While the federal government hasn’t yet been able to prohibit the use of non-compete clauses in employment arrangements, the trend is growing at the state level with more considering limiting use of the restrictive covenant. Specifically, Iowa and West Virginia – states with republican Governors and legislatures – are both currently in play. The Iowa…
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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…
Read More »There have been a number of court rulings from various states around the country that we wanted to call to your attention as they impact issues on which we’ve reported and about which you may have concerns. First off, the California Supreme Court last week defined “premium pay” as the regular rate of pay used…
Read More »The seemingly endless increases in minimum wages continued over the past few weeks with the Wage and Hour Division of the US Department of Labor announcing the federal contractor minimum will increase to $10.35 per hour beginning on January 1, 2018. In addition, the minimum for tipped employees will increase to $7.25 an hour, also…
Read More »Last week, a new website was launched by the Employment Policies Institute (EPI) entitled the “Faces of $15” highlighting the victims of the Fight for $15 initiative by SEIU. The website chronicles the impact of the minimum wage on 100 small businesses and employees – not a pretty sight. SEIU gave birth to the Fight…
Read More »One could say business interests won a couple of battles this week on the issue of minimum wage increases across the country. First, Baltimore Mayor Catherine Pugh vetoed a local ordinance that would have set a Baltimore minimum wage of $15 per hour by 2022. Maryland law provides that the current minimum of $8.75 increase…
Read More »Inevitably, there is going to be one that cuts against the grain, and on the subject of minimum wages, it appears that Iowa might just be the one! Republican Governor Terry Bransford has endorsed a small increase in the state minimum wage (currently $7.25), but also qualified his endorsement by adding that its necessary to…
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While the Boston Crème, jelly-filled and glazed ring donuts fly out the door at the Dunkin’ Donuts in St. Joseph, Missouri, cups of fresh brewed coffee are still a slow seller. It’s the ongoing challenge for franchisee Dave Riggs, who opened the restaurant in 2012. “Making Midwest customers more aware of the high quality of…
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