Labor
States Take Lead On Worker Protections For Legal Pot Users
Law360 3/17
California Assembly Bill 1256 bars employers from discriminating in hiring on the basis of a positive THC urine test, but does not apply to employers required to test by federal policy or that would suffer damages from not testing.
Restaurant industry exodus leaves owners scrambling to regain staff
ABC10 3/16
As Sacramento gets to the red tier, restaurant owners are facing a race to fill the gaps in their employee rosters after losing staff throughout the shutdown.
Food Industry Policy
Shake Shack Unveils Nationwide Delivery Service
QSR Magazine 3/17
As vaccine distribution picks up and dining rooms get the green light, there’s little doubt Shake Shack’s digital mix will retreat from current levels. In January, digital accounted for 64 percent of the burger chain’s business. It was 63 percent for much of February and 59 percent all of Q4. The mild increase stemmed from colder weather.
Mass. restaurant commission exploring tip sharing, credit card fees
WHDH 3/16
Restaurant owners have concerns about the restrictive nature of the state’s reopening protocols and are frustrated that their employees, especially those who interact with unmasked diners, are not being prioritized for vaccination. But they are also looking ahead to business and workforce issues that present challenges to the restaurant industry’s post-COVID revival.
Restaurants Keep Up Lobbying for Relief After Nabbing Virus Aid
Bloomberg Government 3/16
It took a year for an upstart coalition of star-studded restaurateurs and chefs joined with the lobbying fire-power of the National Restaurant Association to secure a $28.6 billion grant program for their ailing industry. Fresh from their success in garnering relief in the $1.9 trillion pandemic package, restaurant advocates are gearing up to fight for more cash.
On the Side
The Best Patios for Eating and Drinking Outside in San Francisco
Thrillist 3/17
Outdoor dining in San Francisco has saved us all from going stir crazy, and it looks like such setups might be here to stay. That would be amazing, as all of the parklets and pop-up patios have added a vibrancy and sense of community to the city that most of us didn’t even realize was missing.
RESTAURANT CHAINS NOT READY TO DROP MASKS, EVEN WITH VACCINATIONS, STUDY FINDS
Restaurant Business Online 3/16
New research shows that most operations intend to keep their longstanding safety protocols in place.
