labor costs

Workforce

Trump's promise to end taxes on tips could put Democrats on their heels

Working Lunch: The effort may be more of a feint, but it's a visible test of the pro-labor party's true commitment to boosting worker incomes.

Workforce

Other California industries are grousing about the state's new fast-food wage

Employers in other fields say they're feeling intense pressure to raise pay. Plus, they want to see a break from the pro-labor legislation of the last decade or more.

Restaurant trade groups and other business organizations have filed the action in the same court that struck down a similar change in the rules in 2017.

A law enacted this week bans hidden fees but allows restaurants to continue levying surcharges if customers get a heads-up and the money goes to employees.

Restaurant companies have raised prices to offset the $20 wage. But how much depends on the concept. And brands like McDonald’s are also working to get customers excited about coming in.

Salaried quick-service employees will be entitled to overtime if they make less than about $84,000 a year. And that's just one of the other surprises the bill is packing.

Reality Check: Conditions are aligning within the restaurant business for a leap in union activity. Yet apathy prevails.

Operators have examined their kitchens and processes and added a lot more technology while focusing on takeout. The result has been a more efficient operation.

The industry has regained workers, and more operators are likely to say they’re fully staffed. But labor is more expensive. Retention remains a key stressor. And jobs have moved.

The industry has a number of initiatives underway to pull more potential hires into the field. But the setback of the pandemic and the need for scale are deferring the payoff.

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