The Working Lunch

Major companies are joining forces in ways that will drastically change commerce and business models as we know them. There is a major shift coming for the policies that matter most to operators and how they should be handled within federal, state and local governments. This week, the Align crews gives analysis about what is changing and why employers should keep one eye on tomorrow and another on...

The policy priorities of employers continue to fall apart as President Trump's escalating controversies drag the business agenda far off course. Also on the podcast this week, the Align Public Strategies crew explains how things went for a billionaire restaurant owner who stuck a three percent surcharge on customer bills over a local minimum wage increase. Hint: It wasn't good. Those stories plus...

The Department of Agriculture threatened to pull almost $90 million in food stamp funding from the entire state of Illinois over how Cook County's sugary drink tax is being implemented in places like Chicago. This week's analysis from the Align Public Strategies crew includes what this warning from the feds means for other municipalities trying to pass a soda tax. Plus, remember when the Fight for...

This is a special episode of Working Lunch recorded in front a live audience at the 2017 FRLA Marketing & Operations Summit in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. Guests include Joe Kadow, EVP and Chief Legal Officer of Bloomin' Brands, Inc. and Lino Maldonado, VP of Operations for the Gulf Region for Wyndham Vacation Rentals North America. They, along with Align Public Strategies partners Joe Kefauver and Frankl...

RESTAURANTS AND RETAILERS GET DRAGGED BACK INTO THE IMMIGRATION CONVERSATION THANKS TO A NEW SENATE BILL AND THE ROLLOUT OF THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION'S POLICY. THROW ANOTHER NOTCH IN THE LOSS COLUMN. THIS WEEK'S LEGISLATIVE SCORECARD HAS NEWS ABOUT THE PUSH FOR MINIMUM WAGE INCREASES IN SEVERAL STATES AND CITIES INCLUDING ATTEMPTS AT SEVERAL BALLOT INITIATIVES TO KEEP A CLOSE EYE ON.

Political turmoil reached an all-time high during the current Republican control of Congress and the White House. This week the Align crew finds places for business operators to find momentum on their key policy issues at the federal level as new doors could open in states. Also on this episode of Working Lunch, a "skinny," summer edition of the legislative scorecard with a handful of labor update...

An already intense debate over minimum wage increases is heating up with the labor community fighting back on the airwaves over a credible study knocking Seattle’s increase. This week the crew at Align Public Strategies looks at how the conversation around this issue is shaping up and what it means looking forward. Also on the podcast, there is actual work getting done in Washington D.C. that is p...

This week the Align crew explains why a scheduling mandate with bipartisan support in Oregon could become the template for states to use around the country. Also, CEO pay is going to get a lot more scrutiny for publicly traded companies starting in 2018, we'll explain why. Those stories plus a summer edition of the legislative scorecard.

How a new study could revolutionize minimum wage research around the country--This week the Align Public Strategies crew explains the importance of a controversial report that could shake up how policy makers evaluate the true impact of rapidly raising the minimum wage to $15 per hour. Entry-level employers were right about their concerns and the latest research method proves it. This episode of W...

Republicans got another win in a special election while Democratic voters turnout big in GOP territory. The Align crew describes what it all mean heading into the Senate’s vote on a possible health care repeal.  Plus, a big disruption in food retail—Business operators better watch out for a powerful union’s next move in response to Amazon’s purchase of Whole Foods. Those stories and the legislativ...

Quietly, the Trump administration, Congress and D.C. think tanks are taking on labor policy issues that matter to entry-level employers. Meanwhile, primary election results in Virginia's gubernatorial race may give Republicans on Capitol Hill second thoughts about carrying out the president's agenda. All that plus the legislative scorecard from the crew at Align Public Strategies.

This is a special episode of Working Lunch--an extended interview with Firehouse Subs CEO Don Fox. Hear how he achieved a competitive advantage by getting smart about government policy and politics. He talks about the biggest threats to P&L, the sales benefit of building strong community relationships, and what he got out of reading every page of the Affordable Care Act.

Business operators all over the country are dealing with labor shortages. It’s a crisis for some brands and that shortage is also disrupting policies and politics on various levels. On this episode the Align Public Strategies crew examines changes that are happening including women leaving the labor force, immigration and inmates being released from jails to fill jobs. Those issues plus the legisl...

BIG WEEK FOR OPERATORS HEADING INTO THE MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND. RESTAURANTS AND RETAILERS WHO ACCEPT DEBIT CARD PAYMENTS GOT A BREAK FROM REPUBLICANS AND BEAT THE BANKS. PAID FAMILY LEAVE MADE IT INTO THE TRUMP BUDGET PROPOSAL. WE’LL EXPLAIN HOW THIS WILL LIKELY PLAY OUT FROM EMPLOYERS. THOSE STORIES AND MORE PLUS THE LEGISLATIVE SCORECARD FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY.

On this episode, the Align crew details why New York City will not wait for delayed federal requirements on menu labeling and the mayor’s call to action for other cities to follow. The distractions in D.C. are getting worse which means our legislative agenda is sidelined. Meanwhile, President Trump and Congress appear heading toward a possible agreement of paid leave for mothers and fathers.

Wendy’s, General Mills, Marriott International and almost 400 companies asked Congress to establish a threshold for paid leave. The team at Align Public Strategies evaluates that move as well as preemption battles in Missouri and other states. You can hear all of it on this episode of Working Lunch. Plus, a caution to companies hoping to push their business agendas in Washington D.C. now that all...

The Align Public Strategies crew highlights the politics of health this week from Trumpcare to menu labeling and sugar taxes and the rest the week's top items impacting business models.

The Align Public Strategies crew highlights the impact of Trump’s first 100 days on restaurants and business operators. What's he done? What hasn’t he done and what does it all mean moving forward. Plus, "Embers of the Bern" are back. Bernie Sanders is pushing for a $15 federal minimum wage and he has powerful friends to help him. Those stories plus the week’s Top Items including a delay on menu l...

On this episode of Working Lunch, the Align Public Strategies crew explains a twist in the wages debate. This time it is restaurant servers coming forward to lawmakers on their own to save their tipped wages. Plus, the White House is pushing Congress to repeal the Affordable Care Act before President Trump's 100th day in office. Find out what this means for restaurant operators and how much should...

On this week's episode of Working Lunch, the Align Public Strategies team explains what the U.S. Attorney General's immigration crackdown means for restaurants leading up to potential federal raids. Plus, members of Congress are getting a taste of what recess looks like in a dodgeball-style firing line. Those stories plus the weeks top items from the legislative scorecard.

On this week's episode of Working Lunch -The Purge. Carl's Jr. is calling it quits with its controversial image campaign while the company's former CEO is back as an outspoken voice of the restaurant industry. The Align crew takes a closer look at who is carrying the message for the industry and who should be. As always, Working Lunch provides the latest labor-related issues from the week affectin...

On this week’s edition of Working Lunch, the Align team discuss how Facebook is changing the art of grassroots participation, how the nation’s largest company, Walmart approaches state and local lobbying and what Acosta’s confirmation means for the industry. These stories and the latest legislative news on healthcare, minimum wage and preemption.

On this week's episode of Working Lunch, Align's public strategists take on the social media storm covering Cracker Barrel over an alleged firing. Plus, what's next for the Affordable Care Act and how should restaurant operators evaluate the political fallout. Those stories and the latest legislative news on preemption and minimum wage. Working Lunch is now in iTunes. Subscribe today. https://itun...

One of the leading voices in the restrictive scheduling debate from the restaurant industry is Tim Ehlert, Director, Government Relations for Buffalo Wild Wings. He joins the Align Public Strategies crew this week to discuss the benefits of educating policymakers about the need for restaurants to keep scheduling flexible. Also on the podcast, what restaurant companies can learn from a major retail...

On this week's Working Lunch podcast, the Align Public Strategies team takes a closer look at how the national "Day Without Women" played out from the perspective of operators and they dive into the new Republican health care proposal. Plus, they examine what restaurants need to know about a potential battle brewing over local and state governments and preemption laws. Those items and the week's l...