Wages
Rhode Island – The house passed legislation to increase the state minimum wage rate to $11.50/hr by Oct. 1, 2020.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe
Vermont – The governor vetoed compromise legislation that would have increased the minimum wage to $12.55/hr by 2022.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe
Virginia – Both the house and senate have passed differing versions of a minimum wage increase. The house bill would raise the state’s minimum wage to $15/hr by 2025 but maintains the current cash wage for tipped employees at $2.13/hr. The senate version creates regional wage rates for different areas of the state.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe
Boulder, CO – City and county officials are examining a minimum wage increase in excess of the state minimum. While legislation has yet to be introduced, much discussion has centered on regional minimum wage rates that more accurately reflect the economic status of a given area.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe
Flagstaff, AZ – Prior to enactment of its minimum wage law in 2019, the city retained a consulting firm to study the potential impacts of an increase. The firm severed their relationship with the city last month after they were charged with bias relative to their findings. The company decided to release the findings nonetheless which found that the increase to $15.50/hr was too high and $13/hr was the appropriate number.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe
Hayward, CA – The city council will vote Feb. 25 for a second and final time to expedite an increase in the minimum wage to $15/hr by July 1 and tie it to the CPI annually thereafter.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe
Democratic Primary – Tom Steyer, billionaire-turned Democratic presidential candidate, said this week $22/hr is the appropriate level for the federal minimum wage.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe
Democratic Primary – At an International Monetary Fund forum in 2018, Democratic presidential hopeful Michael Bloomberg criticized minimum wage laws and suggested the tax code, most notably the Earned Income Tax Credit, was a better vehicle to address income inequality.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe
Paid Leave
Virginia – Legislation that would have mandated 12 weeks of paid leave for the birth or adoption of a child, to recover from a serious illness or to care for a family member will not move forward this year but expect it to be at the top of the priority list when the legislature reconvenes next year.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe
Labor Policy
New Jersey – A senate committee advanced portable benefits legislation. As currently drafted, benefits would be funded by employer contributions to “qualified benefits providers,” which would in turn be required to provide certain benefits to the covered workers.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe
New York City, New York – The city council heard legislation that would bar employers from firing employees for any reason other than misconduct or failure to do the job. It also defines a reduction in hours of 15% or more as equivalent to being fired.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe
Labor Activism
Chipotle – The SEIU local in New York City released a report this week in conjunction with a number of academics, non-profit leaders and policymakers. The report, The Unsavory Side of ‘Food with Integrity,’ called into question the management practices of the popular chain not only related to labor and employment but also food safety.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe
Delivery
California – State lawmakers are considering legislation that among other provisions would require delivery platforms to share customer data with restaurants.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe
Rhode Island – The state is considering legislation that would require third-party delivery companies to register with the state and to have a contract with a restaurant prior to delivering that restaurant’s food.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe
Plastics
U.S. Congress – Two U.S. House members plan to introduce legislation that would ban certain types of single-use containers and require manufacturers to use more recycled content in their packaging.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe