Although there are still challenges in play to the Department of Labor Persuader Rule, the new regulation went into effect this past Monday, April 25. Notwithstanding, the DOL states the rule is only applicable to arrangements and agreements made on or after July 1, 2016 and to payments made pursuant to arrangement and agreements entered…
Read More »Advocates and opponents have been battling over minimum wage increases for the past couple of years as some states and local communities mandate increases while other state pre-empt their local government entities from passing their own wage thresholds. Now, in the wake of Alabama prohibiting the establishment of local minimums, advocates have filed a lawsuit…
Read More »Earlier this month, the US Senate blocked the Paycheck Fairness Act, federal legislation sponsored by democratic senators that seeks to give female workers the right to compare salaries without the threat of retaliation, to seek monetary damages and further requiring companies to explain pay disparities. The bill lost on a vote of 53-44 with all…
Read More »It started with former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg prohibiting customers from purchasing soda in containers larger than 16 ounces, but the courts ultimately overturned his NYC soda ban. With that door shut tight by the US Constitution, progressive local officials turned their sights on their taxing power and are now advocating special taxes…
Read More »You knew sooner or later local communities would attach a requirement that a developer pay what the local government defines as a “livable wage” in exchange for development incentives. Well, it looks as though Worcester, Massachusetts is doing just that. This week, the Worcester City Council Economic Development Committee unanimously endorsed a tax incremental financing…
Read More »In its earnings call yesterday, Dunkin’ reported a “double beat” of both earnings per share and revenues, as well as an uptick in US same store sales of 2.0 percent, but the stock was flat and the same store sales components mixed with 0.30 percent traffic and ticket 1.80%. Further, the ticket increase included 3.75…
Read More »Chipotle Mexican Grill also held its earnings call yesterday and reported comparable sales through the first quarter were down almost a full 30% from Q1 of 2015, while revenues came in over 23% lower at $834.5 million. The drop stems from the double health scandals the company encountered with both norovirus and E. coli outbreaks…
Read More »For those of us who want to make the best of it when we’re stuck in airports around the country, we noted a story several weeks ago that spoke to a new program of the American Heart Association, whereby the organization installs CPR training kiosks at select major airports around the country. The stuck traveler…
Read More »The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) this week published its final rule on protections for food safety whistle blowers, employees reporting violations of the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA). Published in the Federal Register on Monday of this week, the final rule provides specific procedures for employees who believe they have been retaliated…
Read More »Speaking of government wheels turning slowly, there are more changes coming to the Affordable Care Act (a.k.a. Obama Care), which was passed into law in early 2010. The largest health insurer in the nation, UnitedHealthcare announced this week that it will vacate most of the state insurance exchanges where it currently does business by the…
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