COVID-19
Restaurant Surcharges – Some restaurants are including fees related to COVID-19 on customer’s bills. “PPE fees” or “safe and sustainable fees” of 3-5 percent are intended to offset additional costs for hand sanitizer, PPE and other supplies while not increasing menu prices. Surcharges, such as these, have created legal problems for operators in some jurisdictions in the past.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe
Liability – Idaho is the latest state to tackle liability protections for businesses operating in the state.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe
Wages
Aurora, CO – A proposal to enact a $20/hr minimum wage was defeated in a city council committee this week; however, it may still be heard by the full council at some point in the near future.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe
Paid Leave
Colorado – An initiative to provide up to 12 weeks of paid leave has been certified by the secretary of state and will appear on the Nov. ballot.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe
Virginia – A house committee advanced a bill providing two weeks of paid quarantine leave for workers who test positive for COVID-19.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe
Labor Policy
Virginia – Legislation advanced in a house committee which would make it easier for many frontline employees to claim worker’s compensation for contracting COVID-19 on the job. The legislation does not apply to hospitality or retail workers as currently written.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe
Labor Activism
Tattersall Distillery – Workers at a Minneapolis-area distillery bar voted to unionize, joining the local UNITE HERE union.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe
Delivery
Los Angeles, CA – In late May, the city council voted unanimously to approve a temporary 90-day ordinance capping delivery fees at 15 percent and all other fees at 5 percent.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe
New York, NY – The city council extended their ordinance capping delivery fees at 20 percent to 90 days after restaurants are allowed to operate a full capacity indoors.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe
Amazon – The company announced its support for a California bill that would upend the business model of many online marketplaces. The first-in-the-nation legislation would hold platforms liable for defective products that injure customers.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe
Lyft – As part of their ongoing campaign to push back against AB-5 and related court cases, the company commissioned and released the results of a poll indicating 71 percent of independent contractors surveyed feel the freedom of being an independent contractor outweighs the benefits of being an employee.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe
Alcohol
Atlanta, GA – A city council public safety panel voted to allow home delivery of alcohol from traditional wineries and package stores. This is merely a recommendation and the proposal will now go to the full city council.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe