More states are adopting Paid Family and Medical Leave programs, both mandatory and voluntary. The Oregon Family and Medical Leave Program takes effect on New Years Day and requires employers in the Beaver State to withhold and remit contributions to the program beginning as of that date. All employers regardless of the number of employees…
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Presidents and presidential candidates come and go, with this year’s election no different than many others in our country’s history in that regard. But many of the issues Dunkin’ franchise owners care about are not solely or even principally determined in Washington, D.C. Rather, state lawmakers and their counterparts on the local level – city…
Read More »Last week, the Vermont state legislature formally overrode a veto by Governor Phil Scott of legislation mandating another increase in the state minimum wage to over $12 per hour by 2022. The legislation, which is now law, provides for increasing the minimum wage from $10.96 to $11.75 next year and then to $12.55 by 2022.…
Read More »Fair franchising legislation has been filed for consideration this year in the Vermont legislature. Several weeks ago, 10 state legislators co-sponsored House bill 890, An Act Related to Regulating Franchise Agreements. The bill seeks to restore some semblance of balance to the franchisee – franchisor relationship and focuses on a number of specific points raised…
Read More »Vermont Governor Phil Scott vetoed a bill last Friday that would have mandated paid family and medical leave for all employees in the Green Mountain state but that veto was upheld this week by the Vermont House of Representatives. Despite holding a so-called “supermajority”, the democrat-controlled House fell one vote shy of the 100 needed…
Read More »Despite movement toward agreement on increasing the state minimum wage and adopting a statewide paid sick leave law, negotiation broke down with a fanfare as the House abruptly adjourned last week until January 7 of 2020. It had been reported that House and Senate leadership had broken a stalemate and reached agreement on increasing the…
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Ari Souliotis bought his first two Dunkin’ restaurants in Vermont during the worst economic downturn in decades. With the Great Recession in full swing and coffee prices skyrocketing, it was tough going. But Souliotis, who had previously launched and built the successful Pizza Chef network in Vermont and New Hampshire, never considered throwing in the…
Read More »Not stopping at increases to state minimum wages, a number of states appear poised to push for passing mandatory paid sick leave. Again in Virginia, paid family leave bills have been filed in both the Senate and the House of Delegates, despite both branches having slim republican majorities. As filed, both proposals would create a…
Read More »In the wake of the #MeToo Movement, the state of Vermont has become one of the first states in the country to simplify the process for workers to remain with their employer or return to the company after settling a sexual harassment claim. Independent Governor Philip Scott signed the bill into law at the beginning…
Read More »The push to add paid leave options in different states is staying in the forefront each week. Just yesterday, a public hearing was held in the New Hampshire state senate on House bill 628, legislation that would create a sick leave insurance plan with an opt-out option. As drafted, the insurance would provide up to…
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