The Working Lunch: Recent Episodes
Align Public Strategies
This weekly podcast comes from Align Public Strategies, a full-service public affairs and creative firm that helps corporate brands, governments and nonprofits navigate the outside world and inform their internal decision-making. #WorkingLunch #Align
Say it ain’t so! A conservative Republican senator - Josh Hawley from Missouri - has teamed up with a liberal senator from Vermont to introduce legislation to increase the federal minimum wage to $15/hr. While the bill may or may not get traction, the bigger issue is the changing relationship that Republicans are forging with organized labor and working class voters. We’ll take a look.And we are joined by Kelsey Streufert with the Texas Restaurant Association to talk about their recently-adjourned session and the remarkable progress they made on streamlining local permitting and fee processes as well as pushing back against the credit card duopoly that runs our payment systems.And then we talk with Amanda Stone from the New Jersey Restaurant & Hospitality Association to discuss this week’s election resultsand what a new governor and legislative mix mean for the state and the industry.We’ll talk about those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
We visit once again with Maggie Gentile, a partner at Food Directions and our industry’s resident expert on food policy, who stopped by the pod to talk about last week’s MAHA Commission report - what’s in it, what wasn’t in it, what comes next, and lastly, what it means to operators. And the industry had a big week on both coasts with regard to minimum wage. We’ll talk about the effort underway in Washington, DC taht paused and may fully repeal the voter-passed ballot initiative to eliminate the tip credit as well as a new campaign in Los Angeles to roll back the city’s new $30/hr minimum wage law for hospitality workers.We’ll talk about those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
We talk once again to Aaron Frazier, the Vice-President of Public Policy for the National Restaurant Association to get the lastest on the status of the President’s “big, beautiful” tax bill and what the industry can expect out of the current package on the table. We’ll also chat about tariffs and the MAHA Commission report coming later this week.We’ll talk about those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
A new MAGA-focused trade association is taking shape offering enhanced access to Trump Admiistration officials and to the President himself. The new group is forming at a time when the Business Roundtable and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce have encountered some significant friction with the Trump White House. Is this a potential threat or opportunioty for brands and their traditional trade associations? We’ll discuss.And a bipartisan working group in Congress has introduced legislation dramatically altering the playing field with regard to paid leave. Is the idea of a traditional, government-run paid leave program funded by payroll taxes a relic of the past? We’ll take a look.We’ll talk about those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
We sit down with Aaron Frazier, Vice President of Public Policy at the National Restaurant Association, to discuss the pending tax bill, reconciliation, and what operators should expect at the end of the process.And Republicans across the country seem to be taking aim at voter-passed initiatives on minimum wage and paid leave among other issues. The problem is that despite large majorities in Florida, Missouri and Nebraska, they have been stymied. We’ll discuss why that is happening and if Republicans are ultimately pivoting on key business model issues.We’ll talk about those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
Despite a terrible winning record the last few years, One Fair Wage seems to be making a stand in one of the last few big blue states, this time New Jersey. Is it their swan song or the beginning of a comeback? We’ll discuss.And then we’ll talk about tariffs and the 90- day window of breathing space the Administration gave us. Is it a given that the small guys are the most vulnerable or do the big ones have unique exposures themselves? We’ll take a look.We’ll talk about those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
It looks like the MAHA train has pulled into Baton Rouge and offloaded one of the most expansive food policy reform bills we have seen to date. The legislation covers ingredients, oils, sugary beverages and even SNAP eligibility and appears to be a huge priority of the governor. We’ll unpack what it means not only in Louisiana but elsewhere across the country.We’ll talk about those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
Tariffs, tariffs, tariffs. This week the President laid out some of the most aggressive tariff policies in recent American history causing instability in corporate boardrooms, workforces, world markets and with our trading partners themselves. But how should industry leaders look at this? Well, to answer that question, we sat down with one. We had a conversation with Fat Brands Founder and Chairman Andy Wiederhorn who walked us through the challenges that these tariff policies are creating for their business model, their supply chain, their growth plans, and their relationship with current or prospective franchisees.We’ll talk about those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
We’ll take a stab at answering a question that likely has never been asked before - namely what do California and West Virginia have in common? The answer: They have both enacted strict laws regarding food additives, dyes and preservatives. But while California’s laws were largely targeted at kids and school meals, West Virginia has taken aim at all products produced or sold in the state making them officially the first state to enact RFK Jr.’s Make America Healthy Again aagenda. We are joined once again by Maggie Gentile, a partner at Food Directions and a consultant to the National Restaurant Association to help us sort it out, what it means in the short term for suppliers and restaurants, and what else may be coming down the pike.We’ll talk about those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
We sit down with the Independant Restaurant Coalition’s Erika Polmer and Robert St. John to get a status report on the organization, the role it’s playing in the industry and their agenda for 2025. And Gywnne Wilcox is back on the job at the NLRB bit with a huge asterisk hanging over her head. We’ll take a look at that.We’ll talk about those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
We’re going to talk swipe fees with the NRA’s Brennan Duckett to update you on the status of the industry’s national effort to push back on the Visa and Mastercard payments duopoly that is bleeding restaurant owners dry.And then we’ll take a look at a national boycott of Target, Amazon and Walmart over their DEI practices and discuss whether they are an effective tool and should restaurant brands be nervous?We’ll talk about those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
The Independent restaurant Coalition has remade its Board Leadership and is looking to reingage in conversations Important to the industry. Is this a help or a hindrance to the industry’s national issue agenda? We’ll take a look.And this week the President released a target list - his words - of companies that his administration will be going after over their DEI-related policies and a couple of major restaurant and supplier brands ended up on that list. We’ll assess the landscape for those companies and the broader industry going forward.We’ll talk about those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
We sat down with Davis Bae, the Managing Partner of the Seattle Office of Fisher & Phillips to talk about the immigration issue and how operators need to prepare for the foreseeable future. Is this a passing fad or the new normal? We’ll discuss.And we take a few minutes to discuss a future business model that includes cloud kitchens and what Travis Kalanick of Uber fame is up to in that area.We’ll talk about those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
We sat down with Jonathan Gold, the Vice President of Supply Chain & Customs Policy at the National Retail Federation to talk about the President’s tariffs policy and its impact on the industry and the broader economy going forward.We’ll talk about those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
In an unprecedented move, President Trump fired two members of the National Labor Relations Board as well as the General Counsel, Jennifer Abruzzo. While removing the GC is permissible, the removal of Board members without cause is legally tenuous at best and most likely not legal at all. We take a look.And the no taxes on tips conversation is raging at the state level with a number of states tackling the issue. Is this good news or another challenge for the industry to navigate? We’ll do a deep dive on that.We’ll talk about those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
Well it was a rock’em sock’em first week for the Trump Administration as countless executive orders, pardons and personnel changes have been executed in only the first four days. At the forefront of all this is the White House’s determination to begin large-scale immigration raids any day now. We’ll take a look at this fundamental threat to the industries’ workforce, what may happen over the next days and weeks and what operators large and small should prepare for.And there are new sheriffs in town at two agency’s important to all employers - the National Labor Relations Board and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. We’ll go over what to expect and why it matters.We’ll talk about those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
The portable benefits issue is back in the news as DoorDash strikes another agreement - this time with the state of Georgia - to pilot a portable benefits program for its drivers. There is growing consensus within liberal and conservative circles that portable benefits regumes are here to stay and a plausible solution for millions of gig economy workers without traditional benefits. We’ll discuss where the issue is going and whether the restaurant industry will meaningfully engage.Starbucks and their public bathroom policy is back in the news as they reverse their policy implemented by Howard Schultz in response to the PR debacle in a Philadelphia restaurant in 2018. Is Starbucks really protecting their employees or bending to the political winds? We would argue that they’re doing both. We’ll talk about those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
After a nearly 20-year separation, the SEIU and the AFL-CIO have kissed and made and now are back on the same team, joining forces just before a potentially union-hostile administration takes office. We’ll discuss the volatile history of the two organizations, why they reunited, and what it could mean for the industry.And this week, the U.S. Surgeon General called for expanded warning labels on alcohol, alerting consumers to the possible carcinogenic effects of drinking. Should the industry be worried either now or in the future? We’ll discuss.And McDonald’s got in line with other major American companies and walked back many of their DEI initiatives and hiring goals. We take a look at why this might be an increasingly complicated conversation for the industry going forward.We’ll talk about those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
Starbucks is back in the news this week as their Workers United union has voted to authorize a national strike at any moment. What’s going on behind the scenes? Is this a bargaining ploy as both slides sit down at the negotiating table this week or is it for real? We’ll discuss.And we are joined by Maggie Gentile, a partner at Food Directions and a consultant to the National Restaurant Association to discuss the impact that the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) agenda being led by Robert Kennedy, Jr. will have on the industry. Maggie’s going to tell us what the food policy landscape will look like in 2025 and what operators should be paying attention to. We’ll talk about those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
It was a tough week for the National Labor Relations Board with the Senate failing to confirm Pres. Biden’s nominations to the Board. This clears the decks for the incoming Trump Admnistration to remake the Board much quicker than anticipated. And just down the street, the agency lost a major court battle that could dramatically alter the roles - and tenure - of Administrative Law Judges. We’ll discuss.And we are joined by Mike Whatley, the Vice President of State Affairs and Grassroots Advocacy at the National Restaurant Association to discuss some issues currently percolating, look back at 2024 and look ahead to 2025.We’ll talk about those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
We have a conversation with Greg Astley, Director of Government Affairs for the Oregon Restaurant Association, about Oregan Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer and his team’s working relationship with the new Cabinet member. What has been her record in Congress? What are her priorities? And what’s her relationship with the Teamsters? We’ll get the view from back home in Oregon.And then we’ll talk about another major employer, Walmart, joining the growing group of companies pivoting on their DEI policies.We’ll talk about those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
In yet another surprise appointment, President-Elect Trump has nominated an outgoing member of Congress, Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer of Oregon, to run the Labor Department. Ironically, she is one of a small handful of Republicans to vote for the PRO Act, organized labor’s signature piece of legislation in years. To say the least, the nomination is causing significant consternation in the business community. We’ll take a deep dive into that.And Waffle House filed a lawsuit against the National Labor Relations Board questioning the consitutionality of the Board and charging that employers are denied due process. What does this mean to pending unfair labor practice accusations against the company as well as the broader corporate campaign being waged against it by the Southern Service Workers union? We’ll take a look at that as well.We’ll talk about those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
The President-elect has been shocking allies and foes alike with his nominations for cabinet posts. While some will have more impact on the industry than others, the nomination of Robert F Kennedy, Jr will likely cause shock waves up and down the food supply as he goes after processed food, sodium, sugar and other additives. It’s going to be a wild ride.And we are joined by David King, the Guidance and Outreach Director for the U.S. Treasury Department’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network to talk about pending regulations regarding Beneficial Ownership Information that all employers must submit to the agency to comply with the Corporate Transparancy Act. He will walk us through the origin of the law, why it’s necessary, and the responsibility of all business owners to file the information.We’ll talk about those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
It’s finally over. In a surprise for most, Republicans have a huge night sweeping Donald Trump back into the White House. We’ll discuss what happened this week both at the federal level as well as in the states and take a look at what the industry can expect going forward.We’ll talk about those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
Well, the election is finally here and it can’t come fast enough. While we don’t know the outcome yet, we do know that it will be razor-close and legally contested. To help us sort it out, we’re joined by our good friend Sean Kennedy, Executive Vice President of Public Policy for the National Restaurant Assocation, who will help us get it all sorted out. We’ll talk about those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
McDonald’s was all over the news this week for a variety of reasons, not the least of which was a visit to a Pennsylvania restaurant by none other than The Donald himself. Besides his work at the fry station and his voluminous lunch order, what was the key takeaway politically from his visit, both for himself and for the industry? We’ll discuss.And the Gallup organization released survey data regarding American attitudes toward taxes, tax fairness and tax reform. While results were all over the board depending on political ideologies, one thing the vast majority of Americans agreed on was that corporate taxes are too low. We’ll take a look at how that environment may shape the pending tax debate in 2025.We’ll talk about those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
The very liberal governor of Massachusetts made a splash this week when she came out strongly against Question 5, the pending ballot proposal to eliminate the tip credit in the Bay State by 2029. The former server demonstrated her first hand knowledge of the issue and its ramifications for both workers and operators. This is a huge deal and could have implications for how the industry manages the issue across the country going forward. We’ll take a deep dive into this one.And One Fair Wage puts on quite a show in Michigan, upping the ante with an event in downtown Detroit equating tipping with shackles and chains. Oh my. Lots to unpack there.We’ll talk about those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
We do a deep dive into next month’s general election and discuss not only the top of the ticket, but of importance to operators, what is happening at the state and local level that may impact their bottom lines.And Jeff Hanscom, Vice President of State & Local Government Relations & Public Policy for the International Franchise Association, stops by the pod to talk about a big win in California and the collective efforts of both franchisors and franchisees working together on what could be a model going forward.We’ll talk about those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
This week, NRA Board member Tom Boucher, along with other panelists, testified before a Congressional Subcomittee egarding the labor community’s efforts to eliminate the tip credit as well as the onerous complications from the Administration’s 80/20/30 rule. Also on the panel was One Fair Wage head Saru Jayaraman. Let’s just say Tom had a better day. We’ll dive into that.And former President Trump upped the populist ante this week calling for both the elimination of taxes on overtime wages as well as a 10% cap on credit card interest rates. Both are likely impossible to achieve but it sure makes his audiences respond. We’ll take a look.We’ll talk about those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
We’ll discuss how One Fair Wage, despite their abysmal record on getting legislation passed and ballot initiatives certified, continues to knock it out of the park when it comes to headlines and influence. Just this week, Vice-President Harris announced her economic plan which includes elimination of the tip credit. How is One Fair Wage doing it? We’ll discuss.And we’ll have a quick recap of the presidential debate and see if there are any learnings in there for us there.We’ll talk about those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
Just when we thought we were done dealing with the Joint Employer issue, it pulls us back in - this time it's the NLRB saying Amazon is a joint employer with a third-party delivery service. We are joined by Ed Egee, Vice President of Government Relations and Workforce Development for the National Retail Federation who will walk us through that situation and highlight what operators need to know. He will also discuss the ramifications of the seismic decision by a US Appeals Court squashing the Labor Department’s 80/20 rule.And the pressure is on in the DEI space as conservative activists continue collecting corporate scalps targeting companies for their policies. This week saw Lowe’s and the Ford Moror Company change direction on this increasingly volatile sace. We’ll take a look.We’ll talk about those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
The credit card interchange fee issue is raging right now as the news cycle is full of stories about all-time high ATM fees, all-time high debit card fees and accordingly, all-time high bank and credit card industry profits. Yet at the same time, the banks and credit card companies are crying poor mouth and pretending that any restrictions on their business practices will be the end of the republic as we know it. We’ll talk to our industry’s point man on the subject, Brennan Duckett, Director of Technology & Innovation Policy at the National Restaurant Association, to help us sort it all out and tell us what we can expect moving forward.We’ll talk about that, a brief recap of the Democratic National Convention, and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
We’ll talk about the economic plans released this week by both presidential candidates and discuss the prominence of the tip taxation issue in both agendas. Is the tip issue just populist rhetoric or a legitimate policy proposal? We’ll dive into that.And the Wall Street Journal published a major piece this week regarding the political program at McDonald’s and their large investment in local politics - particulary in California. Was the article good or bad for the industry? Or maybe a lot of both? We’ll discuss.And Brian Niccol left Chipotle this week to take the reins at Starbucks. He’s no stranger to union organizing so what does this mean for the most high-profile union organizing campaign in industry history. We’ll take a look.We’ll talk about those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
We are joined by Sean Kennedy, Executive Vice President of Public Affairs for the National Restaurant Association to give us the latest from Washington, DC on our ongoing national conversation around taxation of tips, corporate tax legislation, the upcoming Democratic convention and more.And we do a deep dive on Tim Walz, Kamala Harris’ new running mate, and examine his record on core business mode issues like wage, beenefits and unionization. We’ll talk about those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
We are joined by Colm O’Comartum, the co-founder of public affairs firm 50-State and the former head of the Democratic Governors Association to get his take on the new dynamics of the presidential election and what that means for the top of the ticket as well as Congress, Governors and state legislatures. I think you’ll enjoy his perspective.And the courts - whether Supreme, federal, or district - have turned our regulatory environment upside down in the last few months. How should the business community react to the new environment and does it change which branch of government should be our focus? We are joined by Angelo Amador, Senior Vice President, Legal Advocacy & Regulatory Counsel for the National Restaurant Asociation - and the head of the Restaurant Law Center - to help us unwind this new knot and give us his insight on what our regulatory relationship with the federal government may look like going forward.We’ll talk about those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
The Repubican National Convention is in full swing and while there aren’t a whole lot of surprises, there has been a decidely anti-corporate feel to it. Should large companies in general, and their CEOs in particular, be worried about this. We’ll take a look.And with most Republican elected officials in Milwaukee all week, there hasn’t been much opportunity for policy making so we will wrap it up with a very short legislative scorecard.
The national conversation on tips hit overdrive this week as former president Trump’s new cause - eliminating taxes on tipped income - has found its way into the Republican party platform at the upcoming convention. We’ll discuss what that means to the industry, as well as talk about the big win in Ohio and significant developments in Massachusetts.And the Supreme Court continues to alter the regulatory environment with regard to how we run our businesses. The latest decision revoking the Chevron doctrine could be the most important one of all. We’ll do a deep dive into that.We’ll talk about those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
Last week, we discussed how the former and possibly future President of the United States, Donald Trump, suggested that if elected, he would eliminate taxes on tipped income. This week, his loyalists in the U.S. Senate followed suit introducing legislation to do just that. While the bill may ever see the light of day, the conversation itself is putting the labor community and their friends on the blue team in a serious political jam. We’ll discuss.And Minneapolis continues to be the national hotbed of labor organizing with additional high-end restaurants facing unionization campaigns this week. What is going on up there in the city of lakes? We dive into that.We’ll talk about those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
This week, the former and possibly future President of the United States, Donald Trump, suggested that if elected, he would eliminate taxes on tipped income. Two questions. Doesn’t he need a willing Congress to do that and secondly, how did tips find their way into being a presidential campaign issue? We’ll discuss.And it was an important week on the minimum wage ballot front with big news out of both Arizona and Massachusetts. The landscape for the November ballot got a lot more clarity this week and we’ll dive into it.We’ll talk about those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
We’re joined by Justin Winslow, the President & CEO of the Michigan Restaurant & Lodging Association, who will discuss his organization’s successful legal battle before the state supreme court to remove a pending ballot measure to increase the minimum wage and eliminate the tip credit. But the issue is far from over and we talk about what’s coming next.And California is at it again - this time creating a Fast Act for Janitorial Workers. We’ll talk about the SEIU’s continued focus on sectoral bargaining and what that could mean down the road for other industry players.We’ll talk about those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
A unionization effort at a high-profile restaurant in Minneapolis could be the equivalent of the early efforts in the coffee sector in both Boston and Buffalo that led directly to Starbucks. Operators large and small in Minneapolis better buckle up and operators everywhere should be paying close attention. We’ll explain why.And we are joined by Mike Whatley, Vice-President of State Affairs & Grassroots Advocacy at the National Restaurant Association to talk about the state of play of the minimum wage ballot initiatives in Arizona, Massachusetts, Ohio, Michigan and Missouri. We’ll also talk about junk fees and outline the industry priorities on the ground this summer.We’ll talk about that important development and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
We are joined by Phil Wilson, President & General Counsel of the Labor Relations Institute to talk about the recent application of the Cemex decision in a restaurant organizing effort and forcing the operators to bargain. Is this a one-off or just the beginning as the labor community continues to focus on the industry.We’ll talk about that important development and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
With a new union focused on organizing QSR’s in the South, and pro-union think tanks disparaging the “Southern Economic Model”, the escalation of the southern prison labor issue is not happening in a vacuum. How should the industry view what is happening down South and more importantly, how to prepare for it.And the landmark Cemex decision has barreled headfirst into the restaurant industry with a New York landmark restaurant facing the possibility of being the first in the industry ordered to recognize a union without an election. We will dive into that.We’ll talk about those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
Minneapolis has successfully engineered a labor standards board for nursing home workers that will set benefit and wage levels for that sector. So far advocates have considered it a big success building momentum for the concept. Any guesses as to which industry is next on their agenda? You guessed it. We’ll discuss what’s coming down the pike for the restaurant industry.And under the guise of “we missed the memo”, how, when and why did the restaurant industry and its supply chain partners end up in the middle of most of the biggest political and policy issues of our day? We’ll try to figure that out. We’ll talk about those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
We are joined by Sean Kennedy, the EVP of Public Affairs for the National Restaurant Association to reflect on last week’s summiting of Capitol Hill by hundreds of restauant operators during the Assocation’s annual Public Affairs Conference. What did Members of Congress learn from us and what did we learn from them? We’ll discuss.And in the wake of political blowback, are leading companies shying away from their corporate diversity and inclusion goals or are they merely just talking about them less. We’ll take a look at that.We’ll talk about those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
There are some important restaurant states this year with minimum wage and tip credit elimination measures on the November ballot. Ohio is at the top of that list. We are joined by John Barker, CEO of the Ohio Restaurant & Hospitality Alliance as well as Tod Bowen, their head of External Affiars & Government Relations, to level set on their pending measure to both incease the minimum wage to $15/hr and eventually eliminate the tip credit. We will also review the general state of play of those wage issues across the country as many legislative sessions are close to wrapping up. We’ll talk about those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
DoorDash is working with the state of Pennsylvania on a portable benefits pilot program that, if successful, could completely alter the dynamics of the national paid leave and benefits conversation. Is there a way for the industry to seize this opportunity and extricate itself from these reputationally-draining issues? We’ll discuss.And the media is having a field day in California documenting the peridicted and also unforeseen negative ramifications of the new $20/hr minimum wage for QSR workers. How can the industry best capture this energy and leverage it in similar legislative battles across the country? We’ll take a look.We’ll talk about those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
We sit down with Doug Kantor, the general counsel of the National Association of Convenience Stores, to discuss the biggest story this week - the preliminary settlement of the class action lawsuit brought by a group of retailers almost 20 years ago accusing the credit card companies and their electronic payments systems of being an anti-competitive monopoly. We’ll discuss the merits of the settlement, whether it will be approved by the courts, and what it means for pending legislation in Congres to reign in out-of-control interchange fees. And California’s minimum wage for fast-food workers is rising to $20/hr next week, the highest statewide wage in the country. But the media coverage this week, somewhat unexpectedly, has been highlighting the impact to operators and the industry and reporting on closures, job losses and other negative ramifications. It’s not been quite the media week the SEIU was hoping for. We’ll dive into that.We’ll talk about those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
We sit down with Brennan Duckett, the Director of Technology & Innovation Policy at the National Restaurant Association and discuss the junk fee and service charge issue both federally and its explosion at the state level.And the industry had a big win at the end of last week when the NLRB’s joint employer rule was thwarted in a Texas courtroom. What’s next for the agency, for the unions and for operators in the near future.We’ll talk about those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
The President gave the annual State of the Union address this week and his war on junk fees was front and center - the same week his Council of Economic Advisiors said that restaurants made up close to 10% of all junk fees. Is the industry potentially heading for some major backlash? We’ll discuss.And the SEC put out their long-awaited climate disclosure regulations and believe it or not, the worst aspects of it were removed. In a major victory for the business community, the reporting requirements around Scope 3 emissions - the carbon footprint of one’s supply chain - were removed. We’ll dig into that.We’ll talk about those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
The author of the Fast Act in California has filed additional legislation to exempt certain industries from the new law he championed. Was this an altruistic gesture to relieve the pressure on a host of small businesses or inside baseball among the unions and the legislators that carry their water? We are joined by Jot Condie, the President & CEO of the California Restaurant Association to help us sort it all out. And Wendy’s was in the news this week but for all the wrong reasons - managing a kerfuffle regarding their possible adoption of dynamic pricing. The company’s comments were later clarified but what does it mean for the industry’s potential adoption of surge pricing models? We’ll discuss.We’ll talk about those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
Starbucks was in the news this week on a number of different fronts, none of them very good. This past Tuesday, workers at 21 stores filed petitions with the National Labor Relations Board to conduct elections, the most in one day since the campaign began two and a half years ago. And on top of that, a coordinated effort on college campuses has sprouted up pressuring administrators to throw Starbucks stores off campus. We will dig into the week that was for the coffee giant.We’ll talk about that and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
A Committee Chair in the U.S. House of Representatives is demanding information from the Commissioner of the IRS regarding the lobbying and electioneering activities of One Fair Wage and whether their actions are in violation of their nonprofit status. Is the IRS looking the other way? We’ll discuss.And then we are joined by Jeff Hanscom, the Vice President of State & Local Government Relations & Counsel for the International Franchise Association to get the latest on the pending, onerous legislation in Georgia and a look around some other states that we should be paying attention to.We’ll talk about those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
Two big legislative items this week popped up in California and Georgia that operators should take note of, one exempting a lot of folks out from under the FAST Act and the other a franchisee bill of rights proposal that should have parent companies pretty nervous. We’ll take a look.And then we are joined by Aaron Frazier, the Vice President of Public Policy at the National Restaurant Association to give us the latest and greatest on the pending tax package currently before the senate as well as where the new regulations on service and “junk” fees may be going.We’ll talk about those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
This week, the Associated Press published the results of a two-year investigation into alleged exploitation of prison labor, primarily in the agriculture industry. The report not only documents the food production process, it follows the products through the supply chain and names retailers, grocery stores, industry suppliers and even some QSR brands that “benefit” from prison labor. We talk about the possible ramifications for brands both outside and inside the company.And some Republican Agriculture Commissioners are turning up the heat on ESG, pushing back on companies that are pursuing climate goals. Could these “pro-business” elected officials be intentionally putting brands in a legal bind where complying with federal and California law puts you in violation of their laws? We’ll take a look.We’ll talk about that and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
We are joined by Mark Mix, the President of the National Right to Work Committee and the National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation who is assisting workers who wish to decertify their unions. It’s a fascinating and instructive conversation into what the next chapter could look like for the industry in the labor organizing spaceWe’ll talk about that and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
After years of regulatory and legal wrangling, the Labor Department released its long-awaited rule on the legal treatment of independent contractors. So what does this mean for operators leveraging outside resources for janitorial services, maintenance, and delivery drivers? We’ll discuss.And Mike Whatley, the Vice-President of State Affairs & Grassroots Advocacy for the National Restaurant Associaton, stops by the pod to discuss his group’s priorities for the 2024 legislative sessions and what operators should prepare for.We’ll talk about those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
It’s 2024 and legislative sessions are starting all over the country. Congress is heating up as well. And, oh yeah, there is a national election this year . We’ll discuss what the year ahead will look like for restaurant operators.And Sean Kennedy, the Executive Vice President of Public Affairs for the National Restaurant Association stops by to talk about the state of play with regard to the FTC’s assault on service charges. We’ll discuss what should operators expect on that issue in the coming months and how they can engage.We’ll talk about those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
Starbucks has had one heck of a week with the release of an internal audit regarding the company’s conduct during its ongoing unionization fight, another tough loss at the NLRB, and tons of media coverage about its sagging numbers. These are not happy days in Seattle. We’ll discuss.And a job training program gone bad or exploiting cheap labor? We’ll take a look at the lawsuit in Alabama against the state for exploiting convicts in work release programs that also involves a few of our QSR friends.And our old friend Jeff Hanscom, VP of State & Local Government Relations & Public Policy for the International Franchise Association drops by the pod to look ahead with us into 2024 and see how and where the joint employer issue may play out at the state level.We’ll discuss those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
We talk with Doug Kantor, General Counsel of the Nationl Association of Conveneince Stores about the new coalition in Washington that is leaning headfirst into the credit card debit card fee fight with the banks and credit card companies.And we discuss the cooling job market and how it may impact worker leverage and the ability of the labor community to continue their organizing efforts in the industry We’ll discuss those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
We discuss the changing politics of the debate around interchange fees and how the banks and credit card industry, usually in lock step with Republicans, is increasingly finding itself at odds with their old friends and on the target list. We’ll discuss why.And Steve Clark, the President & CEO of the Massachusetts Restaurant Association stops by the pod to give us a status check on One Fair Wage’s efforts to eliminate the Tip Credit via the 2024 ballot. He’ll give us the state of play and what the next few months look like in the Bay State on this important issueWe’ll discuss those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
We do a deep dive on the election results from this week and discuss wha happened, why it happened, and most importantly, what does it mean for the employer community?And speaking of elections, we are joined by Eric Terry, President of the Virginia Restaurant, Lodging and Travel Association to discuss the big story of the night - the Democratic takeover of the Virginia House of Delegates. We’ll discuss the impact to the industry’s issue agenda and what we should expect in the 2024 session.We’ll discuss those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
The impacts of California’s new fast food law keep rolling in. This week, McDonald’s not only discussed price increases in California but new prototype restaurants less reliant on traditional labor. We’ll take a look at the real impact of these mandates.And its election day in many parts of the country next week and a few jurisdictions are particularly important to the industry, namely in Virgina and Minneapolis. We’ll dive into the races operators need to know about.And pharmacy workers have joined the fun and are protesting major national employers like Walgreen’s and CVS over working conditions. Does this have an impact on the industry’s labor pool? We’ll take a look. We’ll discuss those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
The NLRB issued their long-awaited joint employer standard and it's literally everything the labor community would have wanted. We’ll talk about what’s next for the industry as the immenine threat to the franchise business model has finally arrived.And the credit card companies are on the political ropes as the FTC pursues a cap on interchange fees. Why are the banks suddenly playing defense and what does it mean for Main Street businesses? We’ll dig into that.We’ll discuss those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
We are joined by Townsend Brown, Policy Analyst at Multistate, to talk about California’s new law mandating that large companies annually disclose data regarding their global carbon footprints. How will companies begin to comply and is their legal action ahead? We’ll discuss.And the industry had another big showing in Maryland this week literally flooding the Montgomery County Council chambers with angry servers wanting to protect their incomes. Could we have beaten back another tip credit elimination bill? We’ll take a look.We’ll discuss those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
The Federal Trade Commission revised a proposed rule this week lumping in restaurant and delivery service charges with other, what it calls, junk fees and hidden charges. We’ll take a look at why this happened and more importantly, where do we go from here.And the industry got an important win this week when legislation to eliminate the tip credit was soundly defeated in very blue, very progressive, Prince George’s County, Maryland. What does this say about the strategy used in Maryland relative to the strategy employed in Chicago. We’ll discuss.We’ll discuss those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
We discuss our current world of chaos - the Republican meltdown in Washington, DC, war in the Middle East, and, oh by the way, a Presidential election looming - and its potential impact on small business owners and their consumers.And a small game board - themed restaurant chain in New York City may lay the groundwork for the new world order in which unionization elections are held. We’ll take a deep dive into that story.We’ll discuss those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
We sit down with Misty Chally, the Executive Director of the Critical Labor Coalition to discuss what that group is doing in Congress to address and potentially alleviate the labor crunch that operators can’t seem to climb out of.And we update you on the national autoworkers strike and what ramifications its success or failure may have on presidential politics in Michigan and other labor movements a little closer to home for the restaurant industry.We’ll discuss those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
We’ll discuss what happened in Chicago this week with a major shift in perceived industry positioning with regard to tip credit elimination. We are joined by Berman & Company’s Mike Saltsman for his analysis of what happened, why it happened and how the industry manages the issue going forward.And Sean Kennedy, the Executive Vice President of Public Affairs for the National Restaurant Association stops by to give us the backroom play by play of the California Compromise with the SEIU and how it sets up the industry for success going forward.We’ll discuss thos eissues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
The new proposed overtime rule is out and we discuss the impact - better than we thought, worse than we thought, or about what we thought. We’ll discuss the impact, the process going forward, and what’s next for operators.And the NLRB released yet another decision last month, the Stericycle decision, that may make every employer rewrite large segments of their employee handbooks. We’ll explain.And the right of center is engaging in the actual culture wars - music and cinema namely - and creating markets that are flumoxxong those on the left. We’ll do a deep dive into yet another growing divide.We’ll discuss those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
The National Labor Relations Board has turned union election rules upside down, issuing new regulations around quickie “ambush” elections and instituting a de facto card check rule, making union organiziaing significantly easier. We’ll discuss the ramifications for all employers large and small And the world of alcohol continues to change, both from consumer tastes and trends to laws and regulatory compliance. We are joined by our old colleague Sean Kelly, now EVP of Marketing & Operations for ABC Fine Wines & Spirits to get his perspective on where the market is going and how regulators may follow. We’ll discuss those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
We’ll have a conversation with Michael Formica, the Chief Legal Strategist for the National Pork Porducers Council to talk about supply chain ramifications from recent legal and legislative outcomes regarding gestation crates, interstate commerce and more. We’ll discuss what operators large and small need to know about impacts to the current prices and market and more importantly, down the road. And the tip credit elimination fight is gearing up in Chicago and we’ll discuss the importance of a strong industry opposition campaign for not only Chicago but potentially for Illinois and other states going forward. We’ll discuss those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
We are joined by Sean Kennedy, the Executive Vice President Public Affairs for the National Restaurant Association to bring us up to speed on the epic ongoing battle in California facing all restaurant operators and how the next few months will play out legislatively and politically. And speaking of the NRA, Sean’s colleague Mike Whatley, the Vice President of State Affairs & Grassroots Advocacy, will walk us through the efforts underway in DC that could essentially codify service charges. We will also talk about the ramifications of this week’s ballot results in Ohio and how it may impact the pending measure to increase the minimum wage and eliminate the tip credit. We’ll discuss those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
We visit with Ed Egee, Vice President of Government Relations and Workforce Development at the National Retail Federation who will discuss the emerging policy and legal challenges around Artifical Intelligence. The big question is - Does Artificail Intelligence make it easier to artificially discriminate? The Trial Bar sure seems to think so. We’ll dive into that and other pending issues with Ed and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
The Industrial Welfare Commission is potentially being revived in California and could have momentous consequences for the restaurant industry. We are joined by Ben Ebbink, an attorney with Fisher & Phillips in Sacramento and of counsel to the California Restaurant Association to fully understand the moving parts of the IWC and what it means for operators. And the Labor world has been busy this Summer with litigation around the 80/20 rule, sabre rattling on Capitol Hill, and a new overtime rule that will be issued any day now. We are joined by our good friend Aaron Frazier, Vice President of Public Policy for the National Restaurant Association, who will help us sort it all out. We’ll discuss those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
The unions in California have resurrected an old friend from the past - the Industrial Wage Commission - as the latest weapon to torment the quick service industry. What does this development mean for all restaurant employers? We’ll discuss. And the Supreme Court has issued a couple of decisions - and one important non-decision - that all employers should pay close attention to. Those actions, coupled with an all out threat from 13 Republican Attorneys General, should have all employers on guard.
The issue of service fees is making front page news lately as operators look for ways to pass on high labor costs. Along with a changing dynamic around tipping, could the industry be setting itself up for a fight with policy makers and opinion leaders? We’ll discuss. And the tip credit elimination battle in Chicago heated up this week with the mayor clearly leading the charge. If they are successful, are there implications for a statewide law in Illinois? How about other states? We’ll take a look. We’ll discuss those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
A new report is out this week examining consumer trends with regard to alcohol, especially wine and cocktails to go. Since the public has overwhelmingly embraced these pandemic-era advances, can any policy makers really stand in the way at this point? Mike Whatley, Vice President of State Affairs & Grassroots Advocacy for the National Restaurant Association who issued the report, joins us and will take us through the data. And New Jersey is looking at franchisee bill of rights legislation for the hotel sector that could significantly disrupt the relationship between hotel brands and many of their operators. Could additional legislation aimed at the restaurant industry be far behind? Sarah Bratko, Policy Counsel for Government Affairs & State Relations at the American Hotel & Lodging Association will join us and help us understand what’s happening in the Garden State. We’ll discuss those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
Sectoral Bargaining has come to Minnesota - in the nursing home - space specifically but all employers should be watching. It’s not the industry your in that’s important - it’s the process. We’ll discuss how intentionally the labor community is leveraging independent standards boards as a way to force collective action. And we’ll discuss the steps that companies are increasingly taking to manage their reputational exposure on ESG issues and analyze the risks. We’ll discuss those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
We are going to follow-up on the latest from our story of a few weeks regarding the Supreme Court decision on California’s law around humane treatment of breeding hogs. We are joined by Laura Abshire of the National Restaurant Association and Steve Clark from the Massachusetts Restaurant Asscoiation to get both of their perspectives on where the issue goes from here - hint, Massachusetts. And right of center attacks on corporate DEI policies have now come to the doorstep of Chik-fil-A - yes, you heard that right - Chik-fil-A. Is no respected brand safe from this line of attack? We’ll discuss.And the unions in California flexed their political muscle in Sacramaneto this week on a wide variety of issues including some directly targeting the restaurant industry. We’ll assess the legislative carnage and talk about the road ahead.We’ll discuss those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
One Fair Wage and the Restaurant Opportunities Center (and their SEIU funders) have grabbed on to the child labor issue and are effectively leveraging it to their advantage. The same advocates effectively leveraged health and safety issues during the pandemic - just ask Starbucks and Chipotle. Could we be seeing a new angle on the organizing front? We’ll discuss.And Target becomes the latest corporate pinata in the culture wars as conservative activists pound the company for its marketing efforts to the gay community. We’ll assess the challenge and the company’s response.We’ll discuss those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
This week, a number of states and localities across the country held local elections and the results, while difficult from which to draw national meaning, seem to be slightly better news for the blue team than the red. We’ll take a look at that.And we continue to watch third-party contractors from big companies like Google and Amazon make progress toward potential union organizing. Could companies a little closer to home like DoorDash and UberEasts be next? We are joined by Bloomberg Labor Report’s Dan Papscun who has done extensive reporting in this space and discuss what the future may look like for traditional employers.We’ll discuss those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
This week, the U.S. Supreme Court affirmed California’s law regarding humane treatment of hogs and their right to apply those standards to pork produced in the state as well as products from out of state. We’ll discuss the implications to the marketplace for operators. And the city of Chicago gets a new mayor and city council this week and the restaurant industry plays heavily into the new mayor's agenda starting off with elimination of the tip credit among other items. We’ll take a look at that.And our old friend Jeff Hanscom, Vice-President of State & Local Government Relations at the International Franchise Association, stops by the pod to get us up to speed on that onerous joint employer liability bill slowly working its way through the California legislature. It’s always a good conversation when Jeff’s on the pod.We’ll discuss those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
We discuss SEIU President Mary Kay Henry’s interview in Restaurant Dive where she lays out their legislative priorities and identifies target states - basically publicly sharing their playbook. We’ll digest all of that and how the industry needs to manage it.And the industry is falling into a child-labor trap of its own making that will very likely come back to bite us hard. Why on earth, might you ask, would we give our opponents that kind of ammunition? We’ll take a run at that one.And Scott Dolch, the President & CEO of the Connecticut Restaurant Association stops by the pod to discuss the status of critical scheduling and tip credit elmiation legislation that he is trying to fight off. With a month left to go in their session, Scott shares his take on how it all may play out.We’ll discuss those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
We take a look at the ongoing punishment conservatives are dishing out to respected consumer brands who run afoul of their litmus tests on “wokeism”. What can restaurant brands learn from the Disney and Bud Light sagas? We’ll discuss.And the unionization activity by third-party providers for Amazon and Google have significant joint employer ramifications that could affect all franchised brands down the road. We’ll do a deep dive into that.We’ll discuss those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
We discuss the confirmation hearing of Labor Secretary-designate Julie Su and the energy that both the labor community brought to her defense and the business community, led by the IFA and the NRA, brought to her opposition. And we visit with longtime industry leader, Stan Harris, President & CEO of the Louisiana Restaurant Association, who shares his insight on the difficult environment facing operators and how the public affairs and lobbying apparatus of the industry should be working to relieve those pressures.And we discuss a landmark judicial decision that could take all the energy - pun intended - out of the movement to ban natural gas.We’ll discuss those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
A couple of big brands this week announced some vigorous sustainability initiatives, namely Wendy’s & Chipotle. We’ll discuss those efforts and whether they fall in the category of good PR or preparing the business for the future - or both. And the ongoing tussle between some franchisees and their franchisor parents played out in a couple of state legislatures this week. We’ll take a look at the volatility of those issues and how the industry collectively addresses them. We’ll discuss those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
We do a deep dive on the changing dynamics around tipping not only from an operational and reputational perspective, but ultimately politically as well. We’ll discuss all of this with Peter Romeo and Joe Guszkowski, two of the major contributors to Restaurant Business magazine’s recent project entitled, “Tipping Point”And in political news, we had some important elections this week in Chicago and Wisconsin and a major party flip in North Carolina. We’ll dig into the results and what it means for operators.We’ll discuss those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
We’re going to do a deep dive on Howard Shultz’s appearance before Bernie Sanders and the Senate HELP committee and assess his performance, whether or not it was a “win” for Bernie and what it means going forward for both the company and its powerful detractors. We'll be joined by Peter Romeo from Restaurant Business magazine who covered the hearing extensively and get his unique insight on the proceedings.And Colin Larson from the Colorado Restaurant Association joins us to talk about how they were able to not only defeat restrictive scheduling legislation in their own state but almost as importantly, were able to effectively change the conversation around the issue to give a roadmap for victory to industry advocates in other states. We’ll discuss those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
The Starbucks Workers United union put their cards on the table this week and unveiled their demands before company managers. The menu includes a $20/hr minimum starting wage - even higher in some places - a 37 hour week, free healthcare and schedules a month in advance. Let the games begin!And speaking of $20 minimum wages, has that become the new normal in the ongoing national debate. Has the Fight for 15 given become the Tussle for $20? We’ll take a look. And the labor community has come out with a number of new economic studies to validate their positioning on the wage issue. Is the industry data, to the point it exists, robust enough to counter? We’ll dive into that. We’ll discuss those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
The war between Main Street and Wall Street over credit card interchange fees has spilled over into the states and we take a look at how certain states are attempting to exclude state and local taxes from inclusion in those fees. We talk to our old friend and colleague Joe Rinzel, now a principal at MultiState Associates, to get us up to speed on what’s going on.And the CEO of the Michigan Restaurant & Lodging Association, Justin Winslow, stops by the pod to discuss the historic rollback of the right to work law in his state and big labor’s renewed strength in the Michigan statehouse.We’ll discuss those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
The big announcement this week is that Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz will voluntarily testify in front of Sen. Sander’s committee to answer some presumably tough questions about the unionization campaign at his company. We’ll discuss what that hearing may look like and how it may bleed into an overall assault on the restaurant industry.And we visit with Chicago political veteran Ryan McLaughlin to discuss the mayor’s race in Chicago - most notably what happened to Lori Lightfoot but more importantly, what the two remaining candidates mean for restaurant owners.And the industry found itself prominently in the national news cycle this week with numerous articles outlining the industry’s role in the economic recovery and the importance of women returning to the job market but conversely, the nagging problems of pay equity and pay transparency. We’ll unpack all of that.We’ll discuss those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
It was a big week in Starbucks Land with Bernie Sanders announcing that he was subpoenaing CEO Howard Schultz, a major loss in a court decision concerning the entire Buffalo market, and a revolt among home office employees. We’ll unpack all of that.And to the surprise of none, the President nominated Julie Su to be the next Secretary of Labor. We’ll take a look at her record and discuss what her tenure at the helm of this important agency may look like.And the month of March is upon us and we’ll take a look at the legislative calendar and discuss how the industry has been faring so far in 2023.We’ll discuss those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
The Wall Street Journal posted an excellent article this week on the tipping issue and the IRS’s new proposed voluntary tip reporting program. We discuss the merits of the issue and if the new proposal is merely a solution in search of a problem.And Howard Schultz has put himself back in the spotlight by suggesting in recent interviews that his unionization issues have very little to do with his company and more to do with larger societal problems. We’ll discuss how that went over.And while downtown restaurants and bars are still reeling from the pandemic, new data suggests that it's likely to get worse over the next decade. We’ll take a look at that as well.We’ll discuss those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
The Internal Revenue Service is proposing a revamp of their existing voluntary tip reporting program and rolling out the Service Industry Tip Compliance Agreement or (SITCA). Is there a problem that they are trying to solve or are they merely joining in with their labor friends in the campaign against tipping? We’ll discuss.And the industry flexed a little muscle this week gumming up the works on an onerous mandated scheduling bill in Colorado. We’ll take a look at that legislation and its ramifications nationally.We’ll discuss those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
We discuss the big week that the One Fair Wage campaign had with press conferences, Congressional pressure on the NRA, and a flurry of legislation at the state level. We’ll unpack all of that.And just when you thought we had dispensed with the scheduling issue, it’s back with a vengeance. Post-covid, labor community activists see the issue as a rallying point for organizers and we discuss the implications - both operational and reputationally.We’ll discuss those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
As we predicted, states are channeling their inner California envy and rolling out legislation similar to the Fast Act. We’ll take a look at the overall battle being waged on multiple fronts with new bills, new lawsuits and new disclosures regarding the brands that are leading the opposition.And speaking of California, there is new climate legislation forcing financial disclosures from companies regarding their environmental impacts. Sound a little similar to what's happening at the SEC? We’ll dig into why.We’ll discuss those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
Episode 275: What the New York Times missed in its story on ServSafe by Align Public Strategies
Episode 275: What the New York Times missed in its story on ServSafe by Align Public Strategies
We examine the wins and losses of 2022 and the lessons learned as we head into the 2023 legislative sessions. We’ll discuss what issues the industry should be prepared to deal with this year and our strategies for managing them.And Sean Kennedy, the Executive Vice-President of Public Policy for the National Restaurant Association stops by the pod to talk about the current legal situation in California regarding the FAST Act, what operators should be prepared for in the near term, and how the industry is managing similar threats in other parts of the country.We’ll discuss those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
We do a deeper dive into some of the ballot initiatives this past election, especially the minimum wage measures across the country. We are joined by Mike Saltzman, Partner at Berman & Company, to discuss those outcomes and what they may tell us about industry engagement going forward. Starbucks workers staged a unique but effective walkout before Thanksgiving co-opting the company’s Red Cup Day and turning it into the Red Cup rebellion. We’ll discuss the state of the organizing campaign at the company and look at the dynamics of national unionization efforts. And the SEIU has given birth to a new organizing entity focused on service workers in the South. Dubbed the Union of Southern Service Workers, the group looks to be extra aggressive and will focus on leveraging the South’s difficult history of race relations. We’ll discuss those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
We take a long look at the volatility of the economy and the impact that inflation is having - and will have - on the industry for the next few quarters. We are joined by Michael Halen, Senior Restaurant Analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence who will help us understand what we are seeing financially and what is likely coming down the road for the industry. And the midterm elections are here. We’ll discuss the battle for Congress, the key states, the key races, and the ballot initiatives to watch. We’ll discuss those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
We’ll take a look at ranked-choice voting and the impact it's having in Alaska giving independent, centrist candidates a legitimate shot at winning elections. Many cities and states are experimenting with it now - could it be the wave of the future? We’ll discuss. And the alcohol industry is coming at us in 2023, ready to pushback on Covid-era gains around cocktails-to-go and home delivery of alcohol. We’ll discuss how the industry needs to prepare for a fight around numbers and data. We’ll discuss those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
The SEC’s new rule mandating publicly-traded companies provide detailed disclosure about the financial impact of climate change on their business is in the home stretch. To help us figure it out, Aaron Frazier, Vice President of Public Policy for the National Restaurant Association, stops by the pod and lets us know the latest and greatest and what brands need to prepare for. And last week, the Schultz Family Foundation (founded by Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz) in partnership with Harvard Business School and the Burning Glass Institute launched the American Opportunity Index, a scorecard that ranks large companies by how well they create economic mobility for their workers. We’ll discuss how the restaurant industry - “the industry of opportunity” - fared on the index. We’ll discuss those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
A new survey out this week by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) finds that the workplace is becoming more politically polarized leading to altercations and hostile work environments. We discuss what this means for employers as well as corporate decision making. And the Supreme Court has convened its new term and the docket is full of cases with important implications for employers in general and the restaurant industry in particular. We’ll discuss the year ahead for the Court. We’ll discuss those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
Last week was a big week for Starbucks as they announced they are willing to sit down and negotiate with the 250 or so stores that have voted to unionize - but they want to do it quickly - like in the next three weeks. We’ll discuss their strategy as well as what the union is looking for in negotiations. And the election is less than six weeks away and will discuss the polls, the trends and the races to watch for restaurant operators. We’ll discuss those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
The Political Right is getting fed up with “woke” companies and their investments in sustainable initiatives and industries and putting their money with their mouth is by pressuring companies they work with to resist. Now CEOs are faced with political litmus tests from all sides of the investment community. We’ll discuss the pressure on leaders in this difficult environment. And the Home Depot has gotten pulled in the union thicket with a store in Philadelphia filing a petition for a union election. Could this be the opening the unions are looking for into the bog box segment? We’ll take a look. We’ll discuss those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
We discuss the aftermath of California’s FAST Act and the environment for the labor community as they try to export similar legislation to other states. Can the industry stem the tide? We’ll discuss. And proponents of the PROAct have taken their show on the road, hitting the campaign trail to keep Democratic Senate candidates’ feet to the fire. Could that strategy backfire? We’ll discuss. And another industry CEO has weighed into the law and order public safety debate. But could they be accidentally weighing into a much broader political fight they never saw coming. We’ll take a look. We’ll discuss those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
Episode: 264: Interview with Fat Brands CEO Andy Wiederhorn and NRA's Michelle Korsmo by Align Public Strategies
The business community’s efforts to enact a federal law on data privacy instead of a patchwork of state laws appears to be running out of steam. And ironically, we may have the leading data privacy state, California, to blame for the loss. We are joined once again by Brennan Duckett, Director of Technology and Innovation Policy at the National Restaurant Association, to give us the latest and greatest. And a judge pumped the brakes on Gov. DeSantis’ signature, “Stop Woke Act” which would significantly affect employers’ ability to offer DEI and other trainings. We’ll discuss what this could mean for employers. And it was a very busy week on the union organizing front with big news out of Starbucks, Amazon, Trader Joes and others. We’ll get our arms around the week that was. We’ll discuss those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
The industry gets a big win in California on legislation mandating disclosure of pay and gender equity data but the issue will continue to resonate with labor-friendly legislators across the country. We are joined by Matt Sutton, the Senior Vice President of Government Affairs & Public Policy for the California Restaurant Association to walk us through the issue and likely outcomes. And speaking of big wins, the Massachusetts Restaurant Association and four of its New England counterparts convinced the Commonwealth to delay enforcement of a state law requiring pigs be raised humanely at least until the U.S. Supreme Court can review the constitutionality of a similar law pending in California. We’ll take a look at that as well. And a busy week on the union front with Austin, TX now becoming the hotbed of pizza sector organizing and employees at Minneapolis Trader Joes notching a big win. We’ll bring you up to speed on the labor front with, of course, an update on Starbucks. We’ll discuss those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
The industry has been enjoying a nice run of political success lately with the National Restaurant Association staring down the Small Business Administration over restaurant relief funds and the International Franchise Association basically determining who is and is not acceptable to run the Labor Department’s Wage & Hour Division. To what do we owe this burgeoning political power? We'll discuss. And it's do or die time in California as the FAST Act takes center stage. We’ll take a look at what industry leaders need to do this week to have a chance of winning. And the primary election train keeps on rolling and we’ll discuss the results that could have oversized impacts on the industry - namely Michigan and Kansas. We’ll discuss those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
The War on Woke heated up this week with Republicans in many states upping the ante and announcing their states intention to stop dealing with banks and investment firms that use Environmental, Social & Corporate Governance (ESG) standards as criteria for investments. Is this bad financial management or good politics? We’ll discuss. And Build Back Better seems to have had a rebirth this week with Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia appearing to agree to a deal. Haven’t we been here before? Can you say Lucy and the football? We take a look at what it may mean for corporate tax rates. And it was a busy week on the unionization front. We’ll update you on the latest as well as discussing the differing approaches companies are taking to respond. We’ll discuss those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
Chipotle Is feeling the heat as criticism piles up on their decision to close a store in Maine that had voted to organize. We take a look at that situation and try to be predictive of how the National Labor Relations Board will react. And speaking of the NLRB, the the Board has signed yet another Memorandum of Understanding will a fellow federal agency to work collaboratively against employers on issues of employee misclassification, discrimination and union organizing among others. We’ll discuss the impact of this unprecedented level of federal coordination and what it means for the industry. And the primary season is in full force with Maryland having well publicized contests and Arizona, Michigan and Wisconsin in the next few weeks. We’ll take a look and see what trendlines are unfolding. We’ll discuss those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
We are visited by Lance Trenary, the CEO of Golden Corral and if that’s not enough, the Chairman of the Board of the National Restaurant Association. Lance stopped by the pod to share his experiences on leading his company out of the pandemic, how that changed his outlook as a leader, and his vision for the National Restaurant Association going forward. It’s a fascinating conversation and worth listening in. And restaurant owners are being increasingly manipulated by bad actors using the prospect of poor Google reviews to shake them down for cash. Besides the illegal nature of this activity, are their reputational and public policy concerns at play here as well? We’ll discuss. And activists are paying bounties to restaurant servers and bartenders to give them notice when a prominent pro-life advocate comes into their restaurant so that they may descend on the unknowing public official while they are dining. Brett Kavanaugh got the treatment last week at a Morton’s Steakhouse in Washington, DC. Is this a new trend in activism? We’ll take a look. We’ll discuss those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
We’ll talk about the ramifications of the repeal of Roe v. Wade and what employers not only may be facing from an employee relations and benefits perspective but pressures from elected officials, the media and even customers. We’ll discuss the sticky situation that employers are facing in the near future. And at the halfway point of the year, we’ll take a look at the state of the industry’s relationship with the third-party delivery platforms, especially as we face the prospect of more policy and regulatory tussles during the upcoming 2023 legislative sessions. Joining us on the pod is Joe Guzkowski, Senior Editor for Restaurant Business who covers the industry’s technology issues to help us sort out where we stand and where we’re going. And Uber came to a landmark agreement in Australia with the country’s transportation unions to create an all-new, government-funded independent regulatory body, which would be responsible for rolling out a new minimum wage “safety net” for gig economy workers and offer them a framework to launch workplace disputes. Could this model be exported to America? Maybe it already has. We’ll take a look. We’ll discuss those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
The GOP’s war on the United States Chamber of Commerce escalated this week as Republican House members welcomed a new, upstart chamber called The American Free Enterprise Chamber of Commerce to push back on “woke” Capitalism. Could this DC gamesmanship eventually put corporate leaders in a political tug of war with Republicans? We’ll take a look. And the California FAST Act advanced out of its first committee stop - and not unexpectedly - but the restaurant industry performed admirably. We discuss whether the industry showed well enough to dampen legislative enthusiasm for the bill. And Starbucks hit another milestone this week surpassing 150 units that have voted for union representation. We’ll update with the latest and greatest from the coffee giant. We’ll discuss those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
Inflation is putting additional pressures on restaurant margins and some operators are adding additional fees right on the receipt. Good idea or bad idea? We’ll take a look. And another celebrity chef has publicly criticized the tipping system. Will celebrity chefs be able to change the conversation on this issue? We’ll discuss. And McDonald’s announced, per a shareholder resolution, that it will undergo a civil rights assessment to highlight opportunities for improvement within their system. Is McDonald’s just a first step in the process for anti-industry activists? And a respected industry leader and brand has stepped into the national conversation over gun violence. We’ll discuss the pros and cons of brands taking on issues - and the politicians that drive them We’ll discuss those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
The Securities & Exchange Commission has proposed a rule mandating, among other things, that publicly-traded companies will for the first time be required to report their greenhouse-gas emissions including, in certain cases, those from their suppliers and customers. We’ll talk to the National Restaurant Association’s Vice President of Public Policy, Aaron Frazier, who is the industry’s point person in this conversation and try to understand what impact these regulations will have for the industry and what lays ahead in this issue space. And we’ll take a look at a new reputation survey looking at prominent friendly brands that are having their reputations tarnished by partisan politics and discuss the potential impacts, if any. And of course, the latest and greatest on Starbucks, which now has over 100 units that have voted for unionization and continues to see their struggle with the NLRB consistently escalating. We’ll discuss those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
Coming up on the podcast:
- The primary elections continue forward with some interesting results for the restaurant industry including a McDonald’s franchisee that is very likely on his way to Congress. We discuss those results.
- And Starbucks along with Jeff Bezos of Amazon took on the White House last week in an escalating war of words. Is that smart politics for corporate players? We’ll take a look.
- And of course Starbucks Watch. We’ll discuss their new employee benefits of paying travel expenses for employees seeking abortion services as well as other gender- affirming procedures. Did the ongoing pressure of the unionization campaign affect that decision? We take a look.
- We’ll discuss those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
Despite the inflationary pressures facing retailers and small business operators, the credit card companies have decided that now’s the time to increase their fees and take an even bigger chunk out of already tight margins. We are joined by Lyle Beckwith, the Senior Vice President of Government Relations for the National Association of Convenience Stores and also the leader of the Merchant Payment Coalition to help us understand what’s happening, why its happening, and more importantly, how operators can fight back. And the midterm elections are just six months away and major political shifts are afoot not only at the federal level but in governor’s offices across the country. We’ll take a look at where things stand today and particular races that operators should pay close attention to. And the comment period for the SEC’s proposed climate change rule is closing quickly. We’ll discuss the ramifications for the industry and how operators can protect their interests. And of course, the latest and greatest on Starbucks, which now has over 60 units that have voted for unionization. We’ll discuss those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
The industry took to Capitol Hill this week in force as restaurant operators from around the country came to Washington, DC to make their case for legislative and regulatory relief as they still navigate the aftermath of the pandemic. We’ll discuss the potential remedies Congress and the Administration can utilize to help the industry. And one unforeseen ramification from the labor market upheaval is that more and more college-educated workers are finding their way into frontline jobs and bringing with them their ideologies regarding unionization. We’ll discuss that dynamic and its implications. And we’ll update you on the situation at Starbucks and discuss how a new brand - Jack in the Box - is potentially being pulled into the fray. We’ll discuss those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
The heat has been turned up on Disney and the state of Florida is attacking their tax status. Is this debacle emblematic of what awaits other corporate brands? Is this a good time for corporate leaders to re-examine their relationship to partisan politics? We’ll discuss. And New York’s comptroller is once again leveraging the state pension fund to pressure corporate shareholders to back resolutions calling on the companies to adopt climate resolutions to meet net-zero goals by 2050. Is activism by CFO’s the wave of the future? We’ll take a look. And of course, the latest and greatest on Starbucks which this week saw its 27th unit vote for unionization.
The general counsel of the NLRB, Jennifer Abruzzo, made some startling recommendations to the Board this week, one of which would essentially revitalize card check, long a top labor union priority. We’ll discuss what she is doing and the impacts it could have on restaurant operators. And the SEC has turned down McDonald’s request to omit a shareholder resolution from its annual proxy calling for a civil rights audit of the company. We’ll discuss the dynamics behind the resolution as well as discuss the growing influence activist shareholders are having on corporate decision making. And of course, the latest and greatest on Starbucks as they overwhelmingly lost another big pile of elections this week. We’ll discuss those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
As of July 1, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission will have a new Democratic majority with the appointment of a new commissioner. We discuss the new agenda laid out this week by the Chair of the commission and discuss what it means for employers. And Massachusetts, a current hotbed of labor organizing, has an avowed restaurant industry antagonist running for Attorney General. We’ll take a look at her record, the strength of her candidacy, and how restaurant owners should prepare. And Starbucks had a venti bad week with their union woes losing another round of organizing elections. With the dismissal of their CEO and this week their General Counsel, it looks like the company is poised to make a major pivot in strategy. We’ll take a look. We’ll discuss those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
7-11 franchisees in Massachusetts have renewed hope in their ongoing litigation against the company contending that they are little more than glorified store managers and should be paid the minimum wage and receive other protections afforded to employees under Massachusetts law. We are joined by Jeff Hanscom, the International Franchise Association's Vice President of State & Local Government Relations to help us understand the state supreme court's ruling and what impact it may have on the franchise business model. And the unions organizing Amazon and Starbucks had a big week with major high profile wins in New York, Arizona and Tennessee. We discuss the momentum in the labor community and what that means for employers. And the Disney saga continues this week as the rancor between the company and the Florida governor continued to escalate. We discuss that as well. We’ll discuss those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
Boston is turning into the new epicenter of Starbucks organizing as more than a dozen stores in the market are in play right now. We talk to reporter Tori Bedford from GBH Boston, the NPR affiliate, to get a sense of what's happening on the ground in the market and how important the next few weeks are for the company. And Consumer Reports rocked the industry this week releasing a study documenting the extent of PFAS in industry packaging and grading 24 companies on the potential toxicity of their packaging. We’ll discuss what impact that will have on the packaging conversation. And once again, tipping has been linked to racism - this time from the author of the 1619 Project at the New York Times. We’ll discuss the impact that this growing narrative could have on the industry business model. We’ll discuss those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
Peter Romeo from Restaurant Business joins us this week to discuss a variety of topics including Kevin Johnson who is abruptly out as CEO of Starbucks despite the strong performance of the company as they navigated the pandemic. Was it the combination of the burgeoning unionization campaign, the perceived missteps of the company in addressing it, formal reprimands from the NLRB and the subsequent unrest of key shareholders that made the move necessary? We’ll discuss. And we’ll take a look at the opioid issue within the industry and a new pilot program rolled out by the state of Delaware targeting restaurant workers. And then we are joined by Brennan Duckett, the Director of Technology & Innovation Policy at the National Restaurant Association to discuss data privacy and the growing political and legislative challenge that the industry is facing in that very important space. We’ll discuss those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
McDonald’s and other restaurant industry players take a stand on Russia and are ceasing their operations in there in response to the invasion of Ukraine. We’ll take a look at the calculations companies make when they decide to enter - either willfully or begrudgingly - into the high stakes game of public policy. We’ll also take a look at what the move toward a cashless economy is having on tipping not only from the perspective of the worker but also with regard to the ongoing debate around eliminating the tipping system altogether. And of course we’ll have another installment of Starbucks Watch where this week, the unions get to take a few more victory laps in Buffalo. We’ll discuss those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
As the monthly jobs report comes out today signaling that there is a rebound in hiring, it appears to be the Labor Department itself that is hiring as well - as many as 100 new auditors in the Wage & Hour Division it was announced this week. What will those new employees be doing? Cracking down on violators but with a specific interest in the hospitality sector. We’ll discuss what employers need to know. And Uber is proactively working with the provincial government in Ontario to basically create a new classification of worker - not independent contractor and not traditional employee - but a hybrid with a portable benefits regime. We’ll dive into that and discuss those implications. And of course we’ll have another installment of Starbucks Watch. But this week Amazon, REI and a host of independent coffee shops will be on the menu as well. We will update you on the latest with regard to industry unionization efforts. We’ll discuss those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
Activist investor Carl Ichan is making a bold move at McDonald’s trying to force changes on their Board of Directors over the direction the company is going with regard to animal welfare. If successful, the ramifications could be significant for both supply chains and industry corporate governance. We’ll take a look. And Maryland has become the epicenter of the conversation around Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR). This week, much of the business community lent its support to a framework significantly overhauling the recycling marketplace. We’ll discuss how that legislation will likely become the national blueprint for other states and cities. And the Starbucks beat goes on. This week, the company was dealt a few tough but very important decisions that will likely shape the nature of the campaign going forward. We’ll discuss those implications as well as other interesting developments this week. We’ll discuss those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
The National Restaurant Association has a new leader and we’ll discuss her background, her impressive resume, and the big job she has ahead of her. And the number of Starbucks units being organized topped 100 this week and the company has begun punching back a little bit. We’ll discuss their messaging, their timing, and the lessens other companies can learn from their actions going forward. And MIT, yes that MIT, has released a new study equating increases in minimum wages to increases in voting participation. We’ll take a look at that study and see what it might mean for the wage conversation going forward. We’ll discuss those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
Major Democratic governors are breaking with the President and pumping the brakes on mask mandates in their states. With a general public fatigued by COVID-related restrictions, the politics of the issue are evolving. We’ll talk about what this means for operators and other health and safety issues going forward. And Surprise Surprise. The U.S. Congress can actually agree on something. In an overwhelming bi-partisan vote, both the house and senate this week passed sweeping legislation that would forbid clauses in employment contracts requiring workers to litigate sexual harassment and abuse cases in private, rather than a court. We’ll talk about the impacts of ending mandatory arbitration clauses for sexual harrassmant claims. And new data from California suggests progressives lost key parts of their political bases when they were trying to push back on Uber and Lyft’s business models. What does that mean for the other states trying to reclassify those drivers as employees and not independent contractors? We’ll discuss it. We’ll discuss those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
The changing nature of work coupled with the post-pandemic labor force disruptions are causing policy makers and opinion leaders to revisit the issue of portable benefits. Can a portable benefits system help to level the playing field for entry level employers struggling to recruit and retain workers. Mohona Siddique, the Senior Project Manager for the Aspen Institute’s Economic Opportunities Program - and also Aspen’s point person on portable benefits - joins us to discuss the issue and how employers could effectively engage in the portable benefits conversation. And the controversial FAST Act has passed the California Assembly and heads to the Senate. Is it time for Quick Service Brands to pull the fire alarm if they haven’t already done so? We give you the latest and greatest on one of the most far- reaching pieces of legislation we’ve seen in years. And the list of Starbucks units pursuing union representation ballooned this week and now is closing in on 60 units. We will update the latest state of play in that very important campaign. We’ll discuss those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
Still included in the President’s infrastructure package are massive investments in workforce recruitment and training to produce the workers necessary to actually build the roads and bridges in the plan. The investment is sure to attract and retain the very workers that restaurants and retailers are competing for. We’ll discuss the ramifications of the spending plan on the labor market. And as the saying goes, “money talks”. This week, BlackRock CEO Larry Fink, the same BlackRock with over $10 Trillion in assets, sent his annual letter to CEOs and this year is putting them on notice that failure to properly address the climate space will result in a virtual blacklisting by his and other venture capital funds. We’ll discuss. The Human Rights Campaign has published its annual report of workplace inclusion and employers’ commitment to LGBTQ Equity. And low and behold, nine restaurant companies made the list of best places to work. We’ll take a look at that and what that means for industry reputation. We’ll discuss those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
Labor shortages, supply chain issues and ever increasing food prices are putting unprecedented pressure on a business model that already runs on thin margins. But what impact is all this having on the attractiveness of the industry for investment - either stock prices, the private equity space, or purchasing franchises? We are joined by a regular contributor to the pod, our friend Michael Halen, the Sr. Restaurant Industry Analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence, to help us understand the impacts that these outside pressures are having on the financial health of the industry. And at a time when newsrooms across the country are eliminating staff, one area of major investment is the labor, workforce and workplace beat. We’ll discuss why major publications are escalating their reporting in this space and how it could impact the employer community. We’ll discuss those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
It was a big week for two big reasons - the list of Starbucks’ locations seeking union representation nearly doubled this week and the Supreme Court essentially put the death knell on the President’s vaccine mandate for large employers. We are joined by Peter Romeo, Editor at Large for Restaurant Business Magazine to get his unique insights on the week that was and how employers are reacting to the issue challenges before them. And then we will wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
Well it’s a new year and with the new year comes the opening of state legislatures across the country. We are joined once again by Mike Whatley, Vice President of State Affairs and Grassroots Advocacy for the National Restaurant Association who will walk us through the industry’s key issues for 2022 and what operators and industry executives need to know. And we’ll discuss what’s the status of the President’s vaccine mandate, recent actions by governors and mayors, as well as the pending hearing in the U.S. Supreme Court. We’ll discuss those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
The Starbucks union battle rolls on with Boston becoming the new battleground as two locations in the city filed with the NLRB to conduct an organizing election. We are joined by journalist Tori Bedford with WGBH in Boston to give us the latest and greatest on what’s happening on the ground with particular insight into the organizing community itself. And for additional perspective, we are joined by Phil Wilson, President & General Counsel of the Labor Relations Institute for his insights on Buffalo, Boston and how employers should be preparing for 2022. We’ll discuss those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
Well, the votes are in and we now have the first union organized Starbucks in the United States. We also have a unit that rejected the union and the decision on the third unit is still up in the air. We will do a deep dive into what happened this week, what’s next for Starbucks, and more importantly, what’s next for the industry. And McDonald’s made news this week announcing a quarter billion dollar investment over the next five years as part of a global effort to increase the diversity of the company’s base of owner-operators. We’ll discuss the whys and the wherefores of that move and McDonald’s record in that space. And Amazon is getting a lot of press the last few weeks as folks are finally realizing that one company - yes Amazon - is literally setting the wage and benefit marketplace in the entry-level employment space. We’ll discuss the ramifications for all employers in the restaurant and retail space. We’ll discuss those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
As predicted, the Starbucks unionization effort has started to grow and is now getting rooted in other jurisdictions, namely Mesa, Arizona this week. If that’s not enough, another effort is underway at an iconic family-owned restaurant chain in small town West Virginia. We’ll update you on the latest and greatest as unions continue setting their sights on the restaurant industry. And a key legislative threat to the industry this year, the FAST Act in California has been exported to the local level - the city of Detroit believe it or not. Justin Winslow, the President & CEO of the Michigan Restaurant Association joins us to discuss the efforts by industry opponents to take their issue agendas to the local level and why everybody - no matter where they are - should be paying attention to what’s happening in Detroit. We’ll discuss those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
The vote is on. Starbucks workers in three Buffalo locations have started to vote on whether or not to affiliate with a local SEIU chapter. The company tried to delay the process but the NLRB proceeded as scheduled. And if that’s not enough, this week three additional stores filed a new petition with the NLRB. We’ll discuss the Starbucks grande - or should we say venti - problem in which the company finds itself. And inflation is having both economic and political ramifications as Americans are losing buying power and the President is bleeding political capital. We’ll discuss the whys and wherefores of inflation and what that means for the business and political environments. We’ll discuss those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
It was an election night that Democrats will want to forget as Republicans swept Virginia and very nearly toppled the governor of New Jersey. We’ll discuss the electoral ramifications, the political environment and what operators should expect going forward. And the long-awaited final vaccine mandate rule - the Emergency Temporary Standard to be precise - was released by OSHA and it’s even more stringent than had been anticipated. We are joined by Ed Egee, Vice President of Government Relations and Workforce Development at the National Retail Federation who will take us on a deep dive into the new rules and what operators will be responsible for in the months ahead. We’ll discuss those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
Virginia and New Jersey will hold gubernatorial and legislative elections this week that not only will be a good indicator of the national mood but will have major impacts on key industry issues in those states. We’ll discuss those dynamics and even make some predictions. And In-N-Out Burger has rolled right into the culture wars becoming a national poster child for employer pushback on vaccine mandates. We’ll discuss the operational challenges for operators and the calculations large brands make when deciding to enter the public fray. And McDonald’s announced the company has achieved gender pay equity and laid out a roadmap going forward. We’ll discuss how big of a deal this really is and what the ramifications might be down the road. We’ll discuss those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
Restaurant Brands International took a huge industry-leading role in the sustainability space with their announcement that they have set substantial new climate-related targets on greenhouse gas emissions, pledging to cut their emissions in half by 2030 and be net-zero by 2050. We are visited by the team that led this effort - Becky Hall, Director of Global Sustainability & Natalie Pecile, Senior Manager of Sustainability to talk to us about the company’s journey down this road and, more importantly, how and why they got here. And the President’s controversial vaccine-mandate policy is still front of mind for employers but uncertainty surrounds what the final rules will look like. To help us sort it out, we are joined once again by Ed Egee, Vice President for Government Relations & Workforce Development at the National Retail Federation who is going to walk us through where we are in the final rule-making process and what operators can expect to see in the next few weeks. And a record 4.3 million workers quit - yes quit - their jobs in August with the highest percentage of those coming in the restaurant and retail sector. We’ll talk about the ramifications of that as well as the road ahead. We’ll discuss those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
The times they are a-changin’ in the restaurant world as changes in consumer preferences and advances in technology are drastically altering business models and restaurant operations. We sit down with one of the leading drivers of change in our industry, REEF Technology, and their head of communications Mason Harrison, to understand the changing environment and how REEF looks at their role in that process. And labor shortage?...what labor shortage? Last weekend, Amazon hosted a 24 hour virtual job fair and over a million potential applicants participated, over half of them in the United States. We’ll take a look at why some entry-level employers have all the help they need. And we’ll give an update on this week’s unionization campaigns with key developments in both the Starbucks campaign in Buffalo and the Darwin’s effort in Boston. We’ll discuss those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
Another group of coffee shops - this time in Cambridge, Massachusetts - has filed a petition with the National Labor Relations Board seeking union representation. This is the latest example of the uptick of grassroots-based union organizing campaigns currently underway in the industry. We'll discuss this effort, update you on the ongoing Starbucks effort, and what may be next for the industry. And there was extensive media coverage this week highlighting the steadily growing advantage that retailers have in the battle for employees. We’ll take a look at that and what policy ramifications may potentially arise that will impact the labor shortage. And Gavin Newsom not only survived his recall election, one could argue he came out of it stronger than ever. We’ll discuss the results and if the outcome in California has any national implications regarding next year’s election cycle. We’ll discuss those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
Starbucks is facing a significant union organizing effort in Buffalo, but unlike recent campaigns, this one is not run by a local independent union but by allies of the SEIU itself. Phil Wilson, President & General Counsel of the Labor Relations Institute, joins the pod once again to walk us through what is happening on the ground in Buffalo and why it matters to all employers in the market. And the wine and spirits industry is stepping up to the plate, taking concrete action to address and prevent sexual harassment not only in their industry but other sectors of the hospitality community as well. We are joined by the leaders of that effort, Deborah Brenner, Founder & CEO of Women of the Vine & Spirits and Chris Swonger, the CEO of DISCUS, the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States stop by to discuss their program, how it came about, and more importantly, why it matters going forward. We’ll discuss those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
How can listeners register for upcoming trainings and participate in this effort? REGISTER for upcoming Level 1 and 2 Sexual Misconduct Prevention and Response Trainings here: https://www.womenofthevine.com/cpages/rainn-trainings-1
If you or someone you know has been affected by sexual violence, the National Sexual Assault Hotline provides free, anonymous 24/7 support via phone at 800.656.4673 or chat via the online hotline (https://hotline.rainn.org/online?_ga=2.224902682.1092492588.1611615003-2049378457.1554892940). RAINN’s website (www.rainn.org) also provides information on supporting loved ones who are survivors, helping yourself heal if you’ve been directly affected by sexual violence, and how to be part of creating safer communities.
Legal Disclaimer: Women of the Vine and Spirits (WOTVS) and Distilled Spirits Council (DISCUS) are not liable for any damages related to the use of these programs and materials (“Program”). Anyone electing to participate does so on a voluntary basis and agrees to waive any claims against WOTVS/DISCUS related to the Program. Nothing in the Program constitutes legal advice, WOTVS/DISCUS make no warranty as to Program content, and any views or opinions shared during the Program does not necessarily reflect the views of WOTVS/DISCUS or their members.
The unions had a big week as a Midwest chain of coffee shops lost a close union vote this week, the latest in a series of successful organizing campaigns in the upper Midwest blue wall states. Is the health and safety crisis we are facing just what the doctor ordered for the labor community? We’ll take a look at the opening the pandemic has provided. And some new data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics has thrown a little cold water on the ongoing narrative around the impact of unemployment benefits on the labor shortage. We’ll take a look at what the numbers say - and don’t say - and how that impacts the conversation going forward. We’ll discuss those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
The AFL-CIO makes its choice today to name Richard Trumpka’s interim successor and all indications are that Liz Shuler, Trumpka’s loyal right hand, will get the nod making her the first woman to ever lead the nation's largest union. Mike Saltsman, a frequent contributor to the pod and a partner with Berman & Company joins us to share his expertise on what the future looks like for Big Labor and what it means for business owners. And we’ll lead off the legislative scorecard with a deep dive on the current state of the battle over masks, vaccine passports and boosters as well as report on the rest of the legislative and regulatory developments this week.
More cities are requiring vaccination passports and masks for indoor dining with one state even bringing back dining restrictions. It feels like we are going backwards quickly and companies are increasingly enacting their own policies. We’ll discuss the increasing pressure on operators as the virus continues to rage. And the Democrats find themselves with their bench thinning as Andrew Cuomo is forced out of office and Gavin Newsom in California facing a very tight recall. Both went from presidential aspirants to damaged goods in the blink of an eye. We’ll take a look at the political situation for the blue team. And with the second infrastructure bill on the move, the debates on national paid leave, national childcare and a host of other labor community priorities are commencing. We’ll take a look at what’s ahead for the industry. We’ll discuss those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
Masks and vaccinations are the story of the week with Governor’s squabbling with the President, Governor’s squabbling with each other, attorneys general squabbling with Mayor’s and once again, operators caught in the middle of both a health crisis and a political food fight. The two largest cities in America are soon to be mandating vaccination records to eat indoors and major companies are starting to enact their own policies. We’ll discuss the situation and where operators may find themselves going forward. And Sean Kennedy, the EVP of Public Affairs for the National Restaurant Association stops by the pod again to help us sort out the state of play with regard to the infrastructure package, why the Association supports it, and what may be next that impacts bottom lines of operators. And we’ll discuss the unexpected passing of AFL-CIO head Richard Trumpka and what the nation’s largest union may look like in the years ahead. We’ll discuss those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
The Delta Variant is threatening to significantly disrupt the economy again just as the industry was showing signs of a meaningful recovery. And with it will bring new public affairs and employee relations challenges for operators including masks, immunizations and potentially the return of dining restrictions to name a few. We’ll take a look at what might be in store for restaurant owners both operationally and reputationally as the virus makes a comeback. And data continues to emerge on the impacts of supplemental unemployment benefits on the labor market. We’ll take a look at the latest information and discuss what could lay ahead for operators. And a new study by researchers at Notre Dame and Penn State examines the potential linkage between the practice of tipping and the increased risks of sexual harassment. We’ll discuss how these findings could lead to more extensive research and potentially place tipping itself under more scrutiny. We’ll discuss those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
This week, Washington, DC was a hotbed of legislative activity critically important to restaurant operators. Hearings on the nominations of industry adversaries, pieces of the PRO Act potentially being passed through reconciliation, the infrastructure bill and the fate of paid leave and child care are just a few of the issues in play during a busy week in the nation’s capital. We will dive into all that and try to sort it all out. And California has just passed the nation’s first statewide Universal Basic Income Program. Whether it’s UBI, the CARES Act, unemployment benefits or forgivable loans to employers, we’ll discuss the growing bi-partisan consensus around direct government payments to both individuals and small businesses. We’ll discuss those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
Maine is about to enact the most far-reaching product stewardship law in the country dramatically redefining how traditional recycling plans have been structured. Following models in Europe and Canada, everyone along the supply chain - including restaurants and retailers - will have significant new responsibilities in handling waste and other packaging as well as bearing the cost of recycling. We talk to Curtis Picard, CEO & President of the Retail Association of Maine and Scot Case, the Vice-President of Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability at the National Retail Federation to better understand what is happening in this space and what operators can expect going forward. And Gallup is out with their newest edition of annual polling on how optimistic or pessimistic Americans are regarding quality of life and the future. We’ll discuss what impacts those attitudes may have on not only politics and voting but also on spending decisions in the marketplace. We’ll discuss those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
The SBA has rejected yet another pool of Restaurant Revitalization Fund grant applicants because of pending litigation against the agency over their racial and gender preferences in distributing initial grants. As a result, thousands of restaurant owners still find themselves in limbo. We sit down with Sean Kennedy, EVP of Public Affairs for the National Restaurant Association to get the latest on the state of play of the situation and what the road ahead looks like. And the larger legacy players in the industry seemed to have stabilized financially in the wake of the pandemic. We sit down with Michael Halen, Bloomberg Intelligence’s Senior Restaurant Analyst and take a look at the financial landscape, the impact of both stimulus checks on sales and unemployment checks on labor, and what the overall economic health of the industry is right now. And we saw a slew of local elections across the country this week, most notably in New York City and in Buffalo where the country will now have its first socialist mayor in nearly 60 years. We’ll discuss what happened and as always what it means moving ahead. We’ll discuss those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
The Small Business Administration has been sued - ostensibly by restaurant owners in Texas and Tennessee over loan preferences for traditionally disadvantaged business owners, namely minorities and women with regard to the Restaurant Revitalization Fund. Behind the scenes however, the lawsuit is one among many begging choreographed by Trump Administration alumni to call out preferential treatment for minorities across various agencies of government. We’ll discuss the implications of all this for the industry both operationally and reputationally. And the industry is getting caught up in the Tech-lash wars as traditionally business-friendly Republicans take aim at big tech and employers are finding themselves as collateral damage in an ideological political battle. Brennan Duckett, Technology & Innovation Policy Director for the National Restaurant Association stops by the pod to help us to sort it all out and help operators understand how they are impacted. And Maine is on the doorstep of a first in the nation environmental law that fundamentally shifts the financial responsibility of recycling programs from taxpayers to manufacturers and distributors of the products themselves - such as restaurants. We’ll discuss the ramifications of this effort and what it could mean for operators. We’ll discuss those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
Congress and state legislators are beginning to get serious about the labor shortage facing employers. Discussions around tax incentives, government-funded hiring bonuses and other remedies are at the forefront of the conversation. We’ll discuss the state of play of this important issue and what operators should expect. And Walmart is the latest company to get a visit from activist shareholders demanding change. This week leading labor activist Rev. William Barber showed up in Bentonville demanding higher wages and worker protections. We’ll take a look at how that played out. And CEO Pay is increasingly being tied to Diversity Goals. This week a number of publications, including the Wall Street Journal, ran stories detailing the increasing pressure executives are under from, surprisingly, institutional investors. We’ll dive right into that. And to top it off, our old friend Mike Whatley, Vice President of State Affairs and Grassroots Programs at the National Restaurant Association, stops by the pod and discusses The NRA’s BluePrint for Rebuilding - a resource to help state and local policy makers as the look for ways to reinvigorate the industry in their states and towns. We’ll discuss those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
One Fair Wage Hits the streets for another round of worker protests, strikes and walkouts targeting high end restaurants in major metros. Their new message - “it’s not a labor shortage, it's a pay shortage” seems to be taking hold in some quarters and the press this week seems to be gobbling it up. We’ll take a look at this new dynamic in the wage conversation. And Emily Williams Knight joins us to talk about her new role at the National Restaurant Association as Chief Collaboration Officer and Executive Vice President of Industry Relations. We’ll discuss the challenges that lay ahead as she tries to streamline advocacy and other efforts between the state restaurant associations and the NRA as well as a host of other topics. We’ll discuss those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
Fight for $15 took to the streets this week targeting McDonald’s workers in 15 cities across the country organizing strikes and walkouts. This was staged on the same day as the McDonald's shareholder meeting to sync with shareholders and other activists calling for change. We’ll discuss, in light of the pending legislation in Congress, whether this moves the needle on the issue and whether they can take advantage of a new political climate in Washington. And speaking of labor, what’s going on with workers centers and the other alt labor groups we used to hear about? Well apparently a lot. We’ll discuss how these groups have stayed below the radar but yet still stayed relevant. We’ll discuss those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
The political food fight around systemic racism and its potential causes and remedies is putting employers in an increasingly difficult spot. A major national employer was involved in a significant backlash this week and we’ll discuss what implications their experience can have for other employers. And the national conversation around the labor shortage got supercharged this week as the US Chamber of Commerce called for the discontinuance of supplemental unemployment benefits and several red states moved to cut off enhanced federal jobless benefits that were supposed to last until September. We’ll discuss those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
The labor shortage continues to challenge the industry and operators are struggling to keep doors open. Data continues to emerge putting more and more context around the complexity of the issue and what challenges are short-term and which are likely chronic. We’ll take a look at some polling data from a leading university-based restaurant and hospitality management program that examines worker attitudes which could provide meaningful clues to the industry. And the Congressional dialogue around a federal minimum wage hike is slowly becoming clearer and it looks like there is emerging agreement on some broad concepts, namely wage levels and the treatment of tips. We’ll take a look at that as well as the subsequent political calculations facing many industry leaders. We’ll also discuss a new report out this week claiming wide scale abuse by employers regarding compliance with wage and hour law and how new leadership at the Wage & Hour division may take advantage of those allegations.
The Biden Administration concluded their first 100 days in office with a speech before a joint session of Congress. We'll take a look at what he said and how it impacts the industry as well as discuss how successful his first 100 days have been. And the Restaurant Revitalization Plan goes live this coming Monday. We are joined once again by Aaron Frazier, Director of Healthcare and Tax Policy at the National Restaurant Association, and also their resident RRF guru, to get operators the latest info so they can be ready when the doors open. We’ll discuss those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
The National Restaurant Association made major news this week as Sens. Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema participated in their annual public affairs conference and laid out their visions on many key restaurant issues, not the least of which was minimum wage. These two senators will have an oversized role in how this issue plays out and we’ll discuss their message to the industry and what it means. And the industry also got pulled into the brewing civil war between the Republican party and Corporate America. This week, Sen. Marco Rubio went after Sodexo and threatened their federal contracts over their public statements regarding Republican initiatives on voting rights. We’ll discuss that issue and its connotations. And we all know the labor market is tight. But the real question is why and what can be done about it and what those answers might mean for the industry reputationally. We’ll take a look at the implications of that important conversation. We’ll discuss those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
California is heating up in a big way and the SEIU appears to be in the driver’s seat. We will be joined by Jeff Hanscom, Vice President of State Government Relations and Public Policy for the International Franchise Association, who will walk us through comprehensive labor legislation that could permanently alter how the quick service sector, and potentially all restaurants, do business in the state going forward. And we’ll take a look at the aftermath of the Amazon vote last week in Alabama and how their surprising margin of victory could change the game for union organizing efforts going forward. And Illinois has taken a huge step forward on Equal Pay, basically mimicking what the Obama Administration was trying to do on gender and racial pay discrepancies. We’ll take a look at that and its impact for national brands. We’ll discuss those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
The American Rescue Plan is in full swing and restaurant owners across the country are, as of this week, taking advantage of the new loan programs. We sit down with Aaron Frazier, the Director of Healthcare & Tax Policy at the National Restaurant Association and get a full debrief on the programs, how to access the loans, and how the Industry is working to make the programs successful. And the corporate elephant in the room this week is Georgia. We’re going to talk about the political situation there, and how, and even if, our industry leaders should engage in this toxic conversation. And California is up to its old tricks again. We’re watching a piece of legislation being pushed by the labor community that takes direct aim at the quick service restaurant sector. We’ll discuss those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
Darden Restaurants made news this week with a major announcement on wage increases, including tipped workers and millions of dollars in bonuses for hourly workers. We’ll take a look at its impact not only in the employee marketplace, but in the national political dialogue on wages. And the Restaurant Recovery Fund is ready to launch. We’ll discuss the program, the timelines and what operators need to do to prepare. We’ll discuss those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
The Securities & Exchange Commission has begun the process of engaging Corporate America on climate change and laying out the rationale for future oversight. At the same time, major investment firms like BlackRock are pressuring companies on their environmental records and not necessarily from a typical environmental angle but from a financial one, namely mitigating risk. We interview Scot Case, the National Retail Federation’s new Vice President of Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability and discuss the quickly changing landscape in this space and the pressure on companies. And, once again, the issue of separating benefits from work requirements is back in the national news and quickly changing the dynamics around a traditional tenet of national labor policy. We’ll discuss how the industry fits into this conversation and how it all may play out. We’ll discuss those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
We have two phenomenal guests on the pod this week. Phil Wilson from the Labor Relations Institute will join us to discuss organized labor’s most important piece of legislation to pass the U.S. House in generations - the PRO Act - and discuss its chances for passing the Senate, and if unsuccessful, what parts of it could be enacted by regulation. Most importantly, he will discuss the ramifications for employers and what they need to know. He will also give us some insight on the Amazon unionization vote underway in Alabama, and regardless of outcome, what it means to both the labor and business communities. And we will also be joined once again by the smartest guy in restaurant world finance, our friend Michael Halen with Bloomberg Intelligence, to share his insights on how major brands are faring during the pandemic, who was able to innovate to not only survive but thrive, and what the financial outlook is going forward for the industry. We’ll discuss those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
This week, researchers from the Universities of Tennessee and Pennsylvania released a study analyzing the impacts of the country’s model UBI experiment in Stockton, CA and they found that Universal Basic Income has been an extremely effective tool in fighting poverty and that it doesn’t disincentivize work. On top of that, the Wall Street Journal this week is calling President Biden’s stimulus package a defacto UBI for many Americans, saying in part, that it does disincentivize work. We’ll discuss the dynamics of the issue and how the restaurant industry fits into all of this. And the heat is turning up on Corporate America’s response to climate change. We’ll discuss the latest announcements by some of the country’s largest employers and how the social politics of the issue are forcing the hands of many companies. And we’ll update you on the latest and greatest regarding the well-publicized unionization effort facing Amazon in Alabama and the unprecedented entrance into the standoff by a sitting American president. We’ll discuss those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
The stimulus package, minus the minimum wage increase, is ready for debate on the House floor. Between wages, paid leave, employer liability, and changes to the SBA loan programs, the restaurant and retail business model has been in the spotlight all week. We’ll take a look how the industry fared and its prospects going forward. And the hazard pay conversation came to the forefront this week with two California jurisdictions deciding if restaurant workers should be eligible for the bonus. Spoiler alert - one went one way and one went the other. We’ll take a look at whether or not restaurants will continue to be a target. We’ll discuss those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
We interview the publisher of Nation’s Restaurant News, Sarah Lockyer, who helps us celebrate our 200th Working Lunch podcast and gives us her insights on how far the industry has come since our first pod and, more importantly, where she sees the industry going. And the Align team discusses what the political leadership of the industry has gotten right over the past few years since we started this podcast and what we collectively got wrong. We’ll discuss those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
We’ll bring you up to speed on the latest and greatest regarding the federal minimum wage conversation including the release of the anticipated CBO report outlining potential impacts of raising the wage to $15/hr as well as the President meeting with the CEOs of major employers to try and sell his relief package and the wage hike. We discuss all of that. And despite the ramifications of the pandemic and the subsequent economic distress, more and more major brands are finding themselves once again in the crosshairs of the animal rights community, most notably on the issues of chicken harvesting and cage-free eggs. We are joined by Will Coggin from Berman and Company, who will share his extensive experience and expertise in this space and provide some solid insight and counsel for corporate brands being faced with these challenges. We’ll discuss those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
The U.S. Senate, with Vice-President Harris casting the tie-breaking vote, passed the joint budget resolution that will enable Pres. Biden’s COVID relief package to ultimately be passed under the reconciliation process, meaning a simple majority vote. The House will follow suit almost immediately and while Biden and the restaurant industry were big winners, Bernie Sanders was not. His proposal to include a $15/hr federal wage increase was rejected, and then some. We’ll take a look at all those moving parts. And despite all the focus on corporate behavior and social responsibility, a lot of companies are playing hardball and fighting back on new laws and costly mandates. We’ll take a look at the grocery sector’s fight against hazard pay requirements and how the platform companies are taking the fight to politicians as well. We’ll discuss those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
With the Biden Administration and many states intensifying their COVID-related workplace and workforce health and safety efforts, we sought out expert counsel from Ed Egee, the Vice President of Government Relations & Workforce Development at the National Retail Federation to help us sort it all out as well as discuss other pressing issues for the industry in Washington, DC. And speaking of pressing issues, the Democratic leadership in the U.S. House introduced their legislation increasing the federal minimum wage to $15/hr by 2025, indexing it to inflation thereafter, and, wait for it, eliminating the tip credit. We’’ll unpack all of that and try to clarify for operators what a final product may look like. We’ll discuss those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
The National Restaurant Association and the major third-party delivery platforms have come together and agreed on a set of principles around transparency on fees, food safety, alcohol and other issues that will define their relationship going forward. We discuss this agreement with DoorDash’s Senior Policy Advisor Katie Witman and Mike Whatley, Vice President of State Government Relations at the National Restaurant Association. And hazard pay mandates are gaining traction in localities across the country, especially in California. Up to now, they have been focused on the grocery sector but next week, a major county in California will specifically vote on extending it to restaurant workers. We take a look at the changing dynamics around this issue.
The Fight for 15 is back in action calling for protests and demonstrations in cities across the country to pressure the incoming Biden Administration into passing a $15/hr minimum wage. Considering the political dynamics in the Senate, just a few Senators, probably fewer than five, will decide the fate of any potential wage hike. We’ll take a look at the state of play on wages and discuss the industry’s political positioning. And as we predicted last week, corporations and many of their PACs are drastically changing their political donation strategies in the blowback to last week’s events at the Capitol. Some are even getting out of the political business all together. We’ll take a look at the ramifications for companies, the industry and Congressional Republicans. We’ll discuss those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
It’s 2021 - thankfully - and with it brings a new Congress and the start of the state legislative sessions. We’ll talk to Mike Whatley who heads the state and local government affairs shop at the National Restaurant Association and get his perspective on the issues the industry will be tackling in 2021. And the last two weeks have been a pivotal time in the nation’s history. We’ve seen a dramatic increase in the spread of the coronavirus, a change in leadership in the U.S. Senate and an armed assault on the Congress of the United States itself and all it represents. We discuss what this potentially means for the industry and more importantly, for key industry leaders. We’ll discuss those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
Early and mail-in voting has started in Georgia and the stakes are high. Both parties are putting all they have into the races that will control the U.S. Senate. We are joined by our friend Joe Binns, a Principal at Chism Strategies in Atlanta and a longtime political operative in Georgia who will give us the lay of the land and share his observations from the ground level. And the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation made some important news this week, releasing a report linking the availability of childcare for working parents to the viability of businesses and the economy. We’ll discuss how not only is the nation’s leading business advocacy organization equating childcare and paid leave to business vitality and sustainability, it could also be politically stranding industries and companies that have been resistant to paid leave, either by government mandate or corporate policy. We will dig into that. We’ll discuss those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
The states can’t wait any longer for the Feds to get their act together and are having to step in and take charge of both employee and consumer safety as well as industry relief. As usual, California and Oregon are out front. We talk to both Matt Sutton, Senior Vice President of Government Affairs & Public Policy at the California Restaurant Association and Bill Perry of Balance Point and the Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association and lay out what’s coming for operators and how their states are a likely blueprint for an incoming Biden Administration. We also discuss how states - and increasingly cities - are developing their own relief programs to support employees and operators in their efforts to stay afloat. We’ll discuss those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
Vaccines appear to be on their way and governments at every level are discussing the logistics and prioritization of distribution. Restaurant workers have been dubbed “essential” throughout most of the pandemic but will they be considered the same way when it comes to vaccines? We’ll discuss the dynamics around this important issue. And in numerous states across the country, the restaurant industry is saying,”we’ll see you in court”! Some state restaurant associations are suing governors and states in an effort to pushback on reclosing restrictions. We’ll discuss whether that's a good idea in the short term as well as in the long term. And our longtime friend Matt Haller, the Senior Vice President of Government Relations & Public Affairs from the IFA joins us to talk about their ongoing litigation in California as well as their legislative agenda for 2021. We’ll discuss those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
We’re going to do a deep dive into the labor community and discuss their agenda and how they are approaching 2021. Mike Saltsman from the Employment Policies Institute joins us to discuss what’s ahead for organized labor and how the pandemic is helping them achieve their political, policy and organizing goals. And in response to alarming increases in COVID-19 infections, governors across the country are reluctantly closing down parts of the economy in their states and many are starting with restaurants. We’ll discuss the dilemma facing governors and mayors with Susan Connelly, the Chief Communications and Public Affairs Officer for Darden Restaurants and get her insight on how best to work with those chief executives and help them better navigate these difficult waters. We’ll discuss all of this and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
The restaurant industry once again finds itself in the middle of the American cultural wars, with new attention given to an index highlighting the differences between Cracker Barrel voters and Whole Foods voters. How do operators navigate a landscape where their very brands become litmus tests for voter identification and tribal loyalty? We’ll take a look. And the Biden transition team is taking shape and being populated with a lot of folks that don’t have a whole lot of sympathy for the restaurant business model. Is this a precursor to how a Biden Administration will approach labor issues? We’ll discuss that as well. We talk about all of this and wrap it up with a special guest helping me run down the legislative scorecard.
We’re going to do a deep dive on the election results and drill down on what happened, why it happened, and what operators need to know going forward. Additionally, we will be joined by my old friend and colleague Gerard Dehrmann, the Senior Vice President of Public Affairs and State & Local Government Relations for Walmart and get his insight on how the world’s largest company is viewing the political, legislative and reputational challenges - and opportunities as well - that lay ahead for employers. We discuss all of this and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
The election is finally here and we’ll discuss what we see as the likely outcomes at the federal, state and local level - including a few very important ballot measures that will significantly affect P&Ls. We’ll also talk about the election aftermath and the potential for social unrest that could portend a significant security risk for small business owners, employees and customers. We discuss all of this, the road ahead for operators, and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
This week, the nation’s mayors sat down with the restaurant industry to discuss ways in which mayors and their cities can help restaurants and their employees survive the pandemic and its aftermath. Sean Kennedy, the Executive Vice President for Public Affairs for the National Restaurant Association, who oversaw that meeting, stops by the pod to tell us what happened, what we learned, and how we can keep the conversation going. And as states and cities face unprecedented budget deficits as a result of the pandemic, they will be looking for revenue anywhere they can find it. We sit down with the tax experts from MultiState to understand what may be coming down the pike in 2021 and how operators should prepare. We’ll have those stories and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
Yelp is in the news this week as the crowd-sourced restaurant review platform announced it will include accusations of discrimination or alleged instances of racism by a brand in their restaurant listings. We’ll discuss this potentially seismic development and the boon it could be for anti-industry activists and detractors. And the private sector continues to advance the portable benefits issue down the field. We’ll take a look at Mastercard’s benefit initiative for independent contractors and the impact it may have on the employee marketplace. We’ll have those stories and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
Restaurant relief appears to be dead for now. This week, the President abruptly cancelled negotiations on a stimulus package that included many industry priorities leaving thousands of restaurant operators and other small business owners to fend for themselves. And the associations that represent them in Washington, DC were not shy about showing their displeasure. We’ll discuss the bleak situation restaurants find themselves in both economically and politically. And the 2020 election is just three weeks away and we’ll do a deep dive into the Presidential race, the race for control of the senate, and what is happening at the state level across the country - especially with an eye toward the 2021 state legislative agendas. We’ll have those stories and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
The U.S. House passed their long-awaited relief bill this week and while it is unlikely to pass the Senate in its current form, it is noteworthy because Democratic leaders championed and included many of the Independent Restaurant Coalition’s priorities while chains and franchisees were deliberately left out in the cold. Is there a political divide developing in the industry that may reshape our traditional approach to advocacy? We’ll discuss that and the ramifications for operators. And while the Trump Administration has suspended many Obama-era regulations regarding corporate diversity numbers and corresponding pay equity, more and more companies are disclosing that data voluntarily. We'll take a look at those trendlines and where that conversation may be heading. We’ll have those stories and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
Important players in the conservative intelligentia are calling for a new approach and relationship to the labor community and making the conservative case for not necessarily traditional unions but worker empowerment. We will sit down with Eli Lehrer, President of R Street Institute and discuss his recent joint statement in the American Compass calling for a new paradigm in labor relations. And Democrats in Congress, along with some independent restaurant owners, are calling for the Federal Trade Commission to crack down on third-party delivery platforms and the “harmful impacts” they are having on the industry. We discuss what’s happening there. And over the last few years, the #MeToo movement has provided a legislative and political roadmap for the Black Lives Matter movement that will likely come to fruition in 2021. We’ll discuss how that may play out and how the industry needs to prepare. We’ll have those stories and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
We interview Sean Kennedy, Executive Vice President for Public Affairs at the National Restaurant Association and get his perspective on the likelihood that Congress will come to the aid of the industry anytime soon. He’ll let us know where things stand in Washington and how the industry is working to support operators. We’ll also discuss the recent CDC report and how both operators and corporate leaders need to be careful on how and what we say regarding those findings. Additionally, our old friend Matt Haller from the International Franchise Association stops by the pod and brings us up to speed on all things joint employer, including the Labor Department’s planned appeal of the recent court ruling invalidating part of their new joint employer rule. We’ll have those stories and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
It’s happened again in Minneapolis. This week yet another brew pub in the city became a target for UNITE HERE and, as we discussed last week, we are not overly surprised. What was surprising, however, was how that particular management team reacted. We’ll discuss what they did and what the potential implications could be. And Samantha Padgett, General Counsel for the Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association stopped by the pod and will bring us up to speed on the pending ballot initiative to raise the Florida minimum wage to $15/hour by 2026. She’ll tell us the state of play and what operators need to know and how to get engaged. And McDonald's is being sued by a group of former Black franchisees accusing the company of systemic racism when it comes to site selection and other franchise-related issues. We’ll discuss what that means for the company and how it fits into the overall ongoing national conversation on equality. We’ll have those stories and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
This week saw our industry’s first successful union election in the post-Covid era when a Tattersall Distillery and cocktail bar location in Minneapolis overwhelmingly voted to organize. We’ll take a look at the factors that contributed to this, the vulnerability of that particular market and what operators need to pay attention to going forward. And we talk automation with Jamie Richardson, the Vice President of Government & Shareholder Relations for White Castle System, Inc and discuss his companies pending experiment leveraging robots in the back of the house. And we’ll also have a conversation about how a possible Biden Administration may have very different criteria for what responsible corporate engagement looks like than the current administration and what that could mean for brands going forward. We’ll have those stories and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
The Independent Restaurant Coalition and the Restaurant Opportunities Center strengthened their alliance this week with a joint event held in conjunction with the Democratic National Convention. We’ll discuss this budding partnership and the potential impact it may have on the industry’s traditional political and policy agenda. And the franchise business model has once again been pulled into the ongoing debate in California around the reclassification of Uber drivers from independent contractors to regular employees. We’ll discuss what impact this may have on both franchisors and franchisees. And speaking of California, legislation has been introduced to create a wealth tax unlike any we’ve ever seen. We’ll discuss not only the bill itself but the larger impact it may have on the income inequality conversation. We’ll have those stories and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
Restaurants and bars continue to find themselves at the center of the national debate over recent spikes in the COVID-19 pandemic putting the industry in a precarious political and reputational position. We’ll discuss how the industry is going to have to thread the needle and be vigorous advocates for the business model while being sensitive to the health and safety challenges communities are facing. And after a long summer of suspense, Joe Biden finally made it official - naming Sen. Kamala Harris from California, his onetime rival for the nomination, as his running mate. We’ll take a look at her record from an industry perspective and discuss what her priorities might be. And the CEO of Uber is once again emerging from the independent contractor fracas in California - one that he partially created - and using it as a national platform to advocate for portable benefits. We’ll discuss what that could mean for employers both now and going forward. We’ll have those stories and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
Delivery Platforms are under the gun across the country as policymakers are significantly altering their business models. We’ll discuss how they have tried to change the conversation, their reputation and their role in the industry. And states are stepping into the health and safety space that critics feel has been abandoned by the federal government and mandating significant COVID-related worker protections. Virginia has been leading the way in that area and Christopher Lloyd from the McGuireWoods law firm in Richmond walks us through what his state has done and why other states may follow. And the Business Roundtable continues to jump in the fray on contentious issues but. We’ll discuss the impacts of their engagement - if any - and the potential for blowback. We’ll have those stories and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
The next Coronavirus relief package seems to have stalled in Congress leaving displaced workers and business owners in a precarious position. Matt Walker, Vice President of Government Affairs for the National Restaurant Association joins us to sort it all out and help us understand what’s ahead. And as a result of the uncertainty facing workers right now, operators need to be extremely cognizant of the labor relations environment and the tremendous pressure that many of their workers - and customers as well - are currently feeling. We’ll take a look at how they should navigate that space. We’ll have those stories and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
Of all the impacts that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on the labor model, one of the more lasting ones may be the acceleration of the adoption of technology. White Castle is aggressively experimenting with a robot named, “Flippy” that can handle a lot of the back of the house duties. We’ll discuss what this could mean going forward. And speaking of labor, the pandemic may have also but the nail in the coffin of the no-tipping movement. This week, Danny Meyer of the Union Square Hospitality Group pulled the plug on their no-tipping policy and instead will move to a more traditional tip sharing model. We’ll take a look at how that will impact the national conversation on tips. We’ll have those stories and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
Media coverage around Monday’s “Strike for Black Lives” continues to intensify signaling that the unions and their labor community allies will be pulling out all the stops to ensure a signature event. We will bring you the latest on that and how operators should prepare. And the politics of masks took a significant turn this week as major retailers took unilateral action and mandated that customers wear masks in order to enter their stores. We’ll discuss the potential political impacts for the restaurant industry which has resisted taking similar actions. And we’ll update you on the week that was in the political world and who’s up and who’s down as a result. We’ll have those stories and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
The Black Lives Matter coalition in partnership with major labor unions and other advocacy organizations is planning a major day of action on July 20 focused on quick service restaurant, gig economy and healthcare workers. We’ll discuss how the Strike For Black Lives as it is called has the potential for major workplace interruptions and how operators should prepare. And the labor community has unveiled a new strategy on the health and safety front pressuring localities to mandate significant COVID-19 safety procedures that will protect workers and consumers, but also result in significantly increased hours for workers - obviously another labor priority. We’ll discuss that as well. And we’ll take a look at the detente reached this week by Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders as they came to agreement on policy and political priorities. We’ll have those stories and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
A number of states including New York and Kentucky went to the polls this week for their primary elections. We’ll discuss the winners and losers and what it all means - if anything - for November. And states across the country are reacting to what’s happening - or in their opinion not happening - at OSHA with regard to worker protections and are empowering their state agencies to fill the void. We’ll discuss what that could mean for operators. And a definitive new study was released by a team of Harvard researchers that analyzes the role of the industry in the recession, the impacts of federal stimulus dollars and what the long path to recovery may look like. We’ll have those stories and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
The restaurant and retail space has found itself literally at the center of the national conversation on systemic racism and the spark that set off both the police-related incidents in Minneapolis and Atlanta was lit in a convenience store and quick service restaurant, respectively. How frontline managers and employees handle these incidents at the beginning can determine how events can be set in motion. We’ll discuss the difficult position operators find themselves in. And individual companies are facing tough decisions themselves on if, when and how to allow political expression by their employees. We’ll take a look at how some companies are trying to navigate that space. And lastly, the Supreme Court issued a landmark ruling this week on workplace discrimination. With one of the most diverse workforces in the country, what implications does this have for the industry? We’ll have those stories and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
The delivery space blew up this week with significant developments in courtrooms, statehouses, city halls as well as in social and cultural activism. All in one week. We’ll try to get our arms around it and what it all means for operators. And Michael Halen, Senior Restaurant Analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence, stops by the pod once again to discuss the state of the industry’s finances and what the next few months of reopening may look like for operators both big and small. And the CEO of Uber got together with the President of the Rockefeller Foundation this week and co-authored a piece advocating a national portable benefits program. We’ll talk about this unusual partnership and what it means to the broader conversation. We’ll have those stories and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
The country finds itself mired in widespread protests and social unrest and corporate brands are under pressure to engage in the conversation. We’ll discuss the corresponding expectations as well as the potential pitfalls facing operators. And the campaign to modernize alcoholic beverage law regarding off-premise alcohol sales - namely to-go beverages and home delivery - is hitting its stride. We’ll talk to Mike Whatley of the National Restaurant Association who is the industry’s point person on this effort and get the lay of the land. And a number of states have restaurant industry relief packages of their own under consideration. We’ll talk to Steve Clark of the Massachusetts Restaurant Association and get the latest on what’s happening with his legislative efforts in Boston. We’ll have those stories and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
Without the ability to operate at full capacity, many restaurants may not be able to go the distance and survive the reopening process. We’ll discuss what lays ahead for operators. And the war on single-use plastics has come to a screeching halt and in fact, has retreated as the CDC and other health experts are calling for their use in stemming the tide of the pandemic. We’ll take a look at that phenomenon and what’s coming next. And delivery is now king. But can the industry put together a cohesive strategy to protect the gains it has made in this space and shape the future conversations? We’ll kick that around as well. We’ll have those stories and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
The Independent Restaurant Coalition is emerging as a force to be reckoned with. We discuss how and why the group got started, how effective they’ve been, whether or not their agenda is a good or bad thing for the industry, and whether they are in it for the long haul. And there’s growing bi-partisan consensus on the changes that need to be made to the Paycheck Protection Program, especially with regard to loan forgiveness. We’ll take a look at that. And the COVID epidemic has turned the traditional politics of alcohol upside down presenting new opportunities for the industry - especially when it comes to off-premise sales and home delivery. We’ll discuss how the industry needs to engage in this important space. We’ll have those stories and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
The state of Colorado is attempting to codify some significant joint employer liability into their labor code and this could have major ramifications for employers. We’ll talk to Jeff Hanscom from the International Franchise Association to better understand what is happening and how employers should engage. And Republicans on Capitol Hill are fighting for a business liability shield for employers against Corona-related claims from either employees or customers. Troy Flanagan from the American Hotel & Lodging Association joins us to give us the latest on what is happening in Washington, DC on this important issue. And reopening is underway and we’ll update you on the latest and greatest facing operators across the country. We’ll have those stories and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
The COVID-19 pandemic has turned everything upside down, including the 2020 election cycle. We’ll discuss the volatile political environment heading into 2020 and what operators need to prepare for. And the industry has seemingly found itself in the middle of every debate during this pandemic - essential businesses, essential employees, the food supply, blowback from the loan programs - you name it. Now restaurants are center stage for the over-politicized social distancing wars. We’ll discuss that dynamic and how operators and brands need to navigate it. And the conversation around “Hazard Pay” is front and center at the state and local level and now even in Congress and the presidential race. We’ll take a look on what impacts that could have on the industry as well. We’ll have those stories and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
The country is slowly reopening but a patchwork of state and local guidelines is making it rough going for operators. We’ll discuss that and additional challenges around rehiring, liability and delivery. And the First of May brings us May Day - a traditional day of action for labor groups. We’ll discuss why the pandemic may make this year’s edition look and feel a little different. And the politics of COVID-19 continue to amaze. This week, the CDC issued strong guidelines calling for both business owners and consumers to utilize single-use plastics, effectively reversing a decade of gains by the environmental community. We’ll take a look at that development. We’ll have those stories and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
The Small Business Administration and other agencies are quickly releasing new rules, regulations and other guidance around the Paycheck Protection Program following public backlash over the perception that large companies were receiving more than their fair share. We’ll discuss the political situation and what we think is potentially unfair vilification of some employers who thought they were playing by the rules. And “re-opening the economy” - whatever that means - is at the top of the priority list. We’ll discuss what guidance the White House is giving as well as the direction some governors are taking. And the crisis has given new momentum to employee activism and business leaders are listening. Could this be the opportunity that the labor community has been waiting for? We’ll have those stories and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
While the COVID-19 crisis has disrupted many business models, even destroyed some, it's also offered up new opportunities for the industry to leverage its political capital to force systemic changes long desired by the industry - namely around pushing back against the third-party delivery platforms and the delivery of alcohol. We’ll discuss those possibilities. And the President is vigorously advocating for the reopening of the economy. We don’t know when that will actually happen but what we do know is that things will look very different - especially with regard to worker protections, benefits, and what being “essential workers” entails. We’ll kick that around as well. And Ashley Coneff, the Director of Government Affairs for Dunkin' Brands, stops by the pod to discuss how her company is managing the crisis with particular focus on what they are doing around worker safety and community outreach. We’ll have those stories and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
Congress is attempting to shore up the Paycheck Protection Program by infusing an additional $250 Billion into the program. But no good deed goes unpunished in Washington and partisan politics have bogged down the effort. We’ll discuss the legislative prospects for more assistance and what changes may happen with the program. And while we are focused on the now, we can’t lose sight of what's coming down the road. The future of employee benefits almost assuredly involves some type of portability and we’ll discuss whether the business community will lead that conversation or get run over by it. And it's the end of an era. The final Presidential campaign of Bernie Sanders has come to an end. We’ll talk about his impact on the current debates around our industry, his potential future impact, and who will be the new standard bearer for his agenda. We’ll have those stories and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
The CARES ACT is now the law of the land and while the rulemaking process is underway, guidance from the agencies is coming out by the day. We’ll discuss the Small Business Administration loan programs and what operators will need to know as the program goes live. And the labor community is staying active - now targeting Amazon, Instacart and other entities in the supply chain arguing for greater worker protections during the health crisis. We’ll take a look at that. And a new survey by Edelman suggests that consumers are not only comforted by Corona-related messaging from their favorite brands, there also appears to be an expectation of it. We’ll kick that around as well. We’ll have those stories and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
Congress passed the largest relief package in American history this week to address the economic crisis brought on by the health crisis. We’ll take a look at what’s in for operators and what’s coming down the pike next. And no matter what the crisis, restaurant owners always meet the challenge. We’ll talk about how the industry is coming to the aid of their communities in this time of need. And with the economy in turmoil, regulators and especially Attorneys General are on the hunt for bad actors who might be exploiting the situation. We’ll discuss that as well. We’ll have those stories and wrap it up with an obviously abbreviated legislative scorecard.
We have three important guests joining the pod today and they will share their expertise and insights on the crisis at hand. Mike Whatley from the National Restaurant Association will update us on how the industry is managing through the public policy aspects of the crisis and how they are interacting with lawmakers at all levels of government to protect the industry. And Chris Burgoyne from the American Hotel & Lodging Association will join us to discuss the challenges facing that part of the hospitality sector, the latest on what is happening on Capitol Hill and what we can expect going forward. And Michael Halen from Bloomberg Finance stopped by the pod to discuss the current and future financial status of the industry and the grim challenges being faced by corporate leaders across the industry. We’ll discuss all of that and look ahead to what may be coming next.
We’re going to talk Corona - what’s going on at the state and federal level, what’s going on with major operators, and more importantly, what we think is coming next with this very serious national challenge. And Lynn Minges, the head of the North Carolina Restaurant & Lodging Association stops by the pod to talk about how her state is navigating the corona waters as well as some other legislative challenges heading her way. We’ll kick that around as well. We’ll talk about those stories and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
Well, it’s official now. We are all freaking out about the Coronavirus - and rightfully so. Consumers, employers, employees and markets are getting extremely nervous and trying to figure out what they should be doing next and, of course, not doing. We’ll talk about the challenges to operators as they try to navigate some increasingly dangerous waters. And a new study is out from the Pew Research Center that says the vast majority of young people - our employees in other words - think the economic system is rigged for the wealthy few. How can we be an “industry of opportunity” if the vast majority of our workforce doesn’t see it the same way. We’ll talk about that. And Super Tuesday is over - and so are the candidacies of Pete Buttigieg, Amy Klobuchar, Michael Bloomberg and Elizabeth Warren. How will a two-man race between Biden and Sanders impact operators and the stock market? We’ll kick that around as well. We’ll talk about those stories and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
The labor community has intensified its efforts to get a foothold in the restaurant industry. The target? Airports and the concessionaires who operate there. We’ll discuss the status of their campaign and how brands need to prepare. And big companies across the business spectrum are pulling out of longtime trade association relationships over disputes in issue management strategies. How can traditional trade associations address the changing marketplace of public affairs issue management? And non-disclosure agreements with regard to sexual harassment are at the center of the Democratic primary contest. What does the escalation of the conversation mean to large employers and how they should prepare. We’ll talk about those stories and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
California is leading the way on property tax reform but not in a way that will make operators happy. An initiative is on the November ballot that could significantly increase corporate property taxes and it may be impossible to stop. We’ll take a look at that. And, as we know, the recycling industry is in big trouble. As cities have less flexibility on what to do with the waste, they have increasing flexibility on how to curb it in the first place - and targeting the restaurant industry is becoming their favorite tool. We’ll discuss what's going on in that space and how operators should be prepared. And Philadelphia has followed some west coast cities and essentially established a local department of labor to handle all manor of workplace issues usually handled at the federal level. We’ll take a look at that trendline and why it matters. We’ll talk about those stories and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
There is legislation pending in both Rhode Island and California regarding third-party delivery that would place new requirements on delivery platforms to protect operators. Dale Venturini, the President & CEO of the Rhode Island Hospitality Association and Sarah Bratko, the Association’s Vice President of Advocacy & General Counsel drop by the pod to talk about their bill and how the issue is affecting the industry both in Rhode Island and elsewhere. And the SEIU is ratcheting up their corporate campaign in New York City against Chipotle. We’ll discuss why companies with operations in the city need to pay close attention. And the Democratic primary continues to surprise the pundits and we’ll update you on the events of this week, forecast next week, and discuss why it matters to operators. We’ll talk about those stories and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
It was a political week for the ages - the Iowa Caucuses, the State of the Union and an impeachment acquittal all at once. We’ll talk about each of them and their impact on 2020. And speaking of the State of the Union, the President used his speech to highlight the issue of federal paid leave. But he also went further than he ever has on the issue, openly endorsing bi-partisan legislation currently before the senate. We’ll talk about that and discuss what might happen next. And its not like restaurants needed any additional competitive challenges but here come a couple more. The rapid expansion of recreational marijuana and online sports betting are poised to take a big bite out of the disposable income pie, further tightening an already tough market. We’ll kick that around as well. We’ll talk about those stories and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
The Iowa caucuses are just a few days away and we’ll take a look at what’s likely to happen there and how it will affect the process going forward. And another old friend drops by from the DC bubble. This week, Jason Straczewski, the Vice President of Government Relations & Political Affairs for the National Retail Federation stops by to talk about 2020 and his organization's priorities for the year. And this week we got to meet Therese Gearhart, the new President & CEO of the Women’s FoodService Forum. She stopped by our pod booth and we talked about her new role and her plans for the organization going forward. We’ll talk about those stories and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
In response to their growing pollution problems, China announced this week aggressive steps to crackdown on single-use utensils, straws and packaging. By next year, most of those products will be either heavily restricted or banned outright. Why does that matter here? Because many domestic policy makers will say to the multinational brands - particularly QSR brands with a large footprint in China - “if you can do it there, then you can do it here”. We’ll discuss the ramifications. And Edelman unveiled their annual Trust Barometer and the business community fared very well. But with those high marks come high expectations. We’ll explain. And Starbucks is at it again, redefining the conversation around their brand and the role they play in communities. We’ll see what they’re up to now. We’ll talk about those stories and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
We are joined by Troy Flanagan, the Senior Vice President for Government Affairs & Industry Relations for the American Hotel & Lodging Association who will share with us how his team at the AHLA is approaching 2020 and the legislative and regulatory challenges coming at us this year. And as legislatures are convening, governors are delivering their annual State of the State addresses and one issue close to our industry is at the top of each of their priority lists - workforce development. Whether it's a blue state or red state, governors are desperately trying to upskill their workers and the restaurant industry is uniquely positioned to jump in and help. We’ll discuss those opportunities. And New Jersey has passed a significant piece of legislation that would compel employers to give more notice and pay severance to laid-off workers. The so-called “Toys R Us” bill comes after a public backlash against the treatment of workers who lost their jobs in the retail apocalypse. We’ll examine the ramifications for all employers. We’ll talk about those stories and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
The Align Public Strategies team is joined by Mike Whatley, Vice President of State & Local Affairs for the National Restaurant Association who will share with us how his team at the NRA is approaching 2020 and the legislative and regulatory challenges coming at us this year. And the industry had a really great run in the news cycle this week with numerous national stories highlighting some important wage and benefit initiatives currently underway, essentially underscoring the message that this is in fact, an industry of opportunity. We’ll discuss how we can translate those headlines into meaningful political capital. We’ll talk about those stories and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
2020 is here and with it a presidential election for the ages. But it’s the down-ticket races that may impact the industry the most. We’ll discuss the political landscape and what operators can anticipate in 2020. And the tipping issue has gotten a little more interesting lately. New polling data suggests that while Millennials tend to eat out more than others, they tend to tip significantly less, if at all. Are there social and cultural implications at work here and could they ultimately impact the national conversation on tipping? We’ll talk about those stories and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
There is an important new study released by the National Bureau of Economic Research that outlines significant unintended consequences from mandated wage increases. We’ll take a look at what that study says and if and how it can change the conversation. And we’ll look back at 2019 and discuss the highlights and lowlights and whether or not the industry is in a better position to tackle the issues coming at us in 2020. We’ll talk about those stories and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
The franchise business model had a major win this week when the NLRB settled the longstanding claims against McDonald’s and determined that they are in fact, not a joint employer with their franchisees. We’ll discuss the implications both legal and political. The District of Columbia has had enough of waste and we aren’t talking about Congress. The city is considering a “zero waste” law mandating that all restaurants offer reusable serviceware to customers and only provide disposable service ware upon request. We’ll discuss the state of play in not only DC but with regard to the broader issue. And the ICE man really has cometh. The President is touting new data showing that workplace immigration investigations are up more that 4 times than the previous administration. Will employers continue to be viewed as the culprits in the immigration battles? We’ll take a look. We’ll talk about those stories and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
The 2020 legislative sessions are starting soon and we’ll take a look at what the industry will be facing and more importantly, where they will be facing it and how it may impact the industry. And the Retail Industry Leaders Association released a new study looking at why the traditional brick-and-mortar business - like retail and restaurants - are losing workers to the gig economy. Evan Armstrong from RILA stops by the program to discuss what they learned. And McDonald’s settled a huge lawsuit in California over pay discrepancies involving meal and rest breaks. What can the industry learn from their experience? We’ll take a look at that. We’ll talk about those stories and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
The mandated scheduling issue is at a critical inflection point and like the trajectory of paid leave, leading thinkers on the right are beginning to weigh in and are moving the issue to the center of the political spectrum. We interviewed Dr. Aparna Mathur, Resident Scholar at the American Enterprise Institute, to discuss the current state of play of the issue and the role that the business community should be playing in finding the sensible center of the issue. We’ll talk about those stories and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
A new piece from the business-friendly American Enterprise Institute is making the business case for some type of reasonable mandated scheduling legislation. We’ll discuss how companies in the heat of those battles might view those proposals and, more importantly, how elected officials in key battleground cities might as well. And federal apprenticeship programs are in the news this week and it's not the kind of news we would like. We’ll discuss some new challenges facing the Labor Department with regard to apprenticeships and if and how it affects the industry. And Louisiana will decide on a new governor tomorrow and considering what happened in Kentucky, if the incumbent Democrat hangs on, national Republicans will be in panic mode. We’ll kick that around. We’ll talk about those stories and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
It was Election Day this week in five states and numerous cities throughout the country and we’ll discuss the results, the impacts for restaurant operators and what it all means for 2020. We’ll have a particular focus on Virginia where the results will have the biggest impact on the industry. We’ll have a conversation with Chris Lloyd with McGuireWoods Consulting in Richmond to walk us through what we need to be prepared for. And the CEO of McDonald’s stepped down this week after details of a relationship with a fellow employee became public. We’ll discuss how this plays into the ongoing narrative pushed by the labor community that the company and the industry have a culture of sexual harassment and hostility to women. We’ll talk about those stories and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
Starbucks is making an innovative investment in Chicago, providing seed money for local entrepreneurs to start small businesses and reinvest in neighborhoods. We’ll take a look at that and discuss its implications. And next week is Election Day in numerous cities throughout the country as well as in five states. We’ll discuss the national landscape and what restaurant owners can expect. And a friend from Silicon Valley stopped by the pod to talk about the role technology is playing in employers’ ability to provide additional educational opportunities and upskilling for their employees. We’ll discuss that with Chris Mancini from study.com. We’ll talk about those stories and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
There was major movement this week on the portable benefits issue as lawmakers both in Congress as well as in cities debate the future of work. Policymakers from both the political left and right are increasingly addressing the issue and we’ll discuss how the industry should be reacting. And in the midst of a union organizing campaign, Chipotle appears to have shot themselves in the foot again and there is a major lawsuit pending. We’ll take a look at that situation. And while Big Tech is getting beaten up in Congress everyday, it appears that cities are increasingly taking the lead in Tech Lash. We’ll kick that around as well. We’ll talk about those stories and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
Elections are just weeks away in a number of key states and we’ll discuss how things look coming into the home stretch and how the results may impact 2020. And we recap the MUFSO conference in Denver where a couple of industry veterans dropped by the pod room to say hello and hang out with us a little bit including Bloomin' Brands CEO Dave Deno and longtime industry journalist Ron Ruggless who both shared their observations about the state of the industry and the important issues we are facing. We’ll talk about those stories and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
The Align team interviews an old friend of ours and industry veteran, New York City labor attorney Carolyn Richmond who runs the Hospitality Practice Group for Fox Rothchild. She stopped by the pod to help us understand the likely next steps of the SEIU’s organizing campaign in New York and how area employers should prepare if organizers end up on their doorstep. And we’ve seen the inevitable pushback on recent narratives that CEOs should be prioritizing people and communities over profits. We discuss a New York Times piece this week that argues for CEOs to remember what their real job is. And under the heading of broken record, again this week, everyone’s talking about wage theft. We’ll talk about those stories and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
It’s finally happening. The SEIU has begun their long-threatened campaign to organize McDonald’s workers, starting with outlets in New York City as well as some Chipotle restaurants. We’ll discuss what’s next and what the ramifications could be. And speaking of New York City, at the behest of the restaurant industry, Grubhub has found itself in the sights of the mayor and city council. Is this a one-off or the beginning of the industry’s entry into new economy issues. We’ll kick that around. And Elizabeth Warren and Julian Castro have released their labor agendas and they are so far to the left that Bernie Sanders is having to play catch up. Let that soak in for a minute. We’ll try to make sense of that. We’ll talk about those stories and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
A new study is suggesting that many young people entering the workforce are more concerned with the company they work for doing good things than they are concerned with making good money. Can this be right? We’ll take a look at this 12- city case study. And on the flip side of that, some prominent conservatives are mounting a backlash against “do gooder” companies and calling for government to intervene. We’ll try to make some sense out of that. And California may be on the path toward a “Restaurant Survivor Empowerment Act”. We’ll bring you up to speed on that. We’ll talk about those stories and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
The midterm elections are right around the corner and some key races are very tight in Virginia, Kentucky and Louisiana. We’ll take a look at how those races are playing out and what it means for operators. And on the heels of redefining their "purpose of a corporation" mission statement, the Business Roundtable has a new Chairman - and it’s Walmart’s CEO Doug McMillion. We’ll discuss the importance of having a major entry-level employer as the leader of America’s CEOs. And we visited with a large group of industry CFOs this week and will discuss what’s on the minds - and agendas - of these important senior leaders. We’ll talk about those stories and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
California passed landmark legislation, the long-anticipated AB 5, re-classifying Uber and Lyft and other drivers as employees. But the fallout is just beginning - and the franchise business model may be on shaky ground. We’ll discuss what this means for employers and what’s ahead in California. And new data came out this week that shows minorities are now the majority of new working-age hires in America. Since demographics are destiny, we’ll discuss what all this means for traditional employers. And we’ll take a look at a new documentary that vividly shows the confluence of traditional workers trying to compete in the global economy. We’ll talk about those stories and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
The Working Families party is increasingly giving traditional Democrats a run for their money in cities across the country - and their agenda is focused solely on issues directly impacting the industry. We’ll take a look at what’s going on there. And business and politics collided once again this week when Walmart made a major announcement on guns. We’ll discuss the potential implications for them and all employers. And Universal Basic Income is back in the news, with sleeper candidate Andrew Yang putting it squarely in the middle of the Democratic primary process. We’ll talk about those stories and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
The California legislation that would codify the Dynamex and classify millions of independent contractors as employees is lurching toward the finish line and it may run over the franchise business model in the process. Jeff Hanscom, Vice President of State Government Relations & Public Policy at the International Franchise Association drops by the podcast to get us up to speed. And the unions had another big week. A new Gallup poll suggests public support for unions is at a 50-year high and the labor community opened up a new front in their war of QSRs - now they’re targeting businesses operating at highway rest areas. We’ll kick that around and discuss the impact to the industry. And a national publication does a cover story on the state of the industry - but it feels like more of a drive by hatchet job. We’ll talk about those stories and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
The unions have laid down the gauntlet and have audaciously threatened to withhold their endorsements to any candidate that doesn’t tow the line - namely insisting that as president, they will force McDonald’s, Burger King and Wendy’s to the bargaining table. We’ll kick that around and discuss the impact to the industry. And the Business Roundtable rocked the political and business world this week by revising their Statement on the Purpose of a Corporation prioritizing investing and workers and communities over shareholder value. We’ll discuss what if any political ramifications that has down the road. And Amazon is getting back to basics and committing to good old fashioned grassroots politics to try to change the tone and tenor of the conversation around their brand and business model. We’ll take a look at what they are doing. We’ll talk about those stories and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
More corporate leaders are dragging their companies into the political and culture wars - and this week was no different. A media founder even went to a new level, potentially violating federal labor law by threatening to fire workers who even consider unionization. We’ll take a look at that. And San Francisco is at it again, this time considering a recycling ordinance that would make most current restaurant packaging obsolete. We’ll kick that around and see what restaurants need to be prepared for. And privacy legislation on Capitol Hill is likely stalled again, despite all sides seeming to want it. Only in DC! We’ll talk about those stories and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
Unfortunately, divisive national politics have come to the front door of the restaurant and retail industry again this week with the tragedies in Dayton, El Paso and Mississippi. How those companies respond will be under tremendous scrutiny and draw severe criticism no matter what they do or say or don’t do or say. We’ll take a look at the terrible choices companies face when events like these unfold in their business. And companies are increasingly competing for the best employees by bolstering benefit packages with many embracing tuition assistance and even some outright picking up the entire tab for a four-year education. We’ll take a look at what that’s doing to the employee marketplace and what political implications it could have. And the industry finds itself in another minimum wage conversation in New York, this time over conflicting data on the impacts of the city’s high minimum wage. We’ll try to sort out what all that means. We’ll talk about those stories and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
The labor platforms of the Democratic candidates are beginning to take shape. But to what end? Are they really trying to taut policies that could actually become law down the road or are they merely trying to curry favor - and support - from the powerful labor community in the short term. We’ll take a look at that. And Walmart won a huge victory last week at the NLRB that validated their decision to fire workers who were participating in unofficial Intermittent strikes. We’ll talk about what that means for other companies - especially QSRs, who are in labor’s sights. And the Pew Research Center released a major study this week regarding voter attitudes toward a $15/hr minimum wage. Despite a major partisan split on the issue, the results may make certain lawmakers feel some additional heat on the issue. We will kick that around as well. We’ll talk about those stories and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
The little big burger that could. And the union that couldn’t. Little Big Burger won their high-profile union election this week, giving a big loss to the international Workers of the World local that was trying to organize the chain. We’ll discuss what this means to the broader labor movement and what other brands can learn from the tactics employed by the company to repel the union. And Coke and Pepsi have set a new course in the packaging conversation and parted ways with one of their key trade association allies. We’ll take a look at why they went down this path, what impact it has on the issue, and what that means politically for restaurant and retail brands going forward. And the labor community is beginning to coalesce around a new bogeyman - private equity - and the effect it has on business models, workers protections and other issues. While focused now in the retail space, could restaurants be far behind? We’ll talk about those stories and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
The entry-level business model is under another high-profile attack this week as longtime progressive activist Abigail Disney has jumped into the fray calling into question the business practices of the company that bears her name. We’ll discuss the company’s response and what impact it may have on the broader issue. And Subway is in the news this week and it’s not good. It’s not their business model under attack but their way of doing business - especially when it comes to the treatment of their franchisees. We’ll take a look at how all that fits into the broader narrative of the franchise business model. And the looming ICE raids that the President has been chortling about for weeks seems to have underwhelmed. Even major national brands are pushing back on it. We’ll visit that issue and see how brands are reacting. We’ll talk about those stories and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
House Democrats plan to hold a vote on a $15/hr minimum wage the details of which will set a new marker in the national conversation and may impact the election prospects of some members in 2020. We'll talk with Matt Haller of the International Franchise Association to learn more. And, this week another strike. This time it’s at Amazon. The team will discuss why the labor work stoppage is back in vogue after a long hiatus. We’ll talk about those stories and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
Obamacare may be defunct at the federal level but that’s not stopping states from picking up where the feds left off. California is the latest, and certainly the largest, state to implement a state-level health care mandate. However, it’s unlikely to be the last. In other news, it was recently announced that Amazon for the first time is self-performing the majority of its delivery, which could have wide-ranging impacts in the delivery space. And, finally in our Paul Revere segment we’ll discuss Facebook’s announcement that they’re jumping into the cryptocurrency game.
The war on packaging is heating up and California is poised to set a new marker that may chance the entire lifecycle of the issue. In an age of increasing delivery demands by consumers, operators are finding themselves in a very difficult position. We discuss that with Shannon Crawford, the Director of State Government Affairs for the Plastics Industry Association. And the online retailer Wayfair had a tough week with many of their employees protesting some of the company’s potentially politically-sensitive business engagements. Their response did themselves no favor but may have done a big one for other companies unfortunately demonstrating what not to do in a crisis. We’ll take a deep dive into that. We’ll talk about those stories and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
Apprenticeships and workforce development are getting big headlines these days not just from policy makers but from the private sector as well - and none more so than the restaurant and hospitality sector. Rob Gifford from the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation joins us to talk about the industry’s leadership in this space. And the President officially launched his reelection campaign this week and he erased any doubt - as if any existed - that immigration enforcement will be the foundational building block of his campaign. What does that mean for operators in the short run and the industry in the long run. We’ll take a look at that. And the biggest industry union vote in a generation is getting closer out on the West Coast. We’ll bring you up to speed on the state of play out there. We’ll talk about those stories and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
The overtime issue is back in the news at both the federal and state level. We’ll take a look at what employers should expect going forward and how the industry is reacting. And the restaurant industry is playing a much more prominent role in the presidential nomination process than it could ever imagine. We thought with notable restaurateurs in the mix, it could potentially be a great opportunity to highlight the model. Then came the beatdown against McDonald’s and the industry. We’ll discuss how that is playing out. And a big week in the delivery space with Amazon tapping out of the octagon and suspending their delivery operations. If Jeff Bezos can’t make money at it, it shows how hard the delivery road is for operators. We’ll talk about those stories and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
A West Coast burger chain has stolen the playbook of a local union and has petitioned the NLRB to HOLD an election - literally asking for an election - and the union is crying foul. We’ll take a deep dive into that ironic turn of events and try to sort it all out. And Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez - the notorious “AOC”, was a celebrity bartender last week in her Queens, New York district to draw attention to the plight of restaurant and service industry workers. We’ll discuss how that event was covered and what it means for the industry. And the industry is starting to feel the effects of the ongoing trade war we are having with - well everybody at this point. With another round of tariffs pending, we will be joined once again by Hun Quach, the Vice President of International Trade for the Retail Industry Leaders Association, who will help us understand the impact on the industry and what operators need to know. We’ll talk about those stories and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is back in the news again, this time teaming up with our old friends at the Restaurant Opportunities Center to return to her roots and do some celebrity bartending and why? - to show solidarity with restaurant and other service industry workers. We’ll discuss why that matters and what the potential implications of that alliance may mean for the industry. And chaos seems to be reigning supreme at both the DOL and the NLRB with staff upheaval, logjams, and a Secretary out of favor by the White House. We’ll kick that around and see what operators need to be prepared for. And it’s the last day of session in Alabama and the franchise bill is coming down to the wire. Jeff Hanscom from the International Franchise Association will join us and get us up to date. We’ll talk about those stories and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
This week, McDonald’s held their annual shareholders conference and their political opponents used it as a platform to bash the company yet again. And speaking of political grandstanding, Bernie Sanders is going to Bentonville next month for the Wal-Mart shareholders meeting. We’ll discuss what impact this political theater may have if any on those companies and on the political dialogue. And Texas and Alabama are the latest battlegrounds in the war between the boots and suits for control of the Republican party. We’ll discuss how the business wing of the party is faring against the social activist wing. And speaking of Republicans attacking businesses, the Trump Administration is notifying thousands of employers that some of their employees do not match their social security numbers - the so-called “no match” issue - potentially forcing the loss of thousands of employees who lack legal status. We’ll talk about those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
The labor community seems to be easing up on their at filing of unfair labor practice complaints at the Labor Department. Does this mean their organizing efforts are running out of gas? We’ll take a look at that. And a new study shows companies are seriously examining their pay data and working toward correcting any inequities. Are restaurant companies also following suit? We’ll discuss the landscape with regard to pay equity. And NRA CEO Dawn Sweeney announced her intention to retire at the end of the year after leading the industry for the last 12 years. We’ll discuss her tenure and the legacy she leaves the organization and also, what may be next for the NRA. We’ll talk about those stories and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
Election time is just around the corner - not 2020 - but 2019 - in five states and we’ll discuss both the local and national implications and how industry issues are playing into the mix. And California and the Trump Administration are at war again - this time over independent worker classification. We’ll talk with attorney Norman Leon of DLA Piper who represents the International Franchise Association on matter like this and he will sort it all out for us. And we’ll also be joined by Mark Freedman from the U.S Chamber of Commerce who will give us the latest and greatest on the EEO-1 pay data companies need to submit by September. We’ll talk about those stories and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
The Attorney General of New York is going big game hunting and she has her sights set on President Donald Trump accusing one of his golf course resorts of systematic wage theft. We’ll talk about how that will impact the visibility of an emerging issue. And Maine has become the first state to ban styrofoam, another important inflection point in the war on packaging. We’ll discuss why this matters not only politically, but how it impacts the move toward delivery. And why don’t the unions have more success in organizing the restaurant industry? Some new research may shed some new light on a very old challenge. We’ll talk about those stories and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
A new study finds that the effective minimum wage in the United States is nearly $12/hr and when factored for inflation, probably the highest minimum wage in American history. We’ll talk about how that impacts the national conversation around wages as well as the political ramifications for the industry. And California has a bold new initiative for restaurants to engage in the climate conversation. Is it a forward thinking part of the solution or are restaurants setting themselves up to cast as part of the problem? We take a look at that. And the cottage food industry is on fire and lawmakers across the country seem to fanning the flames. Will the home-prep industry soon take a bite out of traditional restaurants? We’ll kick that around as well. We’ll talk about those stories and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
With the relaxation of marijuana laws across the country, the industry workforce seems to be going up in smoke. We’ll talk to a restaurant operator in Colorado who is dealing with the impacts of recreational marijuana everyday and what it means to his business. And the Stop & Shop strike is getting very political, very fast with the labor agenda taking center stage in the Democratic primary contest. We’ll take a look at what that means for operators. And a new study has been released showing the impacts of high minimum wages on the industry. We’ll take a look at the conclusions and discuss whether the findings will impact the national conversation on wages. We’ll talk about those stories and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
Current and former CEOs from restaurants to retail to banking are jumping into the minimum wage fracas. Considering the background conversation on taxes and CEO pay, is that a good idea? We’ll kick that around. And Teens are finding their way back to the restaurant industry for that all important first job. We’ll talk about why that’s happening and if there are any public policy ramifications. And some industries are taking on big issues, while others closer to home continue to fight small ones. We’ll discuss why that is and what it means for the industry. We’ll talk about those stories and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
The Labor Department proposed their long-awaited regulation on joint employer liability potentially clarifying the law for many employers. Matt Haller from the International Franchise Association stops by the podroom to shed light on what’s happening. And the City of Chicago held runoff elections this week and the progressive wing of the Democratic party did very well - including winning the mayor’s office. And the labor community was active this week protesting McDonald’s pivot on minimum wage claiming it doesn’t go far enough. We’ll talk about those stories and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
McDonald’s has single-handedly turned the minimum wage issue on its head with its announcement that it will no longer oppose minimum wage increases. We’ll have a long discussion getting to the bottom of why they did it, how they did it, and what it means going forward. And the gig economy employers are on the move. Uber and Lyft are literally driving the future of work conversation and traditional employers are getting left behind. We’ll take a look at that and what it may mean for the industry. We’ll talk about those stories and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
The unions are back at it. Another chain of burger joints has been targeted in Oregon. We’ll discuss the ramifications for the rest of the industry. Shake Shack is running a test in markets across the country, examining the pros and cons of moving to a four-day work week. We’ll take a look at how that may play out and potentially impact other brands. And we’ll talk to Jeremy Bess from Revenue Management Solutions about the operational challenges and opportunities of recycling at the unit level and what that may mean politically. We’ll talk about those stories and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
California is looking to require food handler certification for third-party delivery drivers and there are all kinds of implications, not the least of which is joint employer liability. And cities are increasingly getting into the anti-corporate game. We have two cities that are attempting to influence who your suppliers are. And how are we doing on the minimum wage front and what does a win look like these days? We’ll talk about those stories and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
It’s baaack. The dreaded EEO-1 form that companies have to submit to the EEOC divulging pay and gender data has been revived by a federal judge. What does this mean for companies and can the Administration do anything about it. And it's International Women’s Day and we’ll discuss the current state of play on gender issues relative to the industry. And it looks like another activist attorney general is taking aim at brands- this time on companies participating in the labor department’s voluntary wage compliance program. We’ll talk about those stories and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
The war for control of data is raging and restaurants are finding themselves in the middle of it - especially when it comes to third-party delivery. We’ll discuss what’s happening and why it matters. Also, legislation was introduced in the U.S. Senate that establishes pilot programs regarding portable benefits. We’ll discuss the implications. And artificial intelligence is working its way through the drive thru. We’ll take a look at what that may mean for brands. We’ll talk about those stories and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
Notch a win for the anti-corporate crowd. Amazon’s decision to pull out of New York City gives momentum to the populist wave sweeping both political parties. With Amazon, Walmart, Starbucks and now Disney in the crosshairs, could traditional restaurant brands be next? And speaking of Starbucks, we’ll discuss how his campaign is going so far and whether the business model is feeling the effects. And we’ll discuss a new study of how transportation and housing challenges are impacting employment. We’ll talk about those stories and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
The restaurant industry is about to get Uberized. Travis Kalanick is launching Cloud Kitchens, a worldwide network of food delivery kitchens. We’ll discuss the impacts to the traditional business model. Also, New York City is becoming a labor organizers dream. Now they are proposing legislation making it harder to fire employees. And lastly, this was a tough week for retail. The worst sales in 9 years, labor unrest at ToysRUs, Walmart loses a big court case and Amazon bails out of Queens. What is going on over in retail? We’ll talk about those stories and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
Format bans are in the news again. This time New Hampshire is going after chains but instead of taxing them, they are trying to repeal local preemption laws to outright ban them. We’ll take a look at that. Also, efforts are underway in states to eliminate the tip credit. We’ll assess how those efforts are going and who is winning that battle. And lastly, as we have been predicting for some time, a major state may be going down the road of portable benefits. Start spreading the news, it's New York. We’ll talk about those stories and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
Howard Schultz is running for President. Herman Cain may join the Federal Reserve Board. Are these the Glory Days for the restaurant industry or are we running headlong into a public examination of our business model? We’ll kick that around. And Republicans out West - in Wyoming of all places - are going after big companies. Does populism have Corporate America in its sights? And this is the 100th episode of Working Lunch and we’ll take a look at what has changed in the political environment since we got this thing started. We’ll talk about those stories and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
The brightest new star in the democratic congressional galaxy is a former server and bartender and her agenda is becoming the party’s agenda. We’ll take a look at what impact she may have on her old employers and colleagues in the restaurant industry. And under the heading “no good deed goes unpunished”, we’ll discuss the events that led to Starbuck’s new needle disposal program and what may lay ahead for them. We’ll talk about those stories and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
The Democrats have introduced their long-awaited legislation to raise the minimum wage to $ 15/hr. We’ll discuss its prospects, particularly against the backdrop of the federal shutdown impasse. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce made news this week announcing that they will begin to rate lawmakers based in part on their bi-partisanship and willingness to compromise.We’ll take a look at how that might play out. And, more Democrats are jumping into the presidential race but one thing they seem to have in common is their pledge to not accept corporate PAC donations. We discuss the ramifications of that for the business community. We’ll talk about those stories and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
The government is shut down leaving a lot of issues affecting operators in limbo. We'll look at the politics around the shutdown, how long it will go, and what this means for operators. And joint employer is back in the news both on Capitol Hill and in New York City. We’ll get our arms around what operators should expect. And our friends in California and New York are at it again - this time competing on the most generous mandated benefits. We’ll talk about those stories and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
The Affordable Care Act suffered a significant blow this week as a federal judge ruled against its individual mandate. We’ll discuss how this impacts the issue , the political process, and most importantly, operators. Also, immigration is back in the news and it’s not just about walls and migrant caravans. some are saying that the immigration situation is negatively affecting food safety. Also, the marijuana debate is getting a little hazy and operators are finding themselves in the middle of it. Finally, we’ll have an interview with Martha Miller, president & managing director of Platinum Advisors, a leading California public affairs firm to give us her take on what to expect in the golden state for 2019. We’ll talk about those stories and then wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
If the employer community ever wants to “win” on workplace issues, they have to reframe wages, scheduling and paid leave as components of the workplace of the future where flexibility is paramount. We’ll discuss how operators could approach those issues in a way that improves their political fortunes. Additionally, we’ll take a look out continued post-election fallout and how brands can protect themselves from state level political food fights. We’ll talk about those stories and then wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
Republicans in some key states are having some post-election meltdowns and take a look at whether that makes for smart politics and how it could impact operators. We’ll also discuss how cash may not be king for very much longer as more restaurants are considering only accepting credit or debit cards and we’ll take a look at the possible political ramifications. Jeff Hanscom from the International Franchise Association joins us to discuss the lawsuit they filed in New York City this week over their new scheduling law and what impact it may have on the pending joint employer legislation. We’ll talk about those stories and then wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.
On this episode of Working Lunch, we’ll do a deep dive on the minimum wage covering what is suddenly happening on Capitol Hill today, when the new Congress convenes in January as well as in some key states. We also have two interviews with business leaders in both Illinois and Maine discussing the prospects for anti-business legislation in those two states. We’ll talk about those stories and more plus the weekly legislative scorecard.
On this episode of Working Lunch, we are joined by Jeff Brecher of JacksonLewis, one of the most prestigious law firms in the country, to explain the Department of Labor’s recent action on the 80/20 rule, and more importantly, what operators can expect with regard to this issue going forward.
On this episode of Working Lunch, we discuss corporate activism and a potential presidential run by former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz. We’ll also discuss Bernie Sanders latest attack on the entry-level business model and steps companies are taking to diffuse some of those issues. We’ll talk about those stories and more plus the weekly legislative scorecard.
On this episode of Working Lunch, we analyze the midterm election results and discuss how the playing field - especially at the state level - will look very different in 2019. We’ll take a look at and how operators will be impacted and more importantly, how they should prepare. We’ll talk about those stories and more plus the weekly legislative scorecard.
On this episode of Working Lunch, we look one last time at the upcoming election, focusing on ballot initiatives and Attorneys General races. We’ll also look at the employee walkouts at Google and discuss the modern state of employee activism. And in the ongoing competition to attract and retain the best employees, McDonald’s has added a new employee benefit - career counseling. Will that move the needle? We’ll talk about those stories and more plus the weekly legislative scorecard.
On this episode of Working Lunch, we examine how many prominent political players in the business community are preparing for a new environment in Congress - one where a Democratic House can launch lots of investigations. Also, we will take a look at the upcoming elections, especially from the perspective of Governors and state legislatures. And a new update to the ongoing minimum wage study regarding Seattle’s $15 minimum wage that could create headaches for the industry. We’ll talk about those stories and more plus the weekly legislative scorecard.
On this episode of Working Lunch, the Trump Administration has released its unified agenda for 2019. We’ll discuss what that means for operators. We'll also take a look at a new study from the Pew Research Center which examines the real economic value of a $15 wage in communities across America. And a settlement in a customer-focused sexual harassment suit at Costco could begin to redefine employer responsibility. We’ll talk about those stories and more plus the weekly legislative scorecard.
On this episode of Working Lunch, Starbucks has done it again – this time adding an additional benefit for child and elder care. Could this lay down a new marker for the industry? The election is only a few weeks away. We’ll check in on some key states important to operators as well as examine the political positioning of the industry post-election. We’ll talk about those stories and more plus the weekly legislative scorecard.
On this episode of Working Lunch, Austin, TX has banned restaurants from disposing of food waste and trash - forcing them to recycle. Could other cities soon follow? Amazon has disrupted the labor market again – this time setting a wage floor of $15/hr for their workers. And the Fight for $15 lost a major legislative battle this week. We’ll talk about those stories and more plus the weekly legislative scorecard.
On this episode of Working Lunch, Walmart is utilizing Blockchain to revolutionize their food supply chain. Will that create some unforeseen public policy issues down the road? Major brands are embarking on “get out the vote” drives. Is that good corporate citizenship or a veiled message to elected leaders? And Fight for $15 is at it again, this time staging national Days of Action next week. Those stories and more plus the weekly legislative scorecard.
On this episode of Working Lunch, the team discusses the recent protests against McDonald's regarding sexual harassment and what may be next for the industry. We’ll also discuss the pending midterm elections and how some key races may impact operators. And funding issue campaigns just got a little more complicated. Those stories and more plus the weekly legislative scorecard.
On this episode of Working Lunch, the team discusses how a company’s response to natural disasters can make or break their reputations. We’ll also discuss how some prominent brands are leaning into the culture wars because it makes sense for their business. And the SEIU is making another run at McDonald's. Will anyone notice? Those stories and more plus the weekly legislative scorecard.
On this episode of Working Lunch, the teams discusses a major action by the CEOs of the major hotel companies committing to the health and safety of their workers. We’ll also discuss some new strategies and tactics being utilized in the ballot initiative wars across the country and additionally, we'll break down the emerging feud between Bernie Sanders and Jeff Bezos. Those stories and more plus the weekly legislative scorecard.
On this episode of Working Lunch, the team discusses that after a nearly 40 year siesta, the Equal Rights Amendment is potentially making a comeback and could but large brands in the middle of an unexpected - and potentially unpleasant conversation. It’s also Labor Day weekend and we’ll discuss the state of the American labor movement and what the next few years could look like for operators. And we’ll examine the week’s high profile election results - especially in Florida - where the Governor’s race could be a dress rehearsal for the presidential election in 2020. Those stories and more plus the weekly legislative scorecard.
On this episode of Working Lunch, the crew discusses the impact of the President’s legal situations and whether it will have a negative impact on the legislative and political agenda of the business community. Additionally, another state Attorney General has gone after franchise agreements and numerous national restaurant chains have altered their agreements. And California continues its aggressive enforcement of wage and and hour violations and operators need to pay attention. Those stories and more plus the weekly legislative scorecard.
On this episode of Working Lunch, Jeff Hanscom from the International Franchise Association joins us to discuss the latest in anti-poaching and non-compete clauses targeted at franchisees in an effort to address wage stagnation. Also, we will take a look at this week’s election results in Wisconsin, Minnesota and Connecticut and why they matter to operators. Those stories and more plus the weekly legislative scorecard.
On this episode of Working Lunch, we explore how election results in Ohio and Kansas could impact employers. ICE continues immigration raids, this time indicting employers in Minnesota and Nebraska. California goes after a retailer on wage theft. And, finally New York City moves to regulate Uber drivers and what that could mean for delivery. Those stories and more plus the weekly legislative scorecard.
On this episode of Working Lunch, Republican Senator Marco Rubio introduces legislation to establish a national paid parental leave program. Speaking of DC, the city council is considering repealing the new law eliminating the tip credit passed by voters just two months ago. Additionally, Starbucks is in the news again for the wrong reason - this time for wage and hour violations in California. Those stories and more plus the weekly legislative scorecard.
On this episode of Working Lunch, the NAACP scored a major victory in Alabama that could alter the national conversation on minimum wage. Additionally, more primary election results this week underscore the impact of President Trump. And ballot initiatives are back in the news - the CEO of the Michigan Restaurant Association stops by to discuss paid leave and minimum wage ballot proposals in his state. Those stories and more plus the weekly legislative scorecard.
On this episode of Working Lunch, the City of Chicago is proposing a pilot project to establish a universal basic income for some residents that will be displaced by the new economy and automation. Considering the size and importance of Chicago, it could accelerate the national conversation around universal basic income. Additionally, the joint employer settlement between McDonald’s and the NLRB was rejected by an administrate law judge. And scheduling is back in the news – Abercrombie and Fitch is the latest retailer to face settle legal actions related to reporting pay laws. Those stories and more plus the weekly legislative scorecard.
On this episode of Working Lunch, the paid leave proposal Sen. Marco Rubio and others are shopping around Capitol Hill would allow workers to get paid parental leave by collecting early Social Security benefits. In an effort to offset the cost, they would then have to defer collecting benefits for a short time when they retire. Also, what employers should expect from the SCOTUS nominee and the latest on the anti plastic straw movement and why big brands are changing course. Those stories plus the legislative scorecard and why Fight for $15 pins are allowed on restaurant uniforms.
On this episode of the Working Lunch podcast, the Align crew discusses the looming reputational crises heading towards restaurant and retail owners over single-use plastic products and the impact that President Trump’s trade war will have not only on operators but also the coming midterm elections in November. Those stories and more plus the weekly Legislative Scorecard.
On this episode of The Working Lunch podcast, the Align crew analyzes California's new soda tax and data privacy laws that could have nationwide impacts. Plus, an extended interview about the so-called grand bargain in Massachusetts that includes an increased minimum wage and guaranteed paid family and medical leave. Those stories plus the legislative scorecard with top items from around the country impacting business operators.
On this episode of the Working Lunch podcast, the Align crew explains why the fight over tipped wages is far from over in D.C. despite an overwhelming vote in favor of increasing the minimum wage and why the conversation will spread around the country. Plus, the Supreme Court's internet sales tax ruling will impact industries beyond retail including restaurants. This show also has as extended interview with an expert on association health care plans following the announcement of the Labor Department's rule designed to expand options for smaller employers by allowing them to band together and form insurance pools. Those stories plus the legislative scorecard.
This week's Working Lunch podcast features details about a proposal in New York City that could deeply impact more than 700 brands, from restaurants to retailers. The proposal's sweeping language points directly at the franchisor and franchisee business model and would make franchisors liable for the actions of their franchisees. Meantime, the Align Public Strategies crew examines how The Cheesecake Factory got pulled into a $4.57 million wage theft case in California and why other business operators should prepare for that kind of scrutiny. Those stories plus the legislative scorecard with top policy items and developments from around the country.
This week the Align crew digs into gig economy stats that no one predicted. The release of Bureau of Labor data reveals the number of people working in “alternative” work like gig-related jobs is shrinking, not going up as highly respected economists have been saying. How should business operators plan for the future workforce with numbers like this, and is there a bigger trend to consider? Also on the show, McDonald’s is ramping up its use of kiosks in stores by the thousands which isn’t what the Fight for $15 movement intended during the push for higher wages. Plus, a feature interview with the director of government affairs for the Oregon Restaurant and Lodging Association and a discussion about models for scheduling and CEO surtax issues.
On this episode of Working Lunch, a looming union strike involving 50,000 restaurant, bar and casino workers threatens the City of Las Vegas amidst contentious contract talks. The Align crew explains the threat, the history of a strike this size and why robots are part of the negotiation. Plus, Walmart becomes the largest retail or restaurant company to offer employees paid online classes from several universities. What’s the business case for doing this in a tight labor market and will a major restaurant chain follow? Finally, the policy experts at Align have been alerting employers about universal basic income for more than a year and now one city is on the verge of having it. Those stories plus the legislative scorecard.
On this episode of the Working Lunch podcast, the Align crew examines organized labor’s tie to lawsuits against McDonald’s over sexual harassment complaints and why smaller restaurant companies should pay attention to the Fight for $15 strategy. Robots replaced chefs at a high-end Boston restaurant. Plus, it’s time for the restaurant industry to “get in the game” on a variety of new economy issues. Otherwise, the industry’s struggles will worsen in the face of policy issues that affect everything from human resources to the bottom line. Stay tuned for the legislative scorecard and the answer to the question—Who has the better burger: McDonald’s Signature Series, Five Guys or Shake Shack?
On this episode of Working Lunch, the Align team has an extended interview with one of the key people guiding the restaurant industry through major policy issues around the country. They talked to the National Restaurant Association's head of government affairs, Cicely Simpson, about menu labeling and blueprint for proactive efforts on a variety of issues. Meanwhile workers at a second Burgerville restaurant voted to union so we’re taking a closer look at what makes brands vulnerable to this type of action even when they’re considered to be progressive companies. As always, you can get the latest top items affecting business operators from the legislative scorecard, plus, a little something for the gamblers listening...our picks for the Preakness.
On this episode of the Working Lunch podcast, the Align crew brings in experts on the joint employer issue and the global trade debate to explain more about how they are impacting business relationships. The Trump administration’s stance on trade is already costing companies more money for the price of goods because of an uncertain market. Both policy experts address what operators can do as these issues play out in the coming months and year. Those stories plus the legislative scorecard.
On this episode of the Working Lunch podcast from Align Public Strategies - Marijuana. The Department of Labor secretary enters the conversation with words that suggest the administration is willing to loosen it’s stance on the drug related to testing for employment. States are doing the same and employers may find themselves in a political fight at state houses where some legislators want marijuana removed from drug testing policies. Plus, there is plenty to get to on this week’s legislative scorecard with news on minimum wage initiatives, paid leave and a landmark case out of California over how workers should be classified.
Big week in labor organizing news to unravel on the Working Lunch podcast with a win out west where workers voted to unionize a Burgerville restaurant, and a second one might not be far behind. But in Washington D.C., labor organizing activity is getting pushback from Congress which is taking a fresh look at worker center groups and their union-like activity. Plus, on this week’s Legislative Scorecard, how paid leave is sweeping across Texas while there is model sexual harassment legislation emerging in New York.
On this episode of the Working Lunch podcast the Align team takes a closer look at the tightening job market in the new economy and the expectations workers have for higher wages to portable benefits and more. All of it is making it harder to recruit and retain workers. Plus, as Starbucks gets ready to shutdown 8000 stores for racial-bias training, what message is the company communicating to its employees about the brand? Also on the show, Align has several updates to stories first mentioned last week including another a new soda tax study, ICE raids and an influential conservative think tank calling for a paid leave policy.
On this episode of the Working Lunch podcast, what the House Speaker’s retirement means for the business community, fiscal conservatives and midterm elections around the country. Plus, the planets are aligning for advocates of a soda tax as a new report shows the tax is working toward reducing the amount of soda consumption. This week’s legislative scorecard includes wage, paid leave and scheduling updates. And on the lighter side, how to get a date using Chick-fil-A.
On this episode of the Working Lunch podcast, the first QSR in the country is set to unionize. The crew at Align analyzes what happened to Burgerville and whether the playbook for unionizing restaurants been written heading into the union vote. Should other QSR operators start preparing for this at their restaurant? Also on the show, the six-month anniversary of the #MeToo movement that is showing no signs of slowing down. What does that mean for future policy and the reputation of the restaurant industry? Those stories plus the legislative scorecard with the latest political and policy stories affecting employers around the country.
On this week’s episode of the Working Lunch podcast, the Align crew explains how a new health study, funded by several million dollars of federal spending could dramatically change the course of the minimum wage conversation by linking wages to obesity and other health issues. The study will compare workers over the next five years in two popular cities. Plus, it’s never too early to start examining the political landscape and messaging that's having an effect on state and local races heading into primary season and the midterm elections. Those stories plus the legislative scorecard from around the country including Gap, Inc.’s role in the scheduling debate.
On this episode of the Working Lunch podcast, the Align crew sorts out a bundle of news items from the week including the McDonald’s settlement with the NLRB and what, if anything, it means to the joint employer issue; Congress added tip sharing language to its major spending bill; Uber drivers in New York City want to be paid a minimum wage which could affect delivery costs someday; and at least one nation appears to fancy its version of a soda tax. Those stories plus the Legislative Scorecard with top items affecting business operators around the country.
On this episode of the Working Lunch podcast, the Align crew reveals how the current debate over tipped wages is now being impacted by the #MeToo movement. They explain the policy risks if this trend continues and why retailers should start paying attention to this development as well. Plus, the outcome of a congressional race in Pennsylvania could change the conversation over key business issues around the country as moderate Democrats become more likely to run…and win. This show has the latest updates from the legislative scorecard from around the country and a look at some industry disruption news and the types of public policy that could emerge from it.
McDonald’s flipped its golden arches for International Women's Day and opened the door to attacks over its employment practices. Grilling on Capitol Hill, the labor secretary was in the hot seat over tipped wages and a voluntary wage theft program, the Align crew analyzes the impact on both issues. Plus, the legislative scorecard includes news about major brands making big announcements over minimum hourly pay and paid leave.
There’s major uncertainty for the franchise business model as the NLRB shifts course and brings back an Obama-era joint employment standard. The Align crew explains what’s next on the issue and they have an interview with the Sr. VP of Government Affairs for the International Franchising Association. Also on the show, how major brands are responding to the nationwide gun issue following the high school shooting in Parkland, FL. What are the risks of companies taking a stand on controversial issues with pressure from both sides.
On this episode of the podcast, the Align crew explains the political and potential policy impact of a new investigative report that’s gone viral in the labor community. It shows how wage theft laws are not being enforced properly or, in same cases, completely ignored. Speaking of negative reports the first of many detailing the gap between CEO to median worker pay is out and looks as bad or worse than expected. There is a scandal playing out at the Department of Labor over a hidden internal report that could impact the tip pooling rule. Those stories plus the legislative scorecard.
Working Lunch, a podcast for CEOs and entry-level employers celebrates its one-year anniversary. On episode 52--the feds call out sanctuary cities and send immigration authorities to raid business operations. The Fight 15 movement had its best day in a long time with protests while hundreds of wage, scheduling and paid leave bills make their way through state legislatures around the country. Those stories plus the legislative scorecard.
There is a new idea out Washington D.C. for how to pass paid leave policy that would pull from Social Security. This version comes from Senator Marco Rubio and Ivanka Trump. Align explains the politics behind the Rubio plan being crafted and how both parties will attempt to get credit if and when some type of paid leave policy passes.
Meanwhile, business operators are getting pulled into a conversation over the infant mortality rate. The reasons for why the rate is higher compared to other countries vary but none of it makes the U.S. look good around the world. The Align crew explains the connection being made with paid leave policies and entry-level pay.
Also on the podcast, a highly publicized economic study into the effects of raising the minimum wage is good news for people calling for large increases and it means a new starting point in the conversation has been set.
Those stories plus the legislative scorecard including several updates on wages, scheduling and paid leave.
The Fight for $15 is back with protests scheduled in the coming days and the message is closely tied to the civil rights movement. What’s at stake as the debate heads further into a conversation about equality and human rights? As that is playing out, a lot more information about the actual pay disparity between CEOs and rank and file workers is being revealed publicly and the early numbers pose a public relations headache for companies. Finally, from the Align crew, Amazon, JP Morgan and Warren Buffett’s company, Berkshire Hathaway are taking matters into their own hands with healthcare, giving them a much more important seat at the policy table. Those stories plus the legislative scorecard.
Burger King fried the Federal Communications Commission this week with a viral video that used the Whopper to explain what’s wrong with Net Neutrality. In the process, they became the first quick service restaurant to take on a major policy issue this publicly during the Trump administration. On this week’s Working Lunch podcast, the Align crew weighs in on great marketing versus what happens when brands take on controversial policies. There’s risk and reward.
Plus, Starbucks goes grande on paid sick learn and parental leave, joining a growing list of large employers doing more for their hourly workers.
And in the rejuvenated Paul Revere segment of the podcast, when Align sheds light on an emerging topics, why Uber is talking to the SEIU about portable benefits for workers.
Those stories plus top items from around the country in the legislative scorecard.
The same group of restaurant servers that got Maine's tip credit reinstated is rapidly organizing around the country to stop other states and cities from trying to cut a large portion of their income. Joshua Chaisson, the co-founder of Restaurant Workers of America, says they are ready to take on unions and a strong opponent. He spoke to Working Lunch for an extended interview about the group's strategy, how they are funded and the message about basic math they are taking all over the country.
Raids on 7-Eleven stores by U.S. Immigration and Customs agents signal an escalation by the federal government to target employers for hiring undocumented workers. On this week’s Working Lunch podcast, the Align crew cautions all retailers and restaurant operators about the urgency of being compliant and why more raids are expected. The other big story this week on Working Lunch is over the tip credit fight. Servers trying to protect their tipped income are organizing and taking their case to Washington D.C. and around the country. Also on the show, Democrats announced plans to highlight Trump’s labor policies to go after Republicans during elections, but what impact will that have on key races around the country? Those stories plus the legislative scorecard including updates on wages, paid leave and other labor issues.
Congress and state legislators are back to work and the team at Align Public Strategies is looking ahead at the policy and political issues expected to impact employers most in 2018. On this podcast episode, they reveal which states are hotspots for key issues affecting business models. Plus, how will states and local governments respond to federal tax reform? Those stories plus a preview of how the tipped income conversation is playing out and the weekly legislative scorecard.
This year’s biggest winners and losers are the focus of the final 2017 episode of the Working Lunch podcast. The Align crew is closing out the year with a look back at what happened and where things stand with policy and politics affecting employers.
In 30 minutes of listening, you will get a year’s worth of key legislative scorecard details to consider over the holiday break including wages, wage shaming, paid leave, scheduling, and much more.
Plus, why Wendy’s and President Donald Trump are Align’s picks for the biggest winners of the year.
The National Labor Relations Board is acting quickly to undo standards set during the Obama Administration. The Align crew explains what’s changing? Also on this episode, Congress’s attempt at a tax overhaul. It’s closer to getting passed so what does it mean for restaurant and retail operators? Plus, fallout from the special election in Alabama. Those stories and Align’s extended interview with the reporter who broke the story about Chef Mario Batali. Her take on what’s happening in the industry and what has to change.
Former presidential candidate and current U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders called for a cultural revolution this week and named “restaurants and offices all over this country” as part of the problem of sexual harassment. His comments are tied to more high-profile cases of assault allegations that have been widely reported. This week the Align crew examines the politics of this issue and how it is now being linked to other policies involving women and equality. Plus, on the legislative scorecard, a new memo is out from the NLRB’s general counsel laying out how he plans to address Obama-era joint employer decisions and standards.
New reports are out about workplace raids coming soon in the foodservice industry. The specific details are limited but they are expected to be high profile. Other big issues on this week’s podcast include sexual assault and sexual harassment cases in the restaurant industry plus an update to the federal tax reform proposal. Also, on a jam-packed legislative scorecard, the Align crew explains why the cost of doing business is going up over the next couple years from Maryland all the way up the East Coast.
On this episode of the podcast, what a leading strategist in the restaurant industry thinks will happen with a dramatically shifting workforce; how brands are finding ways to attract customers and employees; the influence of private equity firms; and what’s keeping restaurant CEOs around the country up at night. The Align crew interviews Fred LeFranc from Results Thru Strategy.
The debate over paid leave at the federal level is heating up and there’s a push to get it passed by Mother’s Day. This week the Align crew has a special guest interview to explain what’s in the bill right now and they’ll look ahead at what could happen to employers that don’t volunteer to follow it. Plus, there’s news out of Washington from the labor secretary over wages and overtime regulations. That’s part of this week’s legislative scorecard.
The results of Tuesday’s elections around the country include bad outcomes for operators in specific states and around the country. What do the results mean for the policies restaurants and retailers have been supporting and the ones they thought they could avoid with Republican majorities. The Align crew covers tax reform, health care, minimum policies and more. As always, you can get up to speed on the legislative scorecard by listening and there is news out of Google that will disrupt the way restaurants deal with wait times and how customers find out about them.
This episode Working Lunch from Align Public Strategies has expert legal advice from a labor and employment law attorney about what brands and employers should be doing to prevent sexual harassment in the workplace--What policies are should be in place? What type of training is needed, and how will activist groups go after specific companies over this issue. This week’s Legislative Scorecard segment includes details about the GOP tax reform proposal and the Align crew previews key elections happening around the country next week.
HotSchedules is changing the way restaurants operate through innovation and technology by optimizing management efficiencies and engagement with staff. The Align crew has an extended interview with CEO Mike Arenth about how it's being done. Plus, on this week's legislative scorecard, potential changes coming to tip pooling regulations.
The conversation about portable benefits for independent contractors is heating up because of a state bill filed that would force employers to pay into a shared fund. The Align crew details how changes in the Gig Economy are shaping this type of policy, possibly for all employers.
The U.S. Supreme Court will rule on several cases this session that impact operators and their employees. An attorney from the Jackson Lewis P.C. law firm provides his expert analysis on these matters before the Court.
As always, you can get up to speed with top items from the legislative scorecard including the governor's decision in California over a wage shaming bill.
On this episode of The Working Lunch podcast, what will California’s governor do with a wage- shaming bill sitting on his desk and how could his decision impact states and employers around the country? The Align team digs into the policy and politics. This show also includes a revealing interview with one of the country's top legal minds on wage and hour issues. Hear analysis from the Jackson Lewis Law Firm about the Tip Credit Rule and why operators should keep an eye on it in the courts. As always, the legislative scorecard has the top items from the week affecting business operators.
The Ben & Jerry’s agreement with a migrant farm worker activist group this week is a big win for an organized movement attempting to disrupt supply chains to companies. The Align crew explains why operators should start paying attention to this group and others as more companies will be asked to reach agreements. Plus, Shake Shack is shaking things up by testing automated restaurants while still saying they want to raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour. And on this week’s legislative scorecard, a win on Capitol Hill over the joint-employer relationship.
Target got a big public relations boost with its planned $15/hr minimum wage increase for store workers and other employers are feeling pressure to do the same. The Align crew explains why this was more about an overall business strategy than a few weeks of good PR and media attention.
Plus, the franchise business model took a hit this week with a report that puts some of the blame for low wages around the country, despite low unemployment, on restaurant companies.
Those stories, the legislative scorecard and a twist on paid leave that includes time off to care for a new puppy.
On this episode of Working Lunch, "There's blood in the water," after TGI Fridays settles for more than $19 million over alleged wage theft. Trial lawyers focused on labor issues have been watching the results closely and employers should expect further scrutiny. Plus, lawmakers in the District of Columbia are backing off of aggressive policy initiatives involving labor standards. We'll explain what this means for businesses who have been appealing to the city for relief. Those stories and the latest legislative updates from around the country.
The Trump alliance with top Democrats continues. How long will it last and what does it mean for the issues that affect your business operations. Employers should keep a close eye on how this relationship could end up favoring the agenda of labor unions. Wash your hands for this next one because a new study shows raising the minimum wage "too much too soon" diminishes restaurant hygiene. Plus, it's been a busy week in Washington, D.C. with developments on paid leave, joint employer and health care.
Americans say they support labor unions more than they have in than a decade. The question is, will that change Labor's strategy trying to bring in new members and should entry-level employers be worried? President Trump sided with Democratic leadership this week over the debt ceiling. Both sides showed a willingness to work together. On this episode, Align's take on whether this impacts tax reform talks and getting something done.
Plus, lots of news out of Massachusetts on the legislative scorecard involving ballot initiatives that could impact operators. Those developments and the latest on paid leave in various parts of the country.
Entry-level employers from restaurants and retail stores face a second wave of challenges following Hurricane Harvey. Now that many of their employees no longer have a place to work, the Align reviews the challenges and opportunities ahead for businesses. This week's legislative scorecard has news on the Trump administration's plan to end the Obama-era equal pay data collection rule. Plus, companies are keeping a close eye on Missouri where new developments in efforts to increase the minimum wage could be modeled in other parts of the country.
Major companies are joining forces in ways that will drastically change commerce and business models as we know them. There is a major shift coming for the policies that matter most to operators and how they should be handled within federal, state and local governments. This week, the Align crews gives analysis about what is changing and why employers should keep one eye on tomorrow and another on future tech disruptions. Plus, this week's legislative scorecard has NLRB and wage news including an update about the DC restaurant that stuck a three percent surcharge on every bill to pay for minimum wage increases. It didn't work out so well.
The policy priorities of employers continue to fall apart as President Trump's escalating controversies drag the business agenda far off course. Also on the podcast this week, the Align Public Strategies crew explains how things went for a billionaire restaurant owner who stuck a three percent surcharge on customer bills over a local minimum wage increase. Hint: It wasn't good. Those stories plus the legislative scorecard including a warning to employers from the IRS about Affordable Care Act requirements that still exist.
The Department of Agriculture threatened to pull almost $90 million in food stamp funding from the entire state of Illinois over how Cook County's sugary drink tax is being implemented in places like Chicago. This week's analysis from the Align Public Strategies crew includes what this warning from the feds means for other municipalities trying to pass a soda tax.
Plus, remember when the Fight for $15 movement used to shutdown streets with protesters? Whatever happened to them and why have they become so quiet lately. What's next for the movement? Twelve, maybe?
Those stories and the legislative scorecard from the week including joint employers rulings out of DC.
This is a special episode of Working Lunch recorded in front a live audience at the 2017 FRLA Marketing & Operations Summit in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. Guests include Joe Kadow, EVP and Chief Legal Officer of Bloomin' Brands, Inc. and Lino Maldonado, VP of Operations for the Gulf Region for Wyndham Vacation Rentals North America. They, along with Align Public Strategies partners Joe Kefauver and Franklin Coley, provide expert insight and analysis about the latest policy, politics and social issues impacting entry-level employers.
RESTAURANTS AND RETAILERS GET DRAGGED BACK INTO THE IMMIGRATION CONVERSATION THANKS TO A NEW SENATE BILL AND THE ROLLOUT OF THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION'S POLICY. THROW ANOTHER NOTCH IN THE LOSS COLUMN.
THIS WEEK'S LEGISLATIVE SCORECARD HAS NEWS ABOUT THE PUSH FOR MINIMUM WAGE INCREASES IN SEVERAL STATES AND CITIES INCLUDING ATTEMPTS AT SEVERAL BALLOT INITIATIVES TO KEEP A CLOSE EYE ON.
Political turmoil reached an all-time high during the current Republican control of Congress and the White House. This week the Align crew finds places for business operators to find momentum on their key policy issues at the federal level as new doors could open in states. Also on this episode of Working Lunch, a "skinny," summer edition of the legislative scorecard with a handful of labor updates that impact brands around the country.
An already intense debate over minimum wage increases is heating up with the labor community fighting back on the airwaves over a credible study knocking Seattle’s increase. This week the crew at Align Public Strategies looks at how the conversation around this issue is shaping up and what it means looking forward. Also on the podcast, there is actual work getting done in Washington D.C. that is positive for the business community. Those stories plus the legislative scorecard with news on wages, paid leave and other top items from around the country.
This week the Align crew explains why a scheduling mandate with bipartisan support in Oregon could become the template for states to use around the country. Also, CEO pay is going to get a lot more scrutiny for publicly traded companies starting in 2018, we'll explain why. Those stories plus a summer edition of the legislative scorecard.
How a new study could revolutionize minimum wage research around the country--This week the Align Public Strategies crew explains the importance of a controversial report that could shake up how policy makers evaluate the true impact of rapidly raising the minimum wage to $15 per hour. Entry-level employers were right about their concerns and the latest research method proves it. This episode of Working Lunch explains what study means for the debate in the future. That’s the focus of the show, plus the latest wage, scheduling and other policy issues in this week’s legislative scorecard.
Republicans got another win in a special election while Democratic voters turnout big in GOP territory. The Align crew describes what it all mean heading into the Senate’s vote on a possible health care repeal. Plus, a big disruption in food retail—Business operators better watch out for a powerful union’s next move in response to Amazon’s purchase of Whole Foods. Those stories and the legislative scorecard.
Quietly, the Trump administration, Congress and D.C. think tanks are taking on labor policy issues that matter to entry-level employers. Meanwhile, primary election results in Virginia's gubernatorial race may give Republicans on Capitol Hill second thoughts about carrying out the president's agenda. All that plus the legislative scorecard from the crew at Align Public Strategies.
This is a special episode of Working Lunch--an extended interview with Firehouse Subs CEO Don Fox. Hear how he achieved a competitive advantage by getting smart about government policy and politics. He talks about the biggest threats to P&L, the sales benefit of building strong community relationships, and what he got out of reading every page of the Affordable Care Act.
Business operators all over the country are dealing with labor shortages. It’s a crisis for some brands and that shortage is also disrupting policies and politics on various levels. On this episode the Align Public Strategies crew examines changes that are happening including women leaving the labor force, immigration and inmates being released from jails to fill jobs. Those issues plus the legislative scorecard from around the country.
BIG WEEK FOR OPERATORS HEADING INTO THE MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND. RESTAURANTS AND RETAILERS WHO ACCEPT DEBIT CARD PAYMENTS GOT A BREAK FROM REPUBLICANS AND BEAT THE BANKS. PAID FAMILY LEAVE MADE IT INTO THE TRUMP BUDGET PROPOSAL. WE’LL EXPLAIN HOW THIS WILL LIKELY PLAY OUT FROM EMPLOYERS. THOSE STORIES AND MORE PLUS THE LEGISLATIVE SCORECARD FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY.
On this episode, the Align crew details why New York City will not wait for delayed federal requirements on menu labeling and the mayor’s call to action for other cities to follow. The distractions in D.C. are getting worse which means our legislative agenda is sidelined. Meanwhile, President Trump and Congress appear heading toward a possible agreement of paid leave for mothers and fathers.
Wendy’s, General Mills, Marriott International and almost 400 companies asked Congress to establish a threshold for paid leave. The team at Align Public Strategies evaluates that move as well as preemption battles in Missouri and other states. You can hear all of it on this episode of Working Lunch. Plus, a caution to companies hoping to push their business agendas in Washington D.C. now that all of the focus has shifted dramatically to the firing of the FBI director. Those stories and, as always, the legislative scorecard to get you caught up on labor issues around the country.
The Align Public Strategies crew highlights the politics of health this week from Trumpcare to menu labeling and sugar taxes and the rest the week's top items impacting business models.
The Align Public Strategies crew highlights the impact of Trump’s first 100 days on restaurants and business operators. What's he done? What hasn’t he done and what does it all mean moving forward. Plus, "Embers of the Bern" are back. Bernie Sanders is pushing for a $15 federal minimum wage and he has powerful friends to help him. Those stories plus the week’s Top Items including a delay on menu labeling.
On this episode of Working Lunch, the Align Public Strategies crew explains a twist in the wages debate. This time it is restaurant servers coming forward to lawmakers on their own to save their tipped wages. Plus, the White House is pushing Congress to repeal the Affordable Care Act before President Trump's 100th day in office. Find out what this means for restaurant operators and how much should they count on this getting passed in the House. Those stories and the legislative scorecard with all the top items impacting operators around the country.
On this week's episode of Working Lunch, the Align Public Strategies team explains what the U.S. Attorney General's immigration crackdown means for restaurants leading up to potential federal raids. Plus, members of Congress are getting a taste of what recess looks like in a dodgeball-style firing line. Those stories plus the weeks top items from the legislative scorecard.
On this week's episode of Working Lunch -The Purge. Carl's Jr. is calling it quits with its controversial image campaign while the company's former CEO is back as an outspoken voice of the restaurant industry. The Align crew takes a closer look at who is carrying the message for the industry and who should be. As always, Working Lunch provides the latest labor-related issues from the week affecting restaurants and entry-level employers.
On this week’s edition of Working Lunch, the Align team discuss how Facebook is changing the art of grassroots participation, how the nation’s largest company, Walmart approaches state and local lobbying and what Acosta’s confirmation means for the industry. These stories and the latest legislative news on healthcare, minimum wage and preemption.
On this week's episode of Working Lunch, Align's public strategists take on the social media storm covering Cracker Barrel over an alleged firing. Plus, what's next for the Affordable Care Act and how should restaurant operators evaluate the political fallout. Those stories and the latest legislative news on preemption and minimum wage.
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One of the leading voices in the restrictive scheduling debate from the restaurant industry is Tim Ehlert, Director, Government Relations for Buffalo Wild Wings. He joins the Align Public Strategies crew this week to discuss the benefits of educating policymakers about the need for restaurants to keep scheduling flexible. Also on the podcast, what restaurant companies can learn from a major retailer's decision to pay bonuses to thousands of employees around the country.
On this week's Working Lunch podcast, the Align Public Strategies team takes a closer look at how the national "Day Without Women" played out from the perspective of operators and they dive into the new Republican health care proposal. Plus, they examine what restaurants need to know about a potential battle brewing over local and state governments and preemption laws. Those items and the week's legislative scorecard impacting business models around the country.
On this week's Working Lunch podcast, the Align Public Strategies team takes a closer look at the national conversation over paid family leave. Who's winning? Who's losing? And how events this week like President Trump's message to Congress and Yum! Brands's decision to expand the benefit could lead to future legislative changes and internal pressures around the country.
Working Lunch is a weekly podcast about key labor issues impacting restaurant and retail operators as well as entry-level employers. Align Public Strategies explains the so what and the now what.
Working Lunch is a podcast from Align Public Strategies devoted to explaining the so what and now what about key issues impacting the restaurant and retail industries.