Court Strikes Down Overtime Rule

A federal court in Texas yesterday struck down the Obama-era overtime rule adopted by the Department of Labor. The rule, which more than doubled the overtime threshold from $23,660 to $47,476 was originally slated to take effect last December, but was enjoined by the court just a few days earlier. In yesterday’s decision, the court…

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OMB Halts EEOC Pay Data Collection

The courts aren’t the only ones reversing Obama-era mandates, as just this week the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) ordered EEOC (Equal Employment Opportunity Commission) to cease the pay data collection initiated under the prior administration. Last fall, the Obama administration amended the EEO-1 Form required of private employers with more than…

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New York City Agrees to Menu-Labeling Delay

In the wake of the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) filing court papers a few weeks ago intervening in a current court case challenging the New York City menu-labeling mandate, the Big Apple has agreed to delay implementation. Under the terms of a stipulation filed with the US District Court for the Southern District of…

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Maine Unions Accept Right To Work

Members of two of Maine’s larger public employee unions have voted to ratify contracts effectively implementing right to work provisions in the state for the first time. The Maine State Employees Association (MSEA) and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSME) accepted two year contracts that specifically eliminates the current requirement that…

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Minimum Wages Targeted/Vetoed/Filed

No matter which state one is talking about, the question of minimum wages is either at the political forefront or soon to be. As a case in point, the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) and the Fight for $15 (but I repeat myself) will announce on Labor Day, a campaign to target elected officials who…

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Early Bird Pricing Expiring

Since we first announced the dates and location for the 2017 DDIFO National Conference a few months back, we’ve been offering a pricing discount for franchisee registrations. That early bird pricing discount is set to expire next Friday, September 8, so we encourage those who have yet to register for the annual conference and Hall…

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Miscellaneous

Two different court actions are notable this week as shopping center giant Simon Property Group filed a lawsuit against Starbucks over the company’s decision to close all 379 of its Teavana stores. According to the court action, 78 of those stores are in Simon malls and would constitute breach of their leases if the company…

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Campaign 2020

It may seem like a bit premature, but believe it or not, some politicians who plan to run for president in the 2020 election have already begun campaigning. President Trump was only inaugurated less than 8 months ago, but there are already those who think they can do a better job. Los Angeles Mayor Eric…

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Wait & See on EEOC Wellness Regulations

They weren’t completely struck down by the court – but in some ways they might as well have been. In a decision this week by the District Court for the District of Columbia, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission was ordered to reconsider its current voluntary wellness program regulations which allow employers to offer incentive of…

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Soda Tax Limbo

Speaking of being in limbo, retailers in Cook County, Illinois are between the proverbial rock and the hard place as relates the county imposed tax on sugary drinks. As we advised last week, the FDA has said that collecting the tax and then giving it back as a refund violates the federal food stamp program…

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