The U.S. House of Representatives Ways and Means Committee, arguably one of the most powerful committees in Congress, will host a virtual public hearing this morning (beginning at 9:00 AM) to discuss the impact of COVID-19 on the restaurant industry. The mix of witnesses scheduled includes Melvin Rodrigue, the current chairman of the National Restaurant…
Read More »Well, if they’re not, they certainly could be! As we know, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is the only agency of the federal government with any direct charge relating to the franchising industry. As such, it is welcome news to report that the FTC will be holding a virtual workshop on November 10 as part…
Read More »A recent report by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that adults who tested positive for COVID-19 were twice as likely to have reported eating at a restaurant within the prior two weeks. There’s a lot more to that story, however. The study authors themselves admit to at least five significant limitations…
Read More »Fresh on the heels of the decision by US District Court judge William Stickman that Governor Tom Wolf’s limits on indoor and outdoor gatherings, business shutdowns and stay-at-home mandates were unconstitutional, the Pennsylvania legislature passed its own measures relaxing some of the restriction the governor announced for bars and restaurants in the Keystone State. Despite…
Read More »It may not be all that businesses need, but there’s many positives to be drawn from Ohio Governor Mike DeWine signing HB 606 into law just over one week ago. The “Good Samaritan Expansion Bill”, as the legislation is known, provides employers with state-law immunity from civil actions brought by customers, employees or others for…
Read More »Federal mandates that employers provide paid sick leave and extended family and medical leave during the coronavirus pandemic (FFCRA) is proving insufficient to some states and municipalities around the country. The state of Maine will become the first in the nation to mandate leave that can be used for any reason or no reason when…
Read More »The minimum wage in Connecticut increased by $1 per hour on September 1 but we overlooked our note to remind our readers of the increase and we apologize for missing that opportunity. Coming next Thursday, October 1st however, Connecticut’s new anti-harassment requirement kicks in and we want you to be fully prepared. By that date,…
Read More »While Congress fiddles and diddles with (hopefully) another Coronavirus relief package, some cities and states are using funds received from the earlier federal relief bills to craft grants to help small businesses recover from the economic effects of the pandemic shutdowns. As one case in point, we noted Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser is launching…
Read More »You’ll want to keep an eye out for registration information on our next DDIFO Wednesday Webinar, scheduled for the week after next, on October 7 from 1:00 – 2:00 PM ET when DDIFO will host “Navigating Loss Prevention During COVID-19”! This program will feature Keith Aubele, the founder of Navi1gate and Mark Dobbs, VP of…
Read More »The economic havoc the pandemic shutdowns are wreaking across the country is being measured by a host of different metrics. This week a new survey, released by the New York Hospitality Alliance and reporting on 450 respondents from the alliance’s 2500 members, underscores the severity. As reported in the New York Times, 9 out of…
Read More »