Labor and Policy: Page 36
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Proposed joint-employer rule could reduce liability for franchised restaurants
The DOL is pushing a four-part test to determine if two entities share liability for labor laws, including overtime pay for individual employees and minimum wage.
By Ryan Golden • April 3, 2019 -
Protesters call for Wendy's to end use of unnecessary antibiotics in beef supply chain
U.S. PIRG said the chain has a chance to differentiate itself, but Wendy's will likely not be alone in efforts to remove medically unnecessary antibiotics.
By Emma Cosgrove • April 2, 2019 -
Deep Dive
Crashing the C-suite ceiling: How female restaurant leaders are pushing for more diversity
Even though more women work in the restaurant industry than men, fewer are at the executive level. Brands like Auntie Anne's, Red Lobster, Starbucks and McDonald's hope to change that.
By Julie Littman • April 1, 2019 -
Darden's animal welfare policy focuses on antibiotic reduction, better treatment
Drawing on consumer concerns, major chains like McDonald's and The Cheesecake Factory have started to switch to antibiotic-free meat and institute policies that reduce harm to animals.
By Lauren Manning • April 1, 2019 -
Restaurant's 'guaranteed wage' violated FLSA, 6th Cir. says
However, because the owners worked to understand the law's requirements and relied on an accountant, they were not subject to liquidated damages.
By Lisa Burden • March 27, 2019 -
McDonald's will no longer fight minimum wage hikes
The fast food chain, whose average starting wage is currently about $10 per hour, says labor is its biggest challenge right now.
By Julie Littman • March 27, 2019 -
Hawaii legislators contemplate strict plastics ban
Hawaii could become the first U.S. state to implement a ban on restaurants and retailers from distributing plastic packaging and bags, but many operators worry that switching to alternatives will increase costs.
By Alicia Kelso • March 21, 2019 -
Maryland legislature advances statewide EPS foam ban bill
The legislation would ban foam containers in restaurants and other food service establishments starting next summer. If signed into law, it will be the first such statewide policy in the U.S.
By Katie Pyzyk • March 21, 2019 -
Deep Dive
The blunt truth: Cannabis retail is here
It's a growth industry where the potential is high, but retailers, restaurants and consumers are on a steep learning curve.
By Daphne Howland • March 21, 2019 -
Second lawsuit accuses Waitr of paying drivers less than minimum wage
The company's latest labor dispute comes on the heels of accusations that rival DoorDash is using worker tips to supplement their base wages, underscoring larger issues in the segment.
By Alicia Kelso • March 19, 2019 -
Arby's, Dunkin' among fast food chains to ban no-poach agreements
To avoid class action suits or scrutiny from antitrust enforcement agencies, employers must proactively purge themselves of no-poach practices.
By Morgan Fecto • March 15, 2019 -
McDonald's bets on 'augmented writing' to curb bias in job descriptions
The tech also is expected to help hiring managers and recruiters write job descriptions that reflect the chain's brand voice.
By Valerie Bolden-Barrett • March 13, 2019 -
Deep Dive
Restaurants after #MeToo: How this 'wake-up call' is impacting harassment training
The fall of celebrity chefs like Mario Batali and employee walkouts at McDonald's have brought the industry's culture problem into sharp focus, prompting both chains and states to launch mandatory education programs.
By Alicia Kelso • March 11, 2019 -
DOL proposes $35K overtime rule threshold
The proposal, which is supported by the National Restaurant Association and International Franchise Association, will have far reaching implications for the restaurant industry and give over 1 million workers access to overtime pay.
By Ryan Golden • March 8, 2019 -
National Restaurant Association comes out strongly against 'Raise the Wage Act'
The group argues that raising the federal minimum wage from $7.25 per hour to $15 per hour would hurt small businesses and suppress job creation.
By Alicia Kelso • March 7, 2019 -
Mario Batali is no longer in the restaurant business
The celebrity chef has given up his stake in Batali & Bastianich Hospitality Group following backlash incited by sexual misconduct allegations, and will no longer profit from the 16 restaurants the firm manages.
By Julie Littman • March 6, 2019 -
Bartender told to dress 'date-ready' gets $80K settlement
The restaurant also agreed to provide her with a positive written job reference and to allow EEOC to conduct a workplace climate survey.
By Riia O'Donnell • March 5, 2019 -
NYC bills would limit fast food firings
One proposal would ban employers from letting workers go without "just cause"; another would require that layoffs occur in reverse order of seniority.
By Lisa Burden • Feb. 26, 2019 -
IHOP franchises to pay $700k, create HR department after sex harassment suit
When workers come to a manager, a supervisor or HR with a complaint, it generally benefits the employer if that complaint is handled with care.
By Katie Clarey • Feb. 25, 2019 -
Deep Dive
NYC crackdown slows momentum of CBD-infused food and drink
Cannabidiol, a non-psychoactive marijuana extract, has been tapped as a top restaurant trend for 2019. But the FDA has halted sales in some markets — leaving operators confused about the category's future.
By Alicia Kelso • Feb. 25, 2019 -
NYC bans discrimination based on hairstyle
The guidance from the New York City Commission on Human Rights makes it illegal for restaurants and other employers to fire workers, noting black workers' right to wear natural, treated or untreated hairstyles.
By Emma Liem Beckett , Valerie Bolden-Barrett • Feb. 21, 2019 -
Just Eat to drop restaurants with a 'zero' hygiene rating
The food delivery platform will invest $1.3 million in helping partner businesses improve food safety protocol after a BBC investigation found rodent carcasses and droppings at some locations.
By Kevin Whiteley • Feb. 21, 2019 -
Jury awards KFC employee $1.5M for non-private lactation room
The office in which the plaintiff was permitted to pump allegedly had a window through which co-workers watched her.
By Morgan Fecto • Feb. 15, 2019 -
Franchising sector says Browning-Ferris cost it $33B annually
The Obama-era standard has exponentially increased franchisors' compliance burden and liability exposure.
By Jennifer Carsen • Feb. 6, 2019 -
Opinion
Food for thought: Combating rising restaurant labor costs
Restaurants need to focus on retention, menu engineering and new technologies to better manage rising wages, says BDO's Adam Berebitsky.
By Adam Berebitsky • Feb. 5, 2019