Labor and Policy: Page 30
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Julie Littman/Restaurant Dive
Potbelly reverses course and snags $10M in last-minute PPP funding
Despite its decision to return a Paycheck Protection Program loan in April, the sandwich chain has now opted for a small business loan at the risk of attracting renewed criticism.
By Rosie Bradbury • Updated Aug. 17, 2020 -
Ryan McKnight / Industry Dive
Lyft, Uber ordered to reclassify California drivers, putting all eyes on Prop 22
The ruling puts added pressure on a state ballot measure that would classify app-based drivers as independent contractors.
By Kate Tornone • Updated Oct. 23, 2020 -
Florida restaurant workers can get back to work sooner after COVID-19 infections
Gov. Ron DeSantis signed an executive order last week stating that restaurant employees no longer need to prove two negative COVID-19 tests before returning to work.
By Alicia Kelso • Aug. 10, 2020 -
64% of diners say staff wearing PPE is most important when eating out, survey shows
Consumers say restaurant staff taking safety precautions is a higher priority to them than efforts to add hand sanitizer and single-use menus at tables, according to a Toast report.
By Alicia Kelso • Aug. 7, 2020 -
Seattle study finds race discrimination in restaurant hiring
Restaurant Opportunities Centers United and the Seattle Office for Civil Rights found that people of color are more likely to have low-wage, back-of-house jobs.
By Sheryl Estrada • Aug. 6, 2020 -
Alabama Extension. (2020). "The Image" [Photograph]. Retrieved from Flickr.
83% of New York City restaurant owners couldn't pay full rent in July, report shows
The NYC Hospitality Alliance survey also found that 71% of landlords would not waive portions of rent because of COVID-19.
By Alicia Kelso • Aug. 5, 2020 -
"Protest against police violence in Minneapolis, Minnesota" by Lorie Shaull is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0
45% of consumers less likely to order from Starbucks because of initial BLM policy, study finds
Nearly 21% of consumers said they will actively try to avoid buying from brands that restrict employees from expressing support for the movement, and 51% said they are less likely to buy from these companies, according to DealAid data.
By Emma Liem Beckett • Aug. 5, 2020 -
NRA: 55% of restaurants can't access second PPP loan under Senate plan
The association is urging Congress to lower the proposed Heals Act revenue loss threshold, which determines a business' eligibility for a second loan, from 50% to 20%.
By Emma Liem Beckett • Aug. 4, 2020 -
Texas bars could reopen as restaurants under modified licensure rules
Establishments could qualify as restaurants if alcoholic beverages made up less than 51% of their sales since April 1, per the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission.
By Julie Littman • Aug. 3, 2020 -
12 North Carolina McDonald's restaurants fined for alleged child labor law violations
It’s not uncommon for fast food chains to face allegations of such missteps, and others like Qdoba, Chipotle and Wendy's have paid similar fines in the past year.
By Katie Clarey • July 31, 2020 -
Taco Bell operator sued for withholding overtime pay from misclassified employees
The assistant general manager position required "housekeeping, customer service, cash handling, food preparation, and other non-exempt work," according to the lawsuit.
By Lisa Burden • July 31, 2020 -
As Congress considers $1T stimulus package, restaurant groups push for targeted relief
The GOP-proposed package would include additional funding for a new round of PPP loans, but the qualifications would leave a lot of restaurants behind.
By Julie Littman • July 29, 2020 -
Courtesy of McDonald's
McDonald's pauses dining room reopenings, will require diners to wear masks
The chain's new face covering requirement will be effective Aug. 1 in its nearly 14,000 U.S. restaurants, and its dining room reopening plans have been delayed to Aug. 23.
By Alicia Kelso • July 27, 2020 -
NRA urges local leaders to keep restaurants open
In a letter to governors and mayors, the National Restaurant Association writes that "bad actors" do not represent the industry and closing restaurants down again hinders its recovery.
By Julie Littman • July 27, 2020 -
Black business owners discouraged from applying for PPP loans, study says
Roughly 75% of all PPP loans did not include any demographic information because that information was not provided by the borrowers, but 41% of Black-owned businesses shuttered operations between February and April.
By Sheryl Estrada , Emma Liem Beckett • July 24, 2020 -
FG Trade via Getty Images
Coronavirus exacerbates racial wage gap for tipped workers, report finds
Black women tipped workers make almost $5 less than white men tipped workers in the U.S, a One Fair Wage study shows.
By Emma Liem Beckett • July 24, 2020 -
McDonald's franchisee settles claim that 'people manager' harassed 16-year-old employee
The agreement also requires Par Ventures to revise its policy on sexual harassment and conduct training for all employees.
By Lisa Burden • July 24, 2020 -
Pret A Manger accused of daily use of racial slur by manager, co-workers
After complaining, the Black employee said she was given reduced hours and passed over for promotions.
By Lisa Burden • July 22, 2020 -
Danny Meyer's restaurant group eliminates no-tipping policy
Union Square Hospitality Group is moving away from its controversial "Hospitality Included" model amid the pandemic so employees have the chance to access extra compensation from diner tips.
By Alicia Kelso • July 21, 2020 -
96% of restaurants require staff to wear masks
Restaurants are increasingly mandating employee temperature checks, requiring staff to wear gloves and installing plexiglass shields, says Black Box Intelligence, but these features can be costly while sales are down.
By Alicia Kelso • July 20, 2020 -
Small PPP loans should be considered for automatic forgiveness, Mnuchin says
If loans of under $150,000 were turned into grants, this would impact 86% of the nearly 4.9 million PPP loans issued as of July 17, and roughly 27% of the $520 billion lent through the program.
By Emma Liem Beckett • July 20, 2020 -
Permission granted by BioNTech SE
Prioritize restaurant workers for testing and vaccination, NRA says
The National Restaurant Association says its recommendation will safeguard the industry's productivity as the pandemic holds strong.
By Emma Liem Beckett • July 16, 2020 -
Opinion
Do we need to shut down again? What to do when employees get COVID-19
Restaurants need to establish systems to inform staff and guests if a worker contracts the virus and ensure health screening compliance to avoid outbreaks, attorney Arif Virji writes.
By Arif Virji • July 16, 2020 -
California recloses all indoor dining
Restaurants can continue to offer outdoor dining, takeout and delivery, but brewpubs, bars and breweries must cease all operations.
By Emma Liem Beckett • Updated July 14, 2020 -
DoorDash
DoorDash to reimburse restaurants after violating San Francisco's 15% fee cap
The company told the San Francisco Chronicle that fewer than 10 restaurants were charged higher fees, but at least one operator said he still hasn't received a refund.
By Alicia Kelso • July 9, 2020
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