool. A federal judge agreed.

    By • Aug. 23, 2024
  • Earle Cabell Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse in Dallas, Texas.
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    The image by Renegomezphotography is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
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    Judge strikes down FTC noncompete ban nationwide

    The ruling comes just 15 days prior to the ban’s Sept. 4 effective date.

    By Ryan Golden • Aug. 21, 2024
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    (Photo by Scott Olson) via Getty Images
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    What Starbucks’ new CEO choice could mean for the company

    Analysts predicted new products and advertising would be immediate points of emphasis for incoming CEO Brian Niccol, with major changes looming on the horizon.

    By • Aug. 14, 2024
  • A photo of an IHOP sign
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    Bruce Bennett via Getty Images
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    IHOP owner agrees to pay $40K to settle claim it denied worker Sundays off for religious observance

    An IHOP general manager allegedly told staff the worker thought it was more important to go to church than to pay bills.

    By Ginger Christ • Aug. 12, 2024
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    Bruce Bennett via Getty Images
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    Ex-Starbucks manager who alleged she was ‘wrongly accused of racism’ may amend discrimination claims

    A New Jersey judge sided with Starbucks, noting that some of the plaintiff’s claims were barred by statutes of limitations.

    By Ryan Golden • Aug. 6, 2024
  • The Michigan Hall of Justice, which houses the state's Supreme Court, on a cold day.
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    Steven_Kriemadis via Getty Images
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    Michigan Supreme Court moves to eliminate tipped subminimum wage

    The court rejected a legislative procedure used to weaken labor law reforms in 2018, but adopt-and-amend tactics held the tipped subminimum wage steady for six years.

    By • Aug. 1, 2024
  • A worker takes a bowl of processed avocados from a prototype of Vebu's Autocado.
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    Courtesy of Chipotle
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    Chipotle’s advanced equipment strategy takes a step forward

    The fast casual giant said its avocado processing machine and automated digital makeline are in the final steps before in-restaurant testing.

    By • July 26, 2024
  • Pedestrians walk by a Chipotle restaurant in San Francisco, California
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    How Chipotle boosted traffic 8%

    Limited-time offers and increased labor deployment grew Chipotle’s transactions and throughput in Q2, driving same-store sales up by 11%.

    By • July 25, 2024
  • Blaze Pizza
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    Courtesy of Blaze Pizza
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    Blaze Pizza franchisee slapped with $277K child labor fine

    The U.S. Department of Labor found the 10-unit franchisee violated child labor laws related to 28 workers under the age of 18. 

    By • July 24, 2024
  • A street view of the National Labor Relations Board in Northwest Washington, D.C.
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    Screenshot: Google Maps

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    NLRB withdraws 5th Circuit appeal of joint employer final rule injunction

    The Board said it would “like the opportunity to further consider the issues identified” in a district court’s injunction while citing other, ongoing legislation relevant to its rulemaking.

    By Ryan Golden • Updated July 19, 2024
  • Compass Coffee's Georgetown store closed for an NLRB election on July 16.
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    Aneurin Canham-Clyne/Restaurant Dive
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    Compass Coffee union vote mired in challenges

    The union secured unanimous support among unchallenged voters, but the vast majority of ballots must be adjudicated by the NLRB.

    By • July 17, 2024
  • A Zaxby's logo used for the chicken chain.
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    Glenn, Miles. (2022). "Zaxby's" [Photograph]. Retrieved from Flickr.
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    Zaxby’s faces lawsuit for allegedly refusing to accommodate pregnant teen

    A manager allegedly told the plaintiff to work in the restaurant’s hot kitchen and fired her because she asked to be reassigned, according to the complaint.

    By Laurel Kalser • July 17, 2024
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    traveler1116 via Getty Images
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    DC restaurant to pay $525K in wage theft settlement

    Swahili Village will pay about $260,000 in back wages to more than 70 workers after Washington, D.C.’s attorney general alleged the restaurant failed to pay minimum wage.

    By • July 16, 2024
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    Chip Somodevilla via Getty Images
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    FTC takes aim at undisclosed franchising fees

    The agency also said policies that keep franchisees from reporting potentially illegal business practices to regulators are against the law.

    By • July 15, 2024
  • A person in a coat rides a bicycle holding a red DoorDash bag.
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    Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images via Getty Images
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    NYC delivery worker earnings up 22%

    Decreases in consumer tips and total employment were more than offset by sharp rises in base pay, according to the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection.

    By • July 15, 2024
  • workers toil on a hot construction site with the orange sun in the background
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    SonerCdem via Getty Images
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    OSHA proposes rule to protect workers from extreme heat

    The standard would require employers to provide water and rest breaks when high heat creates a hazardous work environment.

    By Zachary Phillips , • July 2, 2024
  • A white sign with black text reading 'Compass Coffee' in front of and below a lighted neon saying reading 'Georgetown'
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    Aneurin Canham-Clyne/Restaurant Dive
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    Deep Dive

    Compass Coffee responds to union drive with mass hiring

    The union plans to challenge the voter eligibility of scores of workers the Washington, D.C.-based chain added to its roster ahead of a scheduled mid-July election.

    By • June 28, 2024
  • The exterior of a Panera Bread restaurant.
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    Justin Sullivan / Staff via Getty Images
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    Panera faces potential class-action lawsuit over data breach involving employee information

    Corporate files were accessed during a security incident in March, but workers weren’t informed about sensitive data being exposed until June, the lawsuit claims.

    By Carolyn Crist • June 28, 2024
  • A chef cooks a real hot dish.
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    vgajic via Getty Images
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    California adopts rule limiting indoor workplace heat exposure

    Employers will have to provide workers with cool down spaces and water if the indoor temperature or heat index cracks 87 degrees Fahrenheit. 

    By • June 27, 2024
  • An image of a refreshed Subway.
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    Courtesy of Subway
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    48-store Subway operator declares bankruptcy after wrongful death suit appeal denied

    River Sub owes the survivors of a murdered manager nearly $3 million, by far the largest liability on its balance sheet.

    By • June 25, 2024
  • A picture of a building with Domino's signage and a car parked on the left side.
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    Courtesy of Domino's
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    Domino’s appoints chief human resources officer

    Effective July 8, Maureen Pittenger will take on all aspects of human resources strategies in her new position at the pizza chain. 

    By • June 24, 2024