Labor and Policy

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    Anna Moneymaker / Staff via Getty Images
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    Restaurants focus on tech, retention as labor market cools

    Speeding up hiring with applicant tracking systems, mobile applications and automated interview scheduling could save time and money, the National Restaurant Association said.

    By • March 20, 2025
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    Courtesy of Starbucks
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    Brian Niccol’s 6-month update on Starbucks turnaround plan

    The coffee chain’s CEO said investments in store experience are ramping up, but union members say the brand isn’t spending enough on hourly workers.

    By • Updated March 13, 2025
  • Patrons at a Chicago Starbucks after the coffee chain on Feb. 25, 2025.
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    Scott Olson via Getty Images
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    These 6 restaurant companies have laid off thousands in 2025

    Staff reductions hit every corner of the restaurant industry, from Grubhub’s elimination of 500 workers to Starbucks’ 1,100 corporate job cuts.

    By • March 10, 2025
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    Ethan Miller via Getty Images
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    Taco Bell franchisee allowed sexually hostile environment to fester for over 2 months, EEOC says

    EEOC noted in 2024 guidance that an employer who opens an investigation one day after a complaint is made has acted promptly, while one who waits two months “very likely has not acted promptly.”

    By Emilie Shumway • March 6, 2025
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    Michael M. Santiago via Getty Images
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    DoorDash to pay $16.75M in New York tips settlement

    The aggregator did not admit to any wrongdoing in the settlement, which concerned tipping practices terminated in 2019.

    By • Feb. 25, 2025
  • A photograph of a black sign that says "Starbucks Coffee Company" in front of a brick building.
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    David Ryder via Getty Images
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    Starbucks lays off 1,100 corporate workers

    The coffee giant is cutting about 6.9% of its non-retail staff, and is shifting corporate hiring to prioritize in-office roles.

    By • Feb. 24, 2025
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    Courtesy of Bloomin' Brands
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    Bloomin’ Brands lays off 100 corporate employees

    The cuts at its Tampa, Florida, support center represent a 17% reduction and follow corporate layoffs at Dine Brands, Starbucks and Denny’s.

    By • Feb. 21, 2025
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    Adam Gray via Getty Images
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    Starbucks’ DEI policies labeled ‘discriminatory’ in Missouri attorney general’s lawsuit

    A spokesperson for the chain denied the claims in an email to HR Dive and said Starbucks’ hiring and benefits programs are “open to everyone and lawful.”

    By Ryan Golden • Feb. 19, 2025
  • A close up image of a clump of avocadoes with stickers that say "avocados Mexico."
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    Michael M. Santiago via Getty Images
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    One-third of independent restaurants expect sales declines from tariffs

    Comparatively, 40% of small business owners expect no sales impact from U.S. tariffs on China and potential tariffs on Mexico and Canada, according to an Alignable survey.

    By • Feb. 7, 2025
  • A DoorDash delivery worker walks his bike along the road in the Mission neighborhood of San Francisco, California.
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    hapabapa via Getty Images
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    Boston wants delivery firms to give drivers liability insurance

    Under the proposed ordinance, aggregators like DoorDash and Uber Eats would need to meet data-sharing requirements to obtain an operating permit.

    By • Feb. 5, 2025
  • U.S. President Donald Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau participate in a joint news conference in the East Room of the White House on February 13, 2017 in Washington, D.C.
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    Alex Wong via Getty Images
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    US and Canada agree to 30-day pause on tariffs

    The two countries will push back a Feb. 4 enforcement date as they coordinate anti-drug trafficking efforts at their shared border.

    By Philip Neuffer • Feb. 4, 2025
  • President of Mexico Claudia Sheinbaum speaks in Mexico City on Oct. 3, 2024.
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    Manuel Velasquez via Getty Images
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    US delays tariffs on Mexico to March

    The two countries agreed to negotiate over the next month while collaborating on addressing drug and weapons trafficking.

    By Edwin Lopez , Philip Neuffer • Feb. 3, 2025
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    Scott Olson via Getty Images
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    Dine Brands cuts 9% of corporate workforce

    The layoffs impacted different brand teams, offices and departments, and follow comparable sales declines for the Applebee's and IHOP owner in Q3.

    By • Feb. 3, 2025
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    Anna Moneymaker via Getty Images
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    Trump issues tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China

    The president ordered an additional 10% duty on goods from China and 25% tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico. The immediate impact on restaurant operators is unclear. 

    By Philip Neuffer • Updated Feb. 1, 2025
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    Courtesy of Starbucks
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    Brian Niccol wants to double Starbucks’ US footprint

    A host of changes to stores and operations could help Starbucks escape its sales trouble, and executives are already planning the company’s next move.

    By • Jan. 30, 2025
  • The National Labor Relations Board headquarters building on Half Street in Washington, D.C.
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    Ryan Golden/Restaurant Dive
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    Trump shakes up NLRB, cans Democratic member Wilcox in ‘unprecedented’ move

    The move was criticized as illegal by congressional Democrats and could result in backlogs for the labor board, which now lacks a quorum.

    By Ryan Golden • Jan. 29, 2025
  • Fried foods in front of a Miso Robotics fry station.
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    Courtesy of Miso Robotics
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    Miso Robotics develops smaller, faster Flippy

    Its newest robotic fry station, which White Castle is testing, is more expensive than, but half the size of, previous iterations.

    By • Jan. 29, 2025
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    Permission granted by Starbucks
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    Starbucks warns of corporate layoffs in March

    CEO Brian Niccol framed forthcoming job cuts as a way to increase efficiency and accountability and reduce organizational complexity.

    By • Jan. 21, 2025
  • The entrance to a P.F. Chang's restaurant is pictured on Aug. 4, 2014 in Schaumburg, Illinois.
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    Scott Olson via Getty Images
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    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
  • An image of the Shake Shack logo on a window.
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    Scott Olson via Getty Images
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    Q&A

    Shake Shack’s CFO talks 1,500-unit goal, drive-thru and restaurant optimization

    Katie Fogerty 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 • Jan. 17, 2025
  • People sit in a coffee shop.
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    Adam Gray via Getty Images
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    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
  • A photo of Ronald McDonald balloon at the Macy's Day Thanksgiving parade
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    Kena Betancur via Getty Images
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    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
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    Courtesy of Starbucks
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    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 • Jan. 2, 2025
  • A photo of Starbucks workers participating in a strike in Nottingham, Maryland, Nov. 17, 2022
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    Permission granted by Aleah Bacetti
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    Starbucks unionization efforts

    Starbucks 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 • Dec. 20, 2024
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    Neal McNeil via Getty Images
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    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 • Dec. 19, 2024