Labor and Policy: Page 2
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Presto lays off 18% of staff 4 months after most recent cuts
Following a pivot away from its tablet business to drive-thru artificial intelligence, the company eliminated 24 corporate roles.
By Julie Littman • March 19, 2024 -
Minimum-wage delivery drivers must be 100% reimbursed for using their own vehicles, 6th Cir. says
The court didn’t say how employers should calculate these reimbursements, but it warned that underpayment may cut into a driver’s minimum wage and violate the FLSA.
By Laurel Kalser • March 18, 2024 -
Trendline
Workforce Challenges
The recovering restaurant labor market is still unstable, marked by growing worker demand and a small talent pool, pressuring businesses to adapt their staffing strategies.
By Restaurant Dive staff -
Sponsored by Instant Financial
Empowering employees: The transformative impact of pay optionality
Employee pay flexibility: paying your staff how they want, when they want and where they want.
March 18, 2024 -
Texas judge vacates joint employer rule
The rule, which was set to go into effect Monday, would have lowered the bar for joint employer status.
By Emilie Shumway • Updated March 11, 2024 -
DC bill mandates study of delivery worker conditions, pay
As part of the restaurant rules package that passed in the District this week, the city council requires aggregators and restaurants to agree that delivery workers are allowed to use restaurant bathrooms.
By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • March 8, 2024 -
Subway franchisees pay $218K for allegedly pocketing employees’ tips
A DOL investigation found managers and owners illegally participated in employee tip pools and manually adjusted hours to avoid paying overtime.
By Ginger Christ • March 8, 2024 -
DC passes bill that protects restaurants with service fees from litigation
Service fees of 20% or less will be approved, so long as fees are clearly disclosed to diners. The move follows forecasts that such restaurant fees will proliferate in the District, which recently eliminated the tip credit.
By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • March 7, 2024 -
Taco Bell franchisee sued after manager sexually harassed teen employees
Charter Foods faces two lawsuits from women who were harassed by a convicted sex offender working as their shift supervisor in West Virginia.
By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • March 7, 2024 -
Starbucks’ deal with union ends battle over board nominees
A week after Starbucks and Workers United agreed on "a path forward" to end litigation and support collective bargaining, the Strategic Organizing Center is nixing its proxy fight with the chain.
By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • March 5, 2024 -
DoorDash shifts pay scheme, cuts flexibility in New York City
DoorDash says its fees in The Big Apple have driven down delivery sales, but the city says data from delivery firms shows steady sales.
By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Updated March 5, 2024 -
Starbucks unionization efforts
Starbucks, union take first steps toward detente
The entities have agreed on a "path forward" to resolve litigation between the coffee chain and labor group and, eventually, reach a contract.
By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Feb. 27, 2024 -
Sponsored by Instant Financial
The cost of cash for restaurants
Reduce your cash tips costs by moving to an electronic employee tips solution, with no fees.
Feb. 26, 2024 -
How José Andrés restaurant workers won voluntary union recognition
Staff at The Bazaar by José Andrés in Washington, D.C., secured majority support for Unite Here Local 25 in a bid for better wages and benefits.
By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Feb. 23, 2024 -
Los Angeles County sues Grubhub over ‘bait and switch’ fees
The county calls for an injunction against alleged deceptive business practices and for Grubhub to pay fines for possible violations of California’s unfair competition and false advertising laws.
By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Feb. 23, 2024 -
Judge bars Burgerim and its founder from selling franchises
Burgerim could owe the FTC up to $56 million in civil penalties and money earmarked for consumer redress. Oren Loni, CEO and founder of the disgraced restaurant chain, settled separately in November.
By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Feb. 23, 2024 -
Starbucks unionization efforts
Starbucks union’s student allies stage national day of action against chain
Demonstrations are slated at 25 major public and private universities Thursday in a bid to push administrators to break ties with the company, or declare solidarity with Starbucks Workers United.
By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Updated Feb. 22, 2024 -
McDonald’s employee had to pump breast milk in stockroom corner, lawsuit alleges
The complaint is the latest against large-scale employers who allegedly violate the PUMP Act by failing to provide nursing employees reasonable time to express milk in a private, sanitary place.
By Laurel Kalser • Feb. 20, 2024 -
Starbucks unionization efforts
Starbucks union organizes record 21 stores in 1 day
The organizing blitz is likely intended to pressure the coffee chain, which says it wants to reach contracts at all organized stores this year, during negotiations.
By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Feb. 20, 2024 -
Sponsored by Paylocity
How to overcome 5 restaurant industry challenges
Discover tips and tricks to help you tackle some of the top HR pain points for restaurants and hospitality businesses.
Feb. 20, 2024 -
Toast to cut 550 employees
The company’s CEO acknowledged during an earnings call that “we grew our team too quickly in some areas,” while reporting a presence in 106,000 locations as of the end of 2023.
By Lynne Marek • Feb. 16, 2024 -
McDonald’s franchisee settles rape case for $4.35M
McDonald’s franchisee Rice Enterprises will sell its restaurants to fund a $4.35M settlement with a minor who was sexually assaulted by a manger.
By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Feb. 6, 2024 -
Restaurant operators see gig work as labor solution, NRA says
Finding staff is still a significant challenge for many operators, with 45% of surveyed restaurateurs reporting inadequate staffing to meet demand.
By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Feb. 6, 2024 -
Cheesecake Factory, contractors agree to $1M settlement for underpaying 589 janitorial workers
The resolution includes $750,000 from the restaurant chain and $250,000 from the janitorial contractors accused of wage theft, the California Labor Commissioner’s Office says.
By Nish Amarnath • Feb. 1, 2024 -
How Portillo’s develops its managers to sustain $10M unit volumes
CEO Michael Osanloo said the chain’s labor model and high unit volumes enable a “virtuous cycle” where sales drive wages and benefits, which in turn drive retention and efficiency.
By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Feb. 1, 2024 -
US Foods wins $11.9M suit against Boston Market by default
A federal judge found Boston Market engaged in bad faith and intentionally avoided engaging with process servers in a lawsuit over unpaid bills.
By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Feb. 1, 2024