Labor and Policy
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Scott Olson via Getty Images
P.F. Chang’s drops lawsuit claiming UKG lost, destroyed employee data
The restaurant chain sued in 2022 claiming that the HR vendor had provided “false hope” that it could recover some of the chain’s deleted information.
By Ryan Golden • Jan. 17, 2025 -
Scott Olson via Getty Images
Q&AShake Shack’s CFO talks 1,500-unit goal, drive-thru and restaurant optimization
Katie Fogertey is confident that the burger chain, once only in New York City, can reach its next big target through labor model updates, drive-thru optimization and profitability improvements.
By Julie Littman • Jan. 17, 2025 -
Adam Gray via Getty Images
Starbucks reverses open-door policy as it pursues coffeehouse environment
Under the new policy, customers will have to make a purchase if they want to hang out in Starbucks coffee shops or use its bathrooms.
By Kristen Doerer • Jan. 14, 2025 -
Kena Betancur via Getty Images
McDonald’s cools on DEI, shifts to ‘global inclusion’
The shift in strategy comes as a result of work done last year, McDonald’s said, including a “comprehensive Civil Rights Audit.”
By Caroline Colvin • Jan. 7, 2025 -
Courtesy of Starbucks
Inside Starbucks’ very long, very bad 2024
Traffic declines and labor strife kept the chain mired in trouble despite a CEO switch up and product launches aimed at reviving its fortunes.
By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Jan. 2, 2025 -
Permission granted by Aleah Bacetti
Starbucks unionization effortsStarbucks Workers United launches multi-day strike
Beginning in Los Angeles, Chicago and Seattle, the union will expand limited strikes until Christmas Eve, potentially impacting hundreds of stores.
By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Dec. 20, 2024 -
Neal McNeil via Getty Images
FTC excludes restaurants from junk fee rule
In another regulatory victory for restaurants, the Federal Trade Commission backtracked on including restaurant fees in its price transparency rule.
By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Dec. 19, 2024 -
Spencer Platt / Staff via Getty Images
Grubhub to pay $25M in FTC settlement
The Federal Trade Commission and the Illinois Attorney General alleged the company deceived customers with junk fees and added restaurants to the platform without permission.
By Julie Littman • Dec. 18, 2024 -
Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
Starbucks unionization effortsStarbucks Workers United members vote to authorize strike
While bargaining has progressed, the union said the company hasn’t presented a comprehensive economic framework.
By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Dec. 17, 2024 -
Kate Tornone/Restaurant Dive
DOL withdraws tip credit rule
The news comes months after the 5th Circuit vacated the U.S. Department of Labor’s effort to institute an “80/20” framework for dual-job workers.
By Ryan Golden • Dec. 16, 2024 -
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images via Getty Images
Starbucks increases parental leave
Improving its benefits and reputation as an employer are key to the brand’s long-term turnaround, CEO Brian Niccol said.
By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Dec. 16, 2024 -
Michael M. Santiago via Getty Images
DoorDash to require 150K workers to verify IDs weekly
The delivery platform framed the more stringent verification policies as a way to improve consumer and merchant peace of mind.
By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Dec. 13, 2024 -
Sadi Maria via Getty Images
Base pay has grown for restaurant workers: report
A steady rise in base wages has shrunk tips as a proportion of compensation, but the median tipped worker still gets $14.48 an hour in tips, per ADP.
By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Dec. 10, 2024 -
Courtesy of Starbucks
Starbucks scheduling tools crippled by Blue Yonder outage
A ransomware attack against the software vendor has pushed the coffee chain to temporarily rely on manual scheduling to ensure workers are paid for hours.
By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Nov. 26, 2024 -
Courtesy of Union of Southern Service Workers
Waffle House claims NLRB process is unconstitutional
The casual chain has faced union organizing activity for over a year, and now wants the court to weaken the agency tasked with regulating labor law.
By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Nov. 22, 2024 -
Kate Tornone/Restaurant Dive
$35K overtime salary threshold back in effect
A federal judge ruled that the Department of Labor’s 2024 rule exceeded the agency’s authority and is unlawful.
By Ginger Christ • Nov. 18, 2024 -
Scott Olson via Getty Images
Chipotle defrauded investors with inconsistent meal sizes, says plaintiff seeking class action
The case is an example of securities lawsuits run amok, a directors and officers liability law specialist says.
By Robert Freedman • Nov. 14, 2024 -
Ryan Golden/Restaurant Dive
Captive audience meetings are unlawful, NLRB says
The meetings, a common strategy for employers during union drives, “have a reasonable tendency to interfere with and coerce employees” in the exercise of their rights, the Board decided.
By Emilie Shumway • Nov. 13, 2024 -
Courtesy of Church's Texas Chicken
KFC sues Church’s Texas Chicken over ‘original recipe’ ads
KFC claims Church’s use of the marketing phrase will deceive customers into thinking they are buying items from KFC.
By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Nov. 13, 2024 -
hapabapa via Getty Images
DoorDash to pay $11.3M in Illinois tip settlement
The settlement will fund payments to as many as 79,000 workers who completed deliveries on the app from 2017 to 2019.
By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Nov. 12, 2024 -
Courtesy of Chipotle
Serve Robotics buys Autocado maker Vebu
The acquisition of the Chipotle-backed equipment developer signals Serve’s interests are growing from the sidewalk to the kitchen.
By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Nov. 7, 2024 -
Courtesy of Culver's
EEOC alleges Culver’s operators fired a transgender worker who complained about deadnaming
Four workers, including the transgender worker who was the subject of the harassment, were fired a day after reporting the behavior to the general manager, EEOC alleged.
By Ginger Christ • Nov. 4, 2024 -
Spencer Platt via Getty Images
How Starbucks plans to get back to being a coffeehouse
The coffee giant thinks ceramic mugs, a coffee condiments bar and comfy chairs are a good start toward improving its in-store vibe.
By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Nov. 1, 2024 -
Ethan Miller via Getty Images
Hooters’ alleged colorism costs $250,000 in EEOC case
Following the layoff of about 43 employees in the Greensboro, North Carolina area in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Hooters allegedly rehired workers who were predominantly White or had lighter skin.
By Caroline Colvin • Oct. 25, 2024 -
Brandon Bell via Getty Images
Pizza Hut franchisee to settle delivery drivers’ FLSA dispute for $4.75M
The drivers alleged their actual payment fell below minimum wage due to unreimbursed gas costs, vehicle upkeep and more.
By Emilie Shumway • Oct. 23, 2024
