Labor and Policy: Page 26
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LA to provide out-of-work restaurant employees $800
The city's offering of one-time payments to 4,000 eligible workers comes just weeks after Los Angeles County closed all outdoor dining following a surge in coronavirus cases.
By Julie Littman • Dec. 3, 2020 -
Wisconsin to issue $45M in aid to restaurants
Under the We're All In For Restaurants program, the state will provide $20,000 for 2,000 eligible businesses, which will receive the funding automatically based on tax records.
By Julie Littman • Dec. 3, 2020 -
Many California restaurants must end indoor, outdoor dining amid stay-at-home order
Regions with less than 15% ICU availability, which the state predicts to be the majority of counties within the coming weeks, will only be allowed to operate restaurants for takeout and delivery until capacity increases.
By Julie Littman • Dec. 3, 2020 -
Biden calls for grants to support restaurant industry
During an economic roundtable Tuesday, the president-elect said aid for restaurants struggling to keep their doors open amid the pandemic "should not be a loan, it should be a guarantee."
By Emma Liem Beckett • Dec. 3, 2020 -
Report: Restaurant workers face increased sexual harassment amid pandemic
Nearly 80% of restaurant workers report experiencing or witnessing hostile behavior from customers in response to enforcing COVID-19 protocols, according to a One Fair Wage report.
By Alicia Kelso • Dec. 2, 2020 -
DoorDash settles lawsuit over old tipping model for $2.5M
The agreement follows a November 2019 lawsuit filed by the Washington, D.C., attorney general's office, which alleged the company misled consumers to believe their tips would increase drivers' pay.
By Alicia Kelso • Nov. 25, 2020 -
IRS reiterates PPP-paid expenses not deductible if loan forgiven
Lawmakers will seek to reverse the guidance in upcoming legislation.
By Robert Freedman • Nov. 23, 2020 -
LA County joins Oregon, New Mexico in banning outdoor dining
No on-premise dining is allowed in the California county for at least three weeks as COVID-19 cases surge.
By Julie Littman • Nov. 23, 2020 -
DC allocates $35M for restaurants as new restrictions loom
Area restaurants are still open for indoor dining at 50% capacity, but Mayor Muriel Bowser said in a press conference earlier this week the district could soon put new restrictions in place.
By Emma Liem Beckett • Nov. 20, 2020 -
&pizza commits to a $15 minimum wage by 2022
The chain has pushed for higher wages since its launch in 2012. This marks one of its many progressive initiatives, including providing raises and extra benefits during the pandemic.
By Alicia Kelso • Nov. 19, 2020 -
Starbucks boosts employee pay as US wages rise
The coffee giant will hike wages at least 10% for baristas, shift supervisors and cafe attendants hired on or before Sept. 14. Starting pay will also be raised 5%.
By Emma Liem Beckett • Nov. 19, 2020 -
PPP helped some employers but more action is needed, researchers say
The researchers stopped short of drawing conclusions on the program's effectiveness.
By Aman Kidwai , Emma Liem Beckett • Nov. 16, 2020 -
Lettuce Entertain You warns of over 1K layoffs
The largest hospitality company in Chicago filed notice of potential job losses at 25 restaurants in mid-October, two weeks before Illinois suspended indoor dining in the city.
By Alicia Kelso • Nov. 16, 2020 -
Washington joins several states in weeks-long dining room bans as coronavirus cases surge
Oregon, New Mexico and Michigan have also temporarily closed indoor dining, which could put more restaurants that were starting to see signs of recovery at risk of permanent closures.
By Julie Littman • Nov. 16, 2020 -
Deep Dive
How Biden's policies on immigration, unions could impact restaurant operations
The incoming administration is calling for doubling OSHA investigators and a restart package that could help business owners cover costs, such as plexiglass and PPE, to operate safely during the pandemic.
By Aman Kidwai • Nov. 12, 2020 -
Casual dining sales down 60% compared to 80% loss in March, study shows
The upcoming holidays could provide a tailwind — Cinco de Mayo and Mother's Day both saw spikes in sales of up to 306%, but sales dropped dramatically in the 48 hours afterward, according to an Upserve report.
By Alicia Kelso • Nov. 12, 2020 -
Full-service restaurants 'particularly risky' for COVID-19 spread, study finds
New research from Stanford University and Northwestern University also suggests that full lockdowns aren't necessary to control the virus, and that masks, social distancing measures and reduced capacity all work.
By Alicia Kelso • Nov. 11, 2020 -
Chicago announces 15% delivery cap on heels of $10M restaurant grant program
The limit took effect Monday, and delivery platforms that violate the new standard will be fined between $1,000 and $2,000 per offense.
By Alicia Kelso • Updated Nov. 24, 2020 -
California's Proposition 22 passes in major win for food delivery companies
Uber, DoorDash, Postmates and Instacart contributed $200 million to support the measure in the state, which preserves their business models of hiring drivers and independent contractors instead of employees.
By Emma Liem Beckett • Updated Nov. 4, 2020 -
McDonald's franchisees face more COVID-19 OSHA complaints
Two McDonald's employees in Chicago filed separate OSHA complaints claiming they were pressured to work while sick and that proper coronavirus protections were not followed.
By Alicia Kelso • Nov. 3, 2020 -
San Francisco promises $4M to small businesses as it shutters indoor dining
The city's funding will include $500,000 for restaurants to buy equipment and "reconfigure space to meet social distancing requirements" and $500,000 for zero-interest loans to cover operating costs for eateries.
By Alicia Kelso • Updated Nov. 11, 2020 -
McDonald's settles racial discrimination lawsuit with Black franchisees
The company bought the four restaurants operated by plaintiffs James and Darrell Byrd for $6.5 million, and the Byrds will exit the chain's system.
By Emma Liem Beckett • Updated June 10, 2021 -
What we know — and don't know — about PPP loan forgiveness
Financial experts weigh in on what is known, and yet to be known, about the Paycheck Protection Program loan forgiveness process to try to clear up confusion.
By Kim Slowey • Oct. 29, 2020 -
Indoor dining to cease in Chicago Friday
After reaching 40% dine-in capacity on Oct. 1, restaurants in the Windy City must reclose their dining rooms due to a rise in COVID-19 cases.
By Julie Littman • Oct. 28, 2020 -
California restaurants seek over $100M in refunds for liquor and health fees
Owners say counties continued to charge for alcohol and health permits, as well as tourism assessments, even while operations were shuttered due to government restrictions.
By Julie Littman • Oct. 27, 2020