Minimum Wage Ballot Question Updates

On the question of minimum wage increases before the voters, there’s good news and bad news for you this week. First off, in Washington DC, the DC City Council, as expected, has taken its second and final vote officially repealing Initiative 77, passed by the voters back in June. The ballot measure not only mandated…

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Elsewhere On The Ballot

With just over 10 days until the critical 2020 midterm elections on November 6, this is a good time to underscore the importance of small business men and women exercising their civic duty to vote – and protect your business interests. Aside from the Senatorial and Congressional battles around the country, there are a number…

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Illinois Employee Reimbursement Law

A week or two ago, we advised you of an expansion of the Illinois Nursing Mothers in the Workplace Act, which requires nursing mothers be given extra work breaks. This week, we want you to be aware of an amendment to the Illinois Wage Payment and Collection Act that requires employers to reimburse employees for…

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In The Nick of Time, Then

Against that Illinois backdrop, DDIFO wants to advise all of our Illinois members and subscribers that we will be hold a member meeting at the Hyatt Regency O’Hare in Rosemont, Illinois on Tuesday, November 13 to discuss the Illinois Wage Payment and Collection Act, the Nursing Mothers in the Workplace Act, and a host of…

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New Jersey Paid Leave Starts Monday

New Jersey’s new paid sick leave law becomes effective on Monday, October 29 and in preparation for its implementation, the state labor department last week released final regulations as well as the official notice poster that employers are required to display. Beginning Monday, all employers in New Jersey, regardless of their size, must provide up…

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Dunkin’ Doings

Dunkin Brands reported earnings on Thursday, and the stock market liked the new product, new brand themes and strategy themes, even though the actual numbers were lackluster. Dave Hoffmann spoke to US Dunkin’ and Baskin trends, while Nigel Travis had just a few words on International. DD comps were plus 1.3%, just a touch under…

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Competitor News

Starbucks announced earlier this week that it had opened its first deaf-friendly store in the US in Washington DC. The store, located near Gallaudet University at 6th and H Streets, employs between 20 and 25 deaf or hard of hearing workers, each of whom is proficient in American Sign Language (ASL). McDonalds also reported earnings…

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Miscellaneous

According to a new Gallup poll just released last week, Americans’ economic confidence is currently the highest it has been in the past 18 years. Gallup reports that 54% of Americans believe the current economy is “excellent” or “good,” with 57 percent expecting the economy to continue improving. More than two-thirds of Americans believe now…

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Trump Admin Releases Regulatory Plans

The Trump administration yesterday released its fall 2018 regulatory roadmap, listing all the rules that the government expects to take action on in the coming months. The two with which we are most concerned of course, the joint employer and overtime exemption rules, are both set to be addressed – and finalized – by the…

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Federal Court Weighs In On Overtime Exemption

Speaking of the overtime threshold exemption, the US District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri weighed in recently when it granted conditional class certification under the FLSA to some overtime exempted employees. The Steak ‘n Shake employees were restaurant managers who the company had exempted from overtime under the executive and administrative exemptions. The…

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