Whether it’s the “Problem Solver Compromise” or some other legislative relief, let’s capitalize on the dwindling days of 2020. With less than four weeks of legislative days left on the 2020 calendar, Congress has little time to pass a stimulus package to help franchisees during this critical time. It is time to end partisan politics!…
Read More »In the first such decision rendered since the coronavirus pandemic first struck the U.S. back in March, a federal court in Pittsburgh ruled early this week that a statewide shutdown and stay-at-home order issued by the governor of Pennsylvania is unconstitutional. U.S. District Court judge William Stickman IV found that despite being well-intentioned, the order…
Read More »Despite the economic trauma that the pandemic and those state shutdown orders have caused across the country, Rhode Island has another surprise coming for small businesses in the Ocean State. Effective October 1, 2020, the state minimum wage will increase $1 per hour on the 1st of the month thanks to legislation signed by Governor…
Read More »Another law taking effect on October 1 is in the state of Maryland. The state’s Mini-WARN act, which Governor Larry Hogan allowed to become law without his signature back in May of this year. Senate bill 780, which now mandates compliance with the formerly voluntary Maryland Economic Stabilization Act, requires that employers that implement a…
Read More »DDIFO is happy to again host an exceptional Coalition of Franchisee Associations webinar next Tuesday, September 22 from 12:00 Noon to 1:00 Eastern time. The program, entitled Conflict Resolution During COVID: How to Handle Employee and Customer Challenges, will feature J. Hagood Tighe and Andria Ryan, attorneys specializing in labor and employment law at national…
Read More »Senate democrats voted as one yesterday to block the latest coronavirus relief bill put forth by Senate leadership. All 47 democrat Senators voted against advancing the coronavirus relief bill while 52 of 53 republican senators voted to advance the legislation (Kentucky Senator Rand Paul was the lone republican in opposition). Under Senate rules, 60 votes…
Read More »Effective September 30, the state of New York will have a second sick leave law taking effect – one specific to the COVID-19 pandemic and the other, a new general employment mandate. The new benefit, which was approved as part of the state budget and ironically becomes effective on the exact same date as Governor…
Read More »Last Friday, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) along with the U.S. Department of the Treasury published a new guidance relating deferral of the employee share of payroll taxes for social security. The guidance (Notice 2020-65) provides that an employer choosing to defer the payment of employee payroll taxes between now and the end of the…
Read More »On Monday, the U.S. General Accounting Office (GAO) completed and published its report to Congress on the initial government response to the COVID pandemic. The report reviews in detail the four coronavirus relief bills that have been enacted to the tune of $2.6 trillion at this point and delineates the specific obligations of the government…
Read More »At long last, New Jersey restaurants can reopen for indoor dining beginning today across the Garden State. At the beginning of the week, Governor Phil Murphy announced on Twitter that restaurants will be allowed to function at 25% of capacity beginning at 6 AM today. The state originally planned to allow 25% capacity indoor dining…
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