Labor and Policy: Page 27
-
Massachusetts restricts table size, dining duration — not capacity
The state's new mandates, which also require diners to wear masks when they aren't eating or drinking, are much more relaxed than the on-premise dining bans issued by other states.
By Alicia Kelso • Dec. 10, 2020 -
Restaurant closures exceed 110K, NRA says industry 'cannot wait for relief'
Eighty-seven percent of full-service restaurants reported an average 36% decline in sales, and 83% predict sales to be even worse throughout the next three months, according to a National Restaurant Association survey.
By Alicia Kelso • Dec. 8, 2020 -
DoorDash
DoorDash hit with cease-and-desist letter from DC attorney general
The company has decided not to charge D.C. restaurants their contractual DashPass rates at this time following a warning from the District that doing so could put the aggregator in breach of a local delivery fee cap.
By Alicia Kelso • Updated Dec. 10, 2020 -
Smashburger settles racial harassment claims
The agreement calls for the restaurant to revise its anti-discrimination policies and implement training for supervisors, management and HR.
By Lisa Burden • Dec. 4, 2020 -
Judge limits LA County ban on outdoor dining to 3 weeks
The ruling states the county didn't provide enough evidence on why it felt outdoor dining presented a greater risk to the spread of coronavirus and will end the ban on Dec. 16.
By Alicia Kelso • Updated Dec. 10, 2020 -
Cheesecake Factory pays $125K SEC fine over 'misleading' COVID-19 disclosures
The agency claims the chain reported in regulatory filings it was "operating sustainably," but didn't disclose it was burning $6 million in cash per week.
By Emma Liem Beckett • Dec. 4, 2020 -
Del Taco to pay $1.25M to settle sexual harassment lawsuit
The settlement is among the largest financially of the year for sexual harassment cases based on a search of EEOC database in 2020.
By Julie Littman • Dec. 4, 2020 -
LA to provide out-of-work restaurant employees $800
The city's offering of one-time payments to 4,000 eligible workers comes just weeks after Los Angeles County closed all outdoor dining following a surge in coronavirus cases.
By Julie Littman • Dec. 3, 2020 -
Wisconsin to issue $45M in aid to restaurants
Under the We're All In For Restaurants program, the state will provide $20,000 for 2,000 eligible businesses, which will receive the funding automatically based on tax records.
By Julie Littman • Dec. 3, 2020 -
Many California restaurants must end indoor, outdoor dining amid stay-at-home order
Regions with less than 15% ICU availability, which the state predicts to be the majority of counties within the coming weeks, will only be allowed to operate restaurants for takeout and delivery until capacity increases.
By Julie Littman • Dec. 3, 2020 -
Kendall Davis/Industry Dive/Restaurant Dive, data from Marc Nozell
Biden calls for grants to support restaurant industry
During an economic roundtable Tuesday, the president-elect said aid for restaurants struggling to keep their doors open amid the pandemic "should not be a loan, it should be a guarantee."
By Emma Liem Beckett • Dec. 3, 2020 -
FG Trade via Getty Images
Report: Restaurant workers face increased sexual harassment amid pandemic
Nearly 80% of restaurant workers report experiencing or witnessing hostile behavior from customers in response to enforcing COVID-19 protocols, according to a One Fair Wage report.
By Alicia Kelso • Dec. 2, 2020 -
DoorDash
DoorDash settles lawsuit over old tipping model for $2.5M
The agreement follows a November 2019 lawsuit filed by the Washington, D.C., attorney general's office, which alleged the company misled consumers to believe their tips would increase drivers' pay.
By Alicia Kelso • Nov. 25, 2020 -
Getty / Edited by Industry Dive
IRS reiterates PPP-paid expenses not deductible if loan forgiven
Lawmakers will seek to reverse the guidance in upcoming legislation.
By Robert Freedman • Nov. 23, 2020 -
LA County joins Oregon, New Mexico in banning outdoor dining
No on-premise dining is allowed in the California county for at least three weeks as COVID-19 cases surge.
By Julie Littman • Nov. 23, 2020 -
DC allocates $35M for restaurants as new restrictions loom
Area restaurants are still open for indoor dining at 50% capacity, but Mayor Muriel Bowser said in a press conference earlier this week the district could soon put new restrictions in place.
By Emma Liem Beckett • Nov. 20, 2020 -
Permission granted by &pizza
&pizza commits to a $15 minimum wage by 2022
The chain has pushed for higher wages since its launch in 2012. This marks one of its many progressive initiatives, including providing raises and extra benefits during the pandemic.
By Alicia Kelso • Nov. 19, 2020 -
Permission granted by Starbucks
Starbucks boosts employee pay as US wages rise
The coffee giant will hike wages at least 10% for baristas, shift supervisors and cafe attendants hired on or before Sept. 14. Starting pay will also be raised 5%.
By Emma Liem Beckett • Nov. 19, 2020 -
PPP helped some employers but more action is needed, researchers say
The researchers stopped short of drawing conclusions on the program's effectiveness.
By Aman Kidwai , Emma Liem Beckett • Nov. 16, 2020 -
Alabama Extension. (2020). "The image" [Photograph]. Retrieved from Flickr.
Lettuce Entertain You warns of over 1K layoffs
The largest hospitality company in Chicago filed notice of potential job losses at 25 restaurants in mid-October, two weeks before Illinois suspended indoor dining in the city.
By Alicia Kelso • Nov. 16, 2020 -
Washington joins several states in weeks-long dining room bans as coronavirus cases surge
Oregon, New Mexico and Michigan have also temporarily closed indoor dining, which could put more restaurants that were starting to see signs of recovery at risk of permanent closures.
By Julie Littman • Nov. 16, 2020 -
Kendall Davis/Industry Dive/Restaurant Dive, data from Marc Nozell
Deep Dive
How Biden's policies on immigration, unions could impact restaurant operations
The incoming administration is calling for doubling OSHA investigators and a restart package that could help business owners cover costs, such as plexiglass and PPE, to operate safely during the pandemic.
By Aman Kidwai • Nov. 12, 2020 -
Thai Phi Le/Restaurant Dive
Casual dining sales down 60% compared to 80% loss in March, study shows
The upcoming holidays could provide a tailwind — Cinco de Mayo and Mother's Day both saw spikes in sales of up to 306%, but sales dropped dramatically in the 48 hours afterward, according to an Upserve report.
By Alicia Kelso • Nov. 12, 2020 -
Full-service restaurants 'particularly risky' for COVID-19 spread, study finds
New research from Stanford University and Northwestern University also suggests that full lockdowns aren't necessary to control the virus, and that masks, social distancing measures and reduced capacity all work.
By Alicia Kelso • Nov. 11, 2020 -
Light, Alan. (2015). "Chicago Skyline" [Photograph]. Retrieved from Flickr.
Chicago announces 15% delivery cap on heels of $10M restaurant grant program
The limit took effect Monday, and delivery platforms that violate the new standard will be fined between $1,000 and $2,000 per offense.
By Alicia Kelso • Updated Nov. 24, 2020
Previous
