The state of Maine became the first state in the nation to ban the use of polysterene foam food and drink containers when Governor Janet Mills signed the restriction into law this week. LD 289, sponsored by Representative Stanley Zeigler, prohibits restaurants and other “covered establishments” from providing food or beverages in Styrofoam containers effective…
Read More »At the other end of the spectrum on the minimum wage debate, Maryland Governor Larry Hogan this week vetoed a minimum wage bill increasing the wage in Maryland to $15/hour by 2025 and by July, 2026 for smaller businesses with 14 or fewer employees. Notwithstanding the Governor’s veto, the legislature quickly – in fact, within…
Read More »It could be called a tale of three directions when we look at minimum wage actions in Arkansas, Florida and Maryland within the past two weeks. As we’ve advised in past issues, the Maryland General Assembly has been advancing minimum wage legislation to hike the state minimum to $15/hour by 2025 and just last week,…
Read More »Since we last updated our readers on minimum wage increases just a few weeks ago, there has been still more movement in a number of states toward the $15 per hour level. New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, who has been brandishing his progressive credentials by signing a host of liberal measures, signed a new $15…
Read More »Speaking of minimum wages, this past week the US House Education and Labor Committee held a full committee hearing on the Raise the Wage Act (H.582 – filed by Sanders, House Chairman Bobby Scott and a host of others) that lasted better than 7 hours. The bill would mandate an increase in the current $7.25…
Read More »To the dismay of a number of retail and restaurant groups within Maryland, state senator Ron Young is now pushing legislation in Annapolis that would mandate combined reporting for state income purposes and potentially generate an additional $50 million in revenue for the Terrapin State. Combined reporting, which is currently the law in 27 states…
Read More »With a new legislature taking office this past week in Annapolis, Maryland Governor Larry Hogan can anticipate using his veto pen on a host of proposals should they make it to his desk. Legislators in the Terrapin State have already begun pushing another increase in the state minimum wage from the current $10.10/hour to a…
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As the spectacular tan and orange landscape, the clear blue water and the architectural magnificence of the Hoover Dam sprawled below her, Maria Icaza reflected on the relationships, connections, and commitment to hard work that brought her and her general manager Kaiesha Carter on a helicopter ride and, later that day, to a champagne dinner…
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Many franchisors utilize so-called “no-poach” clauses in their franchise agreements, and such clauses may be structured in a way that limits a franchisee’s ability to hire employees of other, same-brand franchisees and/or employees of the franchisor. Recently, a group of state attorneys general and prominent legislators began pressing franchisors to cease use of so-called “no-poach”…
Read More »Maryland franchisees are encouraged to consider attending a luncheon program on October 2, 2018 that will provide details on the Maryland Healthy Working Families Act (MHWFA) and help them understand their obligations under the law. The program, which will be held at the Holiday Inn Columbia East in Jessup, Maryland, will feature Ms. Tralene Putnam,…
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