Labor and Policy: Page 9

  • Sen. Bernie Sanders address Howard Schultz at a hearing of the Senate committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions
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    Aneurin Canham-Clyne/Restaurant Dive
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    Raise the Wage Act draws restaurant industry opposition

    Congress hasn’t raised the minimum wage in 14 years, prompting states and cities to take more aggressive legislative action on wages and conditions.

    By • July 27, 2023
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    Courtesy of Shane Woolley/Restaurant Dive
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    Deep Dive

    It’s not just Starbucks: Why cafes are hotbeds for unionizing

    Workers at dozens of cafes in cities from Seattle to Boston are organizing, a trend experts attribute to low wages, college education and strong social bonds among employees.

    By • July 26, 2023
  • Opening small business. Happy arab woman in apron near bar counter holding digital tablet and looking at camera.
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    Prostock-Studio via Getty Images
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    Sponsored by Fourth

    How to make demand forecasting your competitive advantage

    Learn how to take control of your labor budgets, empower frontline managers and eliminate staffing inefficiencies with AI-powered forecasting.

    By Christian Berthelsen, Chief Technology Officer, Fourth • July 24, 2023
  • The In-n-Out logo is displayed on the front of an In-n-Out restaurant on October 28, 2021 in Pleasant Hill, California.
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    In-N-Out to discipline employees for wearing masks without a doctor’s note

    The policy applies to all store and support associates working in Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, Texas and Utah, with some exceptions.

    By Ryan Golden • Updated July 21, 2023
  • A worker takes a bowl of processed avocados from a prototype of Vebu's Autocado.
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    Courtesy of Chipotle
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    Chipotle pilots avocado robot that could halve guacamole prep time

    The Autocado, a robot designed by Vebu at Chipotle’s Cultivate Center, can hold 25 pounds of avocados at a time and cuts, cores and scoops the fruits.

    By • July 12, 2023
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    Brandon Bell via Getty Images
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    Domino’s strikes deal with Uber Eats through 2024

    The companies will pilot an ordering partnership in four U.S. markets this fall before expanding nationwide. Domino’s will still deliver orders placed through Uber Eats.

    By • July 12, 2023
  • A person whose job has been cut collects their belongings
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    pcess609 via Getty Images
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    H1 2023 marked by 4 layoffs in restaurant tech

    Companies in the delivery, virtual brand and POS platform subsectors grappled with growing losses and corporate restructuring.

    By • July 10, 2023
  • A teenager works at a cafe and cleans an espresso machine,
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    standret via Getty Images
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    DOL recovers $88,000 in wages from Detroit-centered Italian restaurant group

    “A restaurant group in business for more than a few decades must be well aware of the laws protecting the wages of tipped and hourly employees,” a Wage and Hour Division director said.

    By Caroline Colvin • July 10, 2023
  • A Waffle House in Alabama.
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    Joe Raedle via Getty Images
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    Waffle House workers strike over safety at South Carolina store

    Meal deductions are also at the root of a strike at a Columbia, South Carolina, unit. The demonstration is backed by the Union of Southern Service Workers. 

    By • July 10, 2023
  • A bicycle delivery person in a city checking an address on a mobile app.
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    South_agency/E+ via Getty Images
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    Judge grants temporary injunction against NYC delivery driver pay rule

    The wage rule requires delivery firms to pay workers $19.96 an hour by 2025, the latest development in regulatory battles between aggregators and the city.

    By • Updated July 10, 2023
  • Screenshots of DoorDash's updated Dasher features
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    Permission granted by DoorDash
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    DoorDash adds hourly pay option for drivers

    The company’s driver app also includes the ability for couriers to complete an order that will take them to their designated delivery areas. 

    By • June 28, 2023
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    Courtesy of Nextbite
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    Nextbite faces class-action lawsuit over May layoffs

    A worker, whose maternity leave ended two months early, alleges that the virtual brand platform failed to provide notice to laid off employees as required by federal law.

    By • June 27, 2023
  • Picketers outside a Boston Starbucks during a 64 day strike.
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    Permission granted by Boston Starbucks Workers United
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    Starbucks unionization efforts

    Starbucks union plans largest strike yet over Pride decorations

    Roughly 3,000 workers at 150-plus Starbucks cafes could strike over the next week following disputes over LGBTQ Pride decorations at some stores. 

    By • June 23, 2023
  • Some rainbow colored Starbucks cups.
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    Courtesy of Starbucks
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    Starbucks unionization efforts

    Some Starbucks cafes have removed Pride decor. Corporate says it hasn’t banned the practice.

    Confusion over Pride decoration policy has sparked tension between Starbucks and its union, as major brands like Target and Anheuser-Busch InBev face threats for their pro-LGBTQ marketing.

    By • June 16, 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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    Judge adds $2.7M to jury award in Starbucks race discrimination case

    The White plaintiff, a former regional director, alleged her race played a role in her firing after the company sought to mitigate damage following a 2018 racial profiling incident.

    By Emilie Shumway • Updated Aug. 17, 2023
  • Olo founder Noah Glass on Olo's first day of trading
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    Permission granted by Olo
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    Olo cuts 11% of workforce as losses mount

    Following layoffs impacting 81 workers, former Yahoo executive Joanna Lambert will join Olo as its COO July 5 to help with the company’s strategic reorganization. 

    By • June 14, 2023
  • Potbelly Sandwich Shop in National Harbor, Maryland, taken by Julie Littman of Restaurant Dive
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    Julie Littman/Restaurant Dive
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    Potbelly hires HR, franchising executives

    Lynette McKee will support Potbelly’s transition to a majority franchise system as SVP of franchising, and Patrick Walsh will work as chief people officer. 

    By • June 12, 2023
  • An image of a laptop with Grubhub's website.
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    Brandon Bell via Getty Images
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    Grubhub cuts 15% of staff

    The layoffs come six months after rival DoorDash eliminated 1,250 positions, and follow rising operating and staffing costs, CEO Howard Migdal said.

    By • June 12, 2023
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    Astrid Stawiarz via Getty Images
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    New York City will raise delivery wages to $19.96 in 2025

    This sizable raise for the Big Apple’s couriers follows industry opposition, and is $4 less per hour than the city’s first proposed delivery wage floor.

    By • June 12, 2023
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    Drew Angerer via Getty Images
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    Q&A

    Why immigration, tip credit are key political priorities for the NRA

    In the second part of this Q&A, Sean Kennedy, the National Restaurant Association’s EVP of public affairs, talks about labor goals beyond stopping the FAST Recovery Act.

    By • June 5, 2023
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    Anna Moneymaker/Staff via Getty Images
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    Q&A

    NRA wants to stop California’s FAST Recovery Act, draw new workers to industry

    As the political battle over restaurant labor heats up, Sean Kennedy, EVP of public affairs at the National Restaurant Association, discusses the biggest challenges facing the industry.

    By • June 1, 2023
  • McDonald’s employee Nidia Torres speaks at a rally of fast food workers and supporters for passage of AB 257, a fast-food worker health and safety bill, on April 16, 2021
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    Mario Tama via Getty Images
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    California State Assembly passes franchisor-franchisee joint liability bill

    The Fast Food Franchisor Responsibility Act (AB 1228) now heads to the state senate, which has until Sept. 14 to consider it.

    By • June 1, 2023
  • A photograph of chefs in a kitchen.
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    sam edwards via Getty Images
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    4 restaurant industry predictions from the NRA Show

    Ghost kitchens, immigration policy, managerial automation and catering could help shape the future of the industry, experts said at the National Restaurant Association Show.

    By • May 31, 2023
  • A female worker leans against the counter looking frustrated at a coffee bar with her head on her hand.
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    ljubaphoto via Getty Images
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    Young female employees harassed at multiple San Diego restaurant locations, EEOC alleges

    A suit filed on May 17 involves nine locations of Swami’s Café and Honey’s Bistro.

    By Caroline Colvin • May 24, 2023
  • Atosa Catering Equipment's prototype fry machine at the National Restaurant Association show on May 22, 2023.
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    Aneurin Canham-Clyne/Restaurant Dive
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    Cooking up automation: 4 labor-saving tech solutions at the NRA Show

    From a hand scanner that detects contaminates to a robot arm that can fry, salt and package food, technology is transforming the back of house.

    By • May 23, 2023