We strongly encourage our members in the mid-Atlantic region to consider attending the DDIFO Member Meeting next Tuesday, April 21 at the Four Point Sheraton Hotel Richmond Airport. We are thrilled to have Franklin Coley, Campaign Director for the Center for A New Economy and Attorney Douglas Duerr, a partner with the Atlanta-based law firm…
Read More »Next Tuesday, April 14, 2015, the new NLRB rules governing union election procedures within private companies takes effect and it behooves all business owners, franchise or not, to be fully aware of them and prepared for the possibility of unionizing efforts. The so-called “ambush” or “quickie” election rules dramatically reduces the amount of time between…
Read More »US Secretary of Labor Thomas Perez testified before Congress a week ago on the DOL budget request and in so doing, gave an impression that there will be increased enforcement by his department on perceived wage and hour violations. Aside from minimum wage issues, the Obama administration is increasing their focus on overtime pay. During…
Read More »As if the administration’s egregious actions regarding minimum wages, union elections, paid sick leave and joint employer rules weren’t enough mischief, the President, as he vetoed the “ambush election” fix (above), reiterated his intention to host a workers summit later this year, ostensibly to rally organized labor and other activists for more pro-union initiatives and…
Read More »In a similar vein, Senate Republicans are also working to advance an initiative that will undo another regulation by the National Labor Relations Board that allows for unions to organize workers in smaller specific segments or departments rather than the entire workplace. The Board changed its historical position regarding unionizing requirements in a workplace by…
Read More »Maine Governor Paul LePage last week announced that he will back a petition campaign to eliminate the state income tax entirely. At a forum in Auburn, LePage blamed the income tax for many of the state’s problems and articulated his plan for a constitutional amendment that would eliminate the state income tax forever. His current…
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Dunkin’ Donuts franchise owners looking for some basic protections for their businesses may soon have legislation to rally around in a number of states across the country. Lawmakers in Pennsylvania and California, among other states, are poised to take up the fair-franchising cause as spring legislative seasons kick into gear. While the bills vary in…
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Recent rulings by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) raise important questions about labor law. In the actions involving McDonald’s, the NLRB prosecutor is contending that McDonald’s and its franchisees should be considered the “joint employers” of the employees who work at McDonald’s franchise restaurants. On the surface, franchisees might expect their interests to align…
Read More »We are only one week away from the Northeast Regional Member Meeting to be held from 2:00 to 6:00 PM on Thursday, March 5, 2015 at the Sheraton Framingham Hotel and Conference Center in Framingham, Mass. We will conclude the event with a cocktail reception at 5:00 PM. Register now to attend! Always one of…
Read More »Under the provisions of the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA), since 1993, eligible employees have been allowed to take unpaid, job-protected leave for specified family and medical reasons including to care for a spouse dealing with a medical issue. Spouse now includes those in same-sex marriages. The change ostensibly stems from the Defense of Marriage…
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