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

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

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

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 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

Major Wendy's franchisee accused of PPP fraud

A former employee claims that Starboard Group received a $9 million loan, but ordered her to tell business partners it couldn't meet payment obligations because it didn't receive federal funding.

By Alicia Kelso • July 8, 2020

P.F. Chang's, Ruby Tuesday scored millions in PPP loans, according to SBA

Nearly 50,000 restaurant companies received loans of more than $150,000, and more than two-thirds of these PPP loans went to full-service restaurants, Small Business Association data shows. 

By Emma Liem Beckett • July 7, 2020

California, Chicago escalate response to COVID-19 violations

As of Monday, the multiagency task force created by Gov. Gavin Newsom said it issued 52 citations after warning 483,000 businesses of potential consequences, as Chicago and others clamp down on noncompliance. 

By Alicia Kelso • July 7, 2020

President signs PPP extension into law

President Donald Trump signed an application extension of the Paycheck Protection Program into law on July 4, pushing the deadline to Aug. 8.

By Emma Liem Beckett • Updated July 6, 2020

McDonald's puts reopening on hold for 3 weeks as COVID-19 spreads

Roughly 2,200 of the chain's U.S. locations are open for limited dine-in service, and the fast food giant said operators can continue to let diners eat inside if local municipalities allow it.

By Emma Liem Beckett • July 2, 2020

PPP's quick rollout, rule changes, few safeguards are fraud risks, GAO says

More than $100 billion in loan money is still available through the program. The SBA plans to stop taking new applications Tuesday.

By Dan Ennis • June 29, 2020

Chipotle ranks No. 1 among QSRs for COVID-19 safety measures, report says

McDonald's and Starbucks ranked among the top for health and safety compliance as well, according to Ipsos research based on in-store visits from mystery shoppers.

By Alicia Kelso • June 24, 2020

DoorDash to pay $5.3M to settle San Francisco misclassification suit

This ends an investigation that began in 2019 following accusations the aggregator intentionally misclassified its delivery drivers as independent contractors so it could withhold sick leave.

By Kate Tornone • Updated Nov. 23, 2021

Starbucks' stumble on Black Lives Matter shows rising stakes for brands in addressing race

Initially banning employees from wearing Black Lives Matter apparel, the chain quickly reversed its position — but the damage may already have been done.

By Peter Adams • June 22, 2020

Prioritizing the 'simple' tasks when returning to work

Restaurants are going to have to be creative as they reopen, while maintaining the proper precautions in accordance with the Center for Disease Control (CDC). 

By John Orr, SVP of Retail, Ceridian • June 22, 2020

Taco Bell to clarify policy after employee fired for wearing Black Lives Matter mask

The chain said staff can don Black Lives Matter attire and has since apologized to the worker in Ohio, who posted a video on Facebook after being terminated for bringing "politics into the building."

By Julie Littman • June 19, 2020

Feds issue streamlined PPP loan forgiveness form

Under an EZ form, restaurants only have to complete a brief calculation and certify their representations to get out of repaying their payroll protection assistance.

By Robert Freedman • June 19, 2020

1 in 4 workers at high risk for serious COVID-19 illness as states reopen despite surges

New data from the Kaiser Family Foundation could throw a wrench in restaurants' plans to reopen and resume a normal course of operations, even as more than half of states report rising COVID-19 infections.

By Rebecca Pifer • June 18, 2020

Seattle passes hazard pay bill for food delivery drivers

The city council unanimously passed the rule requiring food delivery companies like DoorDash to pay drivers an additional $2.50 per trip.

By Jeff Wells • Updated June 16, 2020