5 steps restaurants should take before bringing back staff

Before restaurants consider reopening their dining rooms, experts say operators should review payroll practices, rehire based on seniority and develop ways to monitor employee health.

By Julie Littman • April 29, 2020

California's paid coronavirus sick leave requirement targets big chains

On April 16 Gov. Gavin Newsom issued an executive order requiring food businesses with more than 500 employees nationwide to provide the benefit to essential workers, including delivery personnel. 

By Emma Liem Beckett • April 28, 2020

Lenders get 2nd chance to correct PPP flaws

Despite some negative press, the first rollout of the SBA program has let some banks prove they can help their customers even in the worst of times, said David Zaring, a Wharton professor of legal studies and business ethics.

By Anna Hrushka • April 28, 2020

Former workers sue Hooters alleging it failed to give proper notice of mass layoff

The plaintiffs alleged the company violated the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act when it laid off hundreds.

By Lisa Burden • April 27, 2020

California is paying restaurants to deliver meals to seniors

The program will reimburse restaurants $16 for breakfast meals, $17 for lunch and up to $28 for dinner. 

By Emma Liem Beckett • April 27, 2020

Seattle caps delivery fees at 15% in emergency order

The city's cap became effective Friday and will remain in place until restaurants can reopen their dining rooms. New York City is also considering a 10% cap. 

By Alicia Kelso • Updated April 28, 2020

LA County to publicly list restaurants with COVID-19 exposures

Restaurants will join institutions like nursing facilities and shelters tracked by the county's Department of Public Health that have reported positive cases of coronavirus. 

By Julie Littman • April 24, 2020

Potbelly will return $10M in PPP funding

The Treasury Department issued guidance April 23 requesting that publicly traded companies repay their Paycheck Protection Program loans by May 7. Returned funds will be allocated for new loans for other qualified applicants.

By Emma Liem Beckett • Updated April 27, 2020

More funding won't fix PPP, restaurant experts say

The Paycheck Protection Program began accepting applications for its second round of funding Monday. But restaurants that already scored loans from the first round are afraid to cash in thanks to its vague and evolving stipulations.

By Emma Liem Beckett • Updated April 27, 2020

Chipotle to pay $25M in largest-ever food safety fine

The settlement with the Department of Justice stems from the company's foodborne illness outbreaks that sickened more than 1,100 people between 2015 and 2018. 

By Alicia Kelso • April 22, 2020

Restaurants sue major banks for prioritizing big businesses for PPP loans

Four class-action lawsuits accuse the lenders of favoring companies that would make them the most money, despite urging small operators to apply. 

By Emma Liem Beckett • April 21, 2020

NRA calls for PPP reform, estimates 8M restaurant job losses

National Restaurant Association is pushing Congress to create a $240 billion restaurant relief and recovery fund, and to change the PPP's loan period, forgiveness restrictions and repayment terms.

By Lauren Manning • April 21, 2020

Shake Shack is returning its $10M in PPP funding

The burger chain, which laid off or furloughed more than 1,000 employees last week, said Sunday that it has access to capital to fill the gap instead.

By Alicia Kelso , Emma Liem Beckett • April 20, 2020

Sales at over 77% of restaurants have declined by 50%

Two-thirds of those surveyed say they are uncertain that takeout or delivery will be enough to sustain their businesses until they are able to reopen, according to a James Beard Foundation report.

By Julie Littman • April 17, 2020

Judge denies McDonald's motion to dismiss $500M sexual harassment suit

The chain had argued the class-action lawsuit's claims were too broad and the allegations at one restaurant couldn't stretch to complaints of systemwide culture issues. 

By Sheryl Estrada • Updated July 21, 2021

San Francisco caps food delivery commissions at 15%

An emergency order from Mayor London Breed makes San Francisco the first city to set limits on what third-party delivery platforms can charge restaurants. 

By Alicia Kelso • April 14, 2020

Independent restaurants grapple with layoffs, but fight to survive

Establishments like Beast in Oregon and Agave Uptown in California talk about the devastating decisions to let employees go or furlough staff during coronavirus.

By Julie Littman • April 14, 2020

Shutdown-impacted businesses taking PPP loans may risk losing CARES Act tax benefits

Until rules are out, it's not clear paying expenses with stimulus loan funds will help your business come tax time.

By Robert Freedman • April 13, 2020

Independent Restaurant Coalition asks Congress to extend Paycheck Protection Program

The group says the initiative's eight-week time frame isn't long enough and wants it to be lengthened to three months to help businesses stay open when they reopen.

By Julie Littman • April 7, 2020

States push legislation to protect restaurants with business interruption insurance

Legislators in New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts and Ohio drafted bills that would force insurers to cover establishments that have shut down due to COVID-19.

By Emma Liem Beckett • April 7, 2020

McDonald's rolls out wellness checks, will test employee temperatures

The company and its franchisees will ask workers a series of health-related questions before they can clock in for shifts.

By Emma Liem Beckett • April 2, 2020

Postmates couriers are employees, New York appeals court finds

Laws generally are evolving to make it more difficult for companies to establish gig worker status — a change many businesses, especially food delivery companies, are fighting.

By Jennifer Carsen , Emma Liem Beckett • March 31, 2020

5 things to know about the new coronavirus paid leave law

A number of small businesses are "despondent," one source told HR Dive. But there's hope the federal government could soften the the law's impact.

By Ryan Golden • March 30, 2020

President signs $2T coronavirus stimulus package, 'a first step' in helping restaurants recover

With an expansion of unemployment benefits and direct payments to individuals and families, some relief is on the way for many restaurant workers. 

By Julie Littman • Updated March 27, 2020

McDonald's reportedly pushed against sick leave provision in coronavirus package

The chain is concerned the package — which requires companies with 50 to 500 employees to give workers two weeks paid sick leave — will hurt its franchisee profitability, according to Business Insider. 

By Emma Liem Beckett • March 19, 2020