Labor and Policy

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    Duane Prokop via Getty Images
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    Taco Bell says education benefits have driven retention

    The chain is also emphasizing internal promotion of managers and area coaches through a training program meant to improve employees’ career paths.

    By • Oct. 24, 2025
  • A Starbucks barista pours foamed milk into a cup.
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    Courtesy of Starbucks
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    Starbucks poised to hire around 8K assistant mangers

    The chain is testing the assistant manager role — a step between hourly shift supervisor and salaried manager — at 62 stores to fine-tune the position before expanding it to nearly all U.S. and Canadian stores.

    By • Oct. 22, 2025
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    Courtesy of Yelp
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    Yelp adds AI Host and Receptionist to restaurant toolbox

     The customizable solutions can answer diner questions, ask follow-ups and book reservations, reflecting restaurant interest in voice technology.  

    By • Oct. 21, 2025
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    AleksandarGeorgiev via Getty Images
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    Sponsored by Circular Action Alliance

    Beyond compliance: How Circular Action Alliance supports producers through EPR

    As EPR laws for paper and packaging roll out across several U.S. states, producers must navigate a new and evolving regulatory landscape.

    Oct. 6, 2025
  • Patrons at a Chicago Starbucks after the coffee chain on Feb. 25, 2025.
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    Scott Olson via Getty Images
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    Starbucks to close roughly 400 stores, lay off 900 corporate workers

    The closures, which will largely take place over the next few days, follow a strategic review of the company’s North American store base as part of its larger turnaround plan.

    By • Updated Sept. 26, 2025
  • A zoomed in image of a building with gold signage. The sign says "P.F. Chang's."
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    Scott Olson via Getty Images
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    P.F. Chang’s settles claim it refused to hire applicant who asked for Sundays off

    The applicant’s stipulation constituted a religious accommodation request under Title VII, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission alleged.

    By Ryan Golden • Sept. 22, 2025
  • Olo founder Noah Glass on Olo's first day of trading
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    Permission granted by Olo
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    Olo lays off workers following Thoma Bravo acquisition

    The move marks the third time in three years the restaurant tech company has cut workers.

    By • Sept. 18, 2025
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    Permission granted by Starbucks
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    By the numbers: Starbucks’ first year under CEO Brian Niccol

    What’s changed 12 months after the chain’s dramatic restaurant leadership shakeup? The numbers reveal a mix of store growth, declining comp sales and continued labor strife. 

    By • Sept. 9, 2025
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    Courtesy of McDonald's
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    McDonald’s leaves NRA over policy differences

    The National Restaurant Association confirmed McDonald's terminated its membership after CEO Chris Kempczinski criticized the tip credit — a political keystone for the NRA — on CNBC.

    By • Sept. 4, 2025
  • Chili's Fast Food Financing pop-up
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    Courtesy of Chili's Grill & Bar
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    Why consumer confidence is the leading restaurant traffic indicator

    Dwindling confidence in macroeconomic growth means consumers are more price-sensitive than ever, in a potential win for value-oriented brands, Revenue Management Solutions said.

    By • Aug. 27, 2025
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    Getty Images
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    Uber Eats settles Seattle labor claims for $15M

    The delivery aggregator denied allegations by city authorities that it misled workers about potential earnings and paid them less than required.

    By • Updated Aug. 27, 2025
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    Francesco Ridolfi 

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    Sponsored by Restaurant365

    What restaurant operators are prioritizing in the face of 2025’s mounting pressures

    Labor, food costs, tariffs—here’s what restaurant leaders are doing to stay ahead for the rest of 2025.

    Aug. 25, 2025
  • A waiter picks up a cash tip from a table.
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    Getty Images
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    Tips drop as consumer spending stalls

    Average tip size has shrunk from 15.5% in 2023 to 14.9% in the second quarter of 2025, leaving workers with less pay, a July report from Square showed.

    By • Aug. 8, 2025
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    Justin Sullivan/Getty Images via Getty Images
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    Starbucks pledges $500M in additional labor as sales slide continues

    The coffee chain’s same-store sales dropped for the sixth consecutive quarter, but CEO Brian Niccol said the brand is seeing positive indicators in its operational metrics.

    By • July 30, 2025
  • An image of a tip jar in the foreground with a customer paying by credit card in the background
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    Getty Images
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    DC city council limits tipped wage hikes

    The municipality voted to cap the tipped wage at 75% of the city’s minimum wage, gutting a law passed by referendum in 2022 to end the tip credit.

    By • July 29, 2025
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    Michael M. Santiago / Staff via Getty Images
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    Worker says Dunkin’ franchisee retaliated after she researched tip law

    “That’s AI,” the worker’s supervisor allegedly said in response to her findings. “That’s not real.”

    By Emilie Shumway • July 21, 2025
  • A photograph of a black sign that says "Starbucks Coffee Company" in front of a brick building.
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    David Ryder via Getty Images
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    Starbucks shifts to 4-day RTO for corporate employees

    Starbucks won’t require individual workers to relocate, but new positions or lateral moves within the company will come with an in-person requirement.

    By • July 14, 2025
  • Cheesecake Factory signage hangs on the side of a restaurant.
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    Kayla Bartkowski / Staff via Getty Images
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    Undocumented workers say Cheesecake Factory recruited them, furnished fake work papers

    The five employees alleged in a lawsuit that the business forced them to work unpaid hours, denied them breaks and more.

    By Laurel Kalser • July 7, 2025
  • JD Vance walks out of a metal detector at the U.S. Capitol.
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    Al Drago via Getty Images
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    Restaurant groups split over No Tax on Tips until 2028

    The Senate passed a tax and spending deal that will exempt up to $25,000 in cash tips annually from federal income tax for some service workers.

    By • July 2, 2025
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    Getty Images
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    Pita Pit faces EEOC charges after firing a pregnant worker following her WFH request

    Management allegedly called the charging party’s pregnancy “a distraction.”

    By Caroline Colvin • June 30, 2025
  • An aerial view of a building with white "Chili'"s sign alongside a red pepper.
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    Former general manager can proceed with age bias case after Chili’s failed to retain documents, 6th Circuit rules

    A former restaurant general manager raised trial questions over whether he was fired because Chili’s wanted a more youthful culture, the appeals court held.

    By Laurel Kalser • June 27, 2025
  • A Panera store.
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    Courtesy of Panera
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    Panera operator in Florida sued by DOL over child labor

    The suit alleges that a 29-store franchisee subjected 240 minors to “oppressive” and illegal working conditions. 

    By • June 18, 2025
  • A Starbucks worker in a green apron and a black shirt.
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    Courtesy of Starbucks
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    Starbucks cafes are getting more managers

    The cafe chain is launching a full-time assistant manager program, which will be systemwide in 2026, to fill a critical gap in store-level leadership.

    By • June 11, 2025
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    Getty Images
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    Las Vegas restaurant operator ordered to pay more than $215K for alleged racial slurs against Black line cook

    Olives, Inc., allegedly took no remedial or disciplinary action after an HR manager came to the “spurious” conclusion there was no “malicious intent” behind the conduct.

    By Laurel Kalser • June 10, 2025
  • Culver's ButterBurger fast food drive-thru restaurant in Illinois
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    Patty Colabuono via Getty Images
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    Slurs, stalking and shoddy pay: Culver’s franchise settles slew of EEOC claims

    The settlement includes one case alleging sexual orientation-based discrimination, despite EEOC’s recent enforcement shifts affecting LGBTQ+ workers.

    By Ryan Golden • June 10, 2025