COVID-19
Health and Safety – New York City became the first major locality to mandate “vaccine passports” and Los Angeles is considering a similar requirement. Starting Aug. 16 (enforcement will be delayed until Sept.), eligible New York City residents will be required to show proof of at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine for admittance into a variety of indoor activities for workers and customers including indoor dining, gyms, and performances. The mandate is by directive of the mayor. In Los Angeles, the city council president introduced a proposal to require eligible individuals to demonstrate that they’ve received at least one vaccination dose to visit indoor places such as restaurants, bars, retail stores, gyms, spas, movie theaters, stadiums, and concert venues. The city attorney has been tasked with developing the language of the ordinance and then it will be workshopped in committee before going to the full council for a final vote.
Meanwhile, companies continue to revise their approach to masking requirements, as well as vaccination policies. More companies in the retail and hospitality sector are mandating vaccines for some or all employees; however, most mandates apply to workers in corporate headquarters, not frontline workers. Of note, large consumer-facing brands like Walmart, Walgreens, Walt Disney Company, Tyson, DoorDash, Lyft, Uber, and Union Square Hospitality Group have put requirements in place. Expect more national brands to follow suit. This week, major retailers and restaurant chains such as Home Depot Inc. and McDonald’s Corp., said they would require workers to wear masks in many of their stores, restaurants, and offices regardless of vaccination status. Home Depot will require all workers nationally to wear masks regardless of vaccination status, while Target and McDonald’s said they would only require mask wearing for all employees in counties deemed at high risk for COVID-19 transmission by the CDC. Starbucks will require all workers in its roughly 8,900 company-operated U.S. cafes to wear masks regardless of vaccination status or location, starting this week. Starbucks said it was recommending facial coverings for all patrons but not going so far as to mandate them. More details.
Wages
Treasury Department – The Internal Revenue Service issued guidance regarding the treatment of tips as qualified wages for purposes of claiming the Employee Retention Tax Credit (ERTC).To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe
Flagstaff, AZ – The city has asked a judge to void a provision in the new state budget assessing the city more than $1.1 million.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe
CVS – The retailer announced increases in its base starting pay from its current $11/hr reaching a $15/hr starting wage by next summer.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe
Labor Policy
U.S Senate – The Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions (HELP) failed to advance the nomination of David Weil to head the Labor Department’s Wage & Hour Administration.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe
Infrastructure – Bipartisan federal infrastructure legislation was officially unveiled this week and is now being considered on the Senate floor.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe
Massachusetts – A coalition funded by Uber, Lyft, DoorDash, and Instacart announced plans to pursue a 2022 ballot question that would keep app-based drivers classified as independent contractors.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe
New York – The attorney general reached a settlement with celebrity chef Mario Batali and his business partner who agreed to pay $600,000 to at least 20 former employees after an investigation found their Manhattan restaurants were rife with sexual harassment.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe
Tucson, AZ – A unionization effort is underway at Prep and Pastry, a breakfast and lunch restaurant with locations in Tucson and Scottsdale.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe
Delivery
New York, NY – The city council passed a legislative package that will require third-party delivery companies to provide restaurants with their customer data, require transparency of phone number listings, and prohibit restaurants from being listed on platforms without their permission as well as extending the fee cap until 2022.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe