Labor and Policy: Page 12

  • A photograph of a bartaco sign
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    Permission granted by Bartaco
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    How Bartaco eliminated wait staff roles to boost wages

    Retooling employee responsibilities and adding tip pooling allows the chain to pay average hourly wages of $23, higher than the $17 industry average.

    By • Jan. 18, 2023
  • The Starbucks logo hangs outside one of the company's cafes in Northwich on 3 July, 2008 in Northwich, England.
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    Christopher Furlong via Getty Images
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    Starbucks’ corporate workers must return to office 3 days per week

    Interim-CEO Howard Schultz said low rates of office usage pushed the chain to make office work a requirement for employees living within commuting distance of its headquarters and regional offices.

    By • Jan. 13, 2023
  • An exterior shot of a Red Robin restaurant, which is lit from inside, at night
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    The image by Cbraccialini is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
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    Red Robin unveils comeback plan for sales, brand positioning

    The restaurant chain will focus on improving its basic operations, including labor practices and food quality, that have floundered in recent years.

    By • Jan. 10, 2023
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    Drew Angerer via Getty Images
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    SEC fines ex-McDonald’s CEO $400K for false statements about his termination

    McDonald’s was also charged by the SEC for “shortcomings in its public disclosures related to Steve Easterbrook’s separation agreement,” but does not face financial consequences. 

    By • Jan. 9, 2023
  • A man and woman looking at receipts inside a cafe
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    Ridofranz via Getty Images
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    Deep Dive

    5 trends that will shape the restaurant industry in 2023

    Restaurants will experiment with dynamic menu pricing, cater to diners who are trading down and move away from ghost kitchens as inflation pressures the bottom line, experts predict.

    By , , • Jan. 5, 2023
  • (L-R) Under the Battle of Lake Erie painting by William Henry Powell, Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL) talks with Sen. Mike Braun (R-IN) at the U.S. Capitol on December 22, 2022 in Washington, DC.
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    Drew Angerer via Getty Images
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    Congress passes major changes to pregnancy accommodations

    President Biden signed the omnibus spending bill, which would require many employers to provide accommodations for employees with pregnancy- and childbirth-related limitations, on Dec. 29.

    By Ryan Golden • Updated Dec. 30, 2022
  • Gavin Newsom gives a speech.
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    California court blocks AB 257 during referendum petition verification

    The council cannot operate until the law is approved by a referendum in November 2024, or unless California’s secretary of state finds the industry coalition backing the referendum lacks sufficient signatures.

    By • Updated Jan. 17, 2023
  • Starbucks Workers United members on strike
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    Starbucks unionization efforts

    The major turning points in Starbucks’ battle with Starbucks Workers United

    The chain and the union have escalated their confrontation with store closures, firings, month-long strikes and a fight over transformative contract proposals.

    By • Dec. 22, 2022
  • An image of a man sitting at a table inside a McDonald's
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    Courtesy of McDonald's
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    McDonald’s security chief sues chain, CEO Chris Kempczinski for racial discrimination

    Michael Peaster, McDonald’s outgoing VP of global safety, security and intelligence, alleges the chain retaliated against him for contradicting Kempczinski during a meeting.

    By • Dec. 20, 2022
  • McDonald's drive thru sign
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    McDonald’s franchisee to pay $100K to settle claim it discriminated against long-tenured employee with autism

    Two months after taking over the restaurant, the franchisee fired a grill cook who had 37 years in the role.

    By Emilie Shumway • Dec. 20, 2022
  • A table set with strike materials for Starbucks Workers United's Nov. 17 national strike.
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    Starbucks unionization efforts

    Starbucks union turns up pressure with strikes, gift card boycott

    Starbucks Workers United is flexing its muscle with temporary walkouts and calls to enlist consumers and other unions in its fight with the coffee giant.

    By • Dec. 19, 2022
  • Two flags flown by fast food workers demonstrating in support of AB 257.
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    Mario Tama via Getty Images
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    Deep Dive

    What’s at stake in the next battle over the FAST Recovery Act

    A look at what California’s fast food council might mean for the restaurant industry if it survives the referendum process.

    By • Dec. 19, 2022
  • Starbucks Workers United member
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    Permission granted by Starbucks Workers United
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    Starbucks unionization efforts

    Starbucks union stages 3-day strike at 60 stores

    Starbucks Workers United’s planned walkouts, in protest of union store closures, would be the campaign’s longest national action.

    By • Dec. 16, 2022
  • ChowNow Order Better Network
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    ChowNow lays off 10% of staff

    Just months after ChowNow laid off nearly 100 employees, it announced a second round of cuts, citing a leveling off of delivery demand. 

    By • Dec. 15, 2022
  • A photograph of Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) looking very concerned for the plight of restaurateurs.
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    Courtesy of Patty Murray
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    Restaurant Revitalization Fund

    Senators introduce tax credit bill for restaurants left out of RRF

    The bill would provide payroll tax relief of up to $25,000 for eligible restaurants that applied for but didn’t receive Restaurant Revitalization Fund money. 

    By • Dec. 9, 2022
  • An Uber Eats order is handed to an end customer.
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    Courtesy of Uber
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    Uber, Chicago agree to $10M settlement in commission fee and advertising investigation

    Uber Eats will compensate restaurants listed on its website without consent, as well as restaurants charged commissions exceeding the 15% emergency cap.

    By • Dec. 6, 2022
  • A car sits at a drive-thru at a McDonald's restaurant on a sunny day with a blue sky.
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    McDonald’s franchisee pays $57K to resolve child labor violations

    Throughout 2022, the U.S. Department of Labor has signaled a regulatory focus on child labor provisions under the Fair Labor Standards Act.

    By Ryan Golden • Dec. 6, 2022
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    FAST Act to face ballot challenge, NRA says

    Opponents of California’s fast food labor council law said they have raised enough signatures to trigger a statewide referendum that would appear on the 2024 General Election.

    By • Dec. 5, 2022
  • MOD Pizza
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    Mod Pizza extends benefits to include tuition-free degrees

    Over 10,000 workers can access bachelor’s degree programs, professional certificates and English language learning through a partnership with Guild. 

    By • Dec. 1, 2022
  • A red sticker on a restaurant window announcing the restaurant offers delivery with DoorDash.
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    Michael M. Santiago via Getty Images
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    DoorDash lays off 1,250 employees

    Early in the pandemic, the company hired fast to keep up with growth and wasn't as disciplined about curbing operating expenses, said CEO Tony Xu.

    By • Nov. 30, 2022
  • An image of a hand holding a Peet's Coffee cup
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    Courtesy of Peet's Coffee
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    2 Peet’s Coffee locations file for union elections

    Inspired by Starbucks’ union drive, Peet’s workers in Davis, California, are petitioning the National Labor Relations Board for an election with Workers United.

    By • Nov. 29, 2022
  • A picture of a chef in a kitchen looking down at a calculator.
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    Vladimir Vladimirov via Getty Images
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    Restaurant Revitalization Fund

    SBA to disburse $83M in last of unallocated RRF funds

    The Small Business Administration's earlier projection of $180 million of unspent funds was inaccurate, according to a report.

    By • Nov. 23, 2022
  • A portrait photo of Elias Eyna, Papa Johns' Chief People and Diversity Officer
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    Permission granted by Papa Johns'
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    Papa Johns taps chief people and diversity officer

    Elias Reyna, who served under former Chief People Officer Marvin Boakye, is returning to the pizza chain after a brief stint with ABM Industries.

    By • Nov. 22, 2022
  • Starbucks sustainable cups
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    Courtesy of Starbucks
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    Starbucks unionization efforts

    Labor federation asks SEC to examine Starbucks’ gift card breakage rate

    Starbucks counts a certain percentage of unused gift card dollars as revenue, but the Strategic Organizing Center is seeking to force the company to disclose more about its calculations of “breakage” revenue.

    By • Nov. 18, 2022
  • Krispy Kreme's Times Square location in NYC
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    Courtesy of Krispy Kreme
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    Krispy Kreme agrees to $1.1M settlement in DOL wage violation probe

    The doughnut chain admitted no wrongdoing after an investigation alleged widespread and systematic underpayment of workers for overtime. 

    By • Nov. 18, 2022