COVID-19
Federal Relief – The U.S. House approved a $2.2 trillion coronavirus relief measure this week. No Republicans voted in favor of the bill and it has little chance of passage in the U.S. Senate as currently drafted.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe
Insurance Coverage – Operators of 100 Outback Steakhouse locations in California, Arizona, Colorado, Nevada and New Mexico are taking Affiliated FM Insurance Co. to federal court, claiming the insurer has denied COVID-19-related claims on a $100 million policy despite several provisions granting coverage.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe
PPP – The Small Business Administration announced this week that it will begin processing Paycheck Protection Program forgiveness applications. More details.
Amazon – The retailer released comprehensive records this week indicating that more than 19,000 workers, or 1.44% of the company’s workforce, have been infected (or presumed infected) with COVID-19.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe
Study – According to the New York State Comptroller as many as half of all New York City bars and restaurants could shutter permanently within the next six months due to the coronavirus. The audit results track with similar findings released by the National Restaurant Association and the Independent Restaurant Coalition and lays bare the extent of the pandemic’s impact on a large segment of the city’s employers.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe
Wages
Seattle, WA – The city council unanimously voted to adopt a $16.39/hr minimum wage for Uber and Lyft drivers.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe
UFCW – The United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) continues to press grocers for hazard pay, coordinating actions against Kroger and Giant among others this week. The union also won concessions from Stop & Shop this week.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe
Labor Policy
Labor Department – The Labor Department proposed a new rule this week making changes to the LM-2 financial form that labor organizations are required to file with the agency.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe
U.S. House – The Education and Labor Committee approved by voice vote legislation authorizing $4 billion over 5 years to expand apprenticeships.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe
California – The governor signed legislation requiring the boards of publicly-traded companies based in the state to have at least one racially, ethnically or otherwise diverse director by 2021.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe
Activism
Pennsylvania – The One Fair Wage campaign held a rally at a Philadelphia Capital Grille location, advocating for an increase in the state minimum wage to $15/hr as well as other worker protections.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe
Darden – The One Fair Wage campaign, run by the Restaurant Opportunities Center founder Saru Jayaraman, renewed its corporate campaign against Darden this week by filing a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunities Commission (EEOC).To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe
Delivery
California – The governor signed legislation that requires third-party delivery services to sign formal contracts with restaurants before listing those businesses on their platforms.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe
Denver, CO – The city council preliminarily passed an ordinance to cap third-party delivery fees at 15 percent for the next 120 days.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe
Packaging
New Jersey – Sweeping legislation is on its way to the governor’s desk that would ban a number of single-use plastic and paper items in the state.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe
Ohio – The governor announced his intention to sign legislation preempting localities from enacting plastic bag restrictions or fees for one year.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe