Keeping an Eye on Joint Employer

Many are keeping a lookout for any movement on the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) change to the joint-employer standard with several prepared to do battle over the proposal. In fact, during the recent “public comment period”, almost 13,000 comments were received by the December 7 submission deadline, a good many of which took aim…

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NLRB Extends Comment Period

Last Friday, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) announced an extension in the time allowed for public comments to be submitted regarding a proposed new rule on the joint employer standard. The agency extended the comment period by an additional 30 days and will now accept public comments through the close of business on Wednesday,…

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It’s Baaaaack!!!

Although it should come as a surprise to nobody involved in the franchise business model, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) is resurrecting the Obama-era joint employer standard that caused much angst within the industry. The agency has issued a notice of proposed rulemaking, published in the Federal Register on Wednesday of this week, that…

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Joint Employer Next Up, Again?

Earlier this month, the US Circuit Court for the District of Columbia ruled that the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) should revisit the ruling the board rendered two years ago regarding joint-employer status. A three-judge panel of the court determined that “the ruling for Browning-Ferris Industries Inc in 2020 failed to explain why it had…

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NLRB Releases Rulemaking Agenda

There is more trouble coming down the pike from the NLRB in the form of revisions to a couple of regulations from the agency. As we’ve seen in the past, General Counsel Jennifer Abruzzo has been aggressive in pushing to overturn past decisions by the NLRB that upheld the position of business interests. Now, with…

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FAST Act Moving, Action Needed

As we have advised in the past, there is a dangerous legislative proposal advancing in California, AB 257, the so-called FAST Act (the Fast-Food Accountability and Standards Recovery Act). This bill has already passed the Assembly and is currently pending in the State Senate, where it will likely have an easier time winning support. As…

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Court Rules Franchisees May Be Employees

Last week, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruled that the independent contractor statute also applies to the franchisor-franchisee relationship and does not conflict with the FTC Franchise Rule 7-Eleven franchisees may in fact qualify as employees under the state ABC test. With its decision in Patel v 7-Eleven, Inc. the court in some ways “threaded…

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Assembly Advances FAST Act

On Monday of this week, the California Assembly passed AB 257, the so-called FAST Act and sent it to the Senate for its approval. Needing 41 votes to pass the Assembly where it died last session, the Fast-Food Accountability and Standards Recovery Act, prevailed on a 41-21 vote on the last day before such a “holdover bill”…

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Court Dismisses AB5 Lawsuit

The District Court for the District of Southern California has dismissed a lawsuit challenging the validity of California’s AB5 law. The challenge, which was filed by the International Franchise Association (IFA) along with DDIFO, the Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA) and the Supercuts Franchisee Association (SFA) back in November 2020, centered around California‘s ABC…

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In The Crosshairs!

With the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) officially rescinding the joint employer standard developed during the Trump administration – a new standard becomes effective next Tuesday, September 28, 2021 – one would think the issue was off the radar. That is not the case however, as the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) filed suit in…

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