With inflation continuing unbridled at record-setting levels, its impact on minimum wages across the nation is becoming clearer with each week. As we’ve advised in the past, and as recently as only two weeks ago, those states and local communities that tethered minimum wage increases to the Consumer Price Index. Unfortunately, there are more increases…
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For two years, Dunkin’ franchisees have had to operate under unprecedented regulatory conditions due to the pandemic – from mandatory store shutdowns to proof-of-vaccination orders. But could the regulatory nightmare finally be coming to an end? It sure looks like it, based on political and coronavirus-immunity trends of late. Still, there will be no shortage…
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At one time, omicron was known by most people as a Greek letter. The word literally means “little O.” But today, the word has followed the virus it is named for as a phenomenon that swept the planet. In many ways, governments and business have responded the way they did nearly two years ago, when…
Read More »In the chaos that results from conflicting vaccine mandates (federal, state & local) and some prohibitions thereof, the business community is left with little direction as to how to operate. As an case in point, at least four states – currently Florida, Iowa, Kansas and Tennessee – have enacted laws in recent weeks that allow…
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When her husband was battling cancer, Ava Lawrence turned to Dunkin’ to support herself and her children’ Ava Lawrence and her partners are preparing to build their seventh Dunkin’ store in the Tampa Bay area. Getting here has been a long road for the Massachusetts native. Unlike many New Englanders who have made their career…
Read More »Speaking of ballot initiatives, as a result of the successful minimum wage initiative last year in the Sunshine State, the Florida minimum wage increased as of last Thursday, September 30, 2021 from the former minimum of $8.56 per hour to the new minimum of $10/hour. The 17 percent jump in the state minimum represents the…
Read More »Florida became the most recent state in the nation to enact a liability shield law for businesses when Governor Ron DeSantis signed SB 72 earlier this week. The legislation, which is the first concrete action taken by the legislature this session and the first signed into law by DeSantis this year, sets a high legal…
Read More »In the absence of a national policy limiting business liability against claims that stem from the coronavirus pandemic, more states are stepping up with limited liability protection to ensure that small businesses are not unfairly subjected to frivolous litigation. Most recently, the state of West Virginia became the latest state to put a law on…
Read More »The Florida Senate Committee on the Judiciary early this week passed Senate Bill 72, which provides liability protection from frivolous lawsuits related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The legislation, entitled Civil Liability for Damages Relating to COVID-19, protects businesses against a COVID-19 related claim specifically requires a (state) court to dismiss without prejudice any lawsuit where…
Read More »Notwithstanding continuing unfulfilled promises of business liability shields from COVID lawsuits at the federal level, a number of additional states are now considering implementing their own liability shields at the state level. Currently, both Indiana and Florida are considering bills filed for the new legislative sessions that would provide a level of immunity from potentially…
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