The Working Lunch

The Ben & Jerry’s agreement with a migrant farm worker activist group this week is a big win for an organized movement attempting to disrupt supply chains to companies. The Align crew explains why operators should start paying attention to this group and others as more companies will be asked to reach agreements. Plus, Shake Shack is shaking things up by testing automated restaurants while still s...

Target got a big public relations boost with its planned $15/hr minimum wage increase for store workers and other employers are feeling pressure to do the same. The Align crew explains why this was more about an overall business strategy than a few weeks of good PR and media attention. Plus, the franchise business model took a hit this week with a report that puts some of the blame for low wages a...

On this episode of Working Lunch, "There's blood in the water," after TGI Fridays settles for more than $19 million over alleged wage theft. Trial lawyers focused on labor issues have been watching the results closely and employers should expect further scrutiny. Plus, lawmakers in the District of Columbia are backing off of aggressive policy initiatives involving labor standards. We'll explain wh...

The Trump alliance with top Democrats continues. How long will it last and what does it mean for the issues that affect your business operations. Employers should keep a close eye on how this relationship could end up favoring the agenda of labor unions. Wash your hands for this next one because a new study shows raising the minimum wage "too much too soon" diminishes restaurant hygiene. Plus, it'...

Americans say they support labor unions more than they have in than a decade. The question is, will that change Labor's strategy trying to bring in new members and should entry-level employers be worried? President Trump sided with Democratic leadership this week over the debt ceiling. Both sides showed a willingness to work together. On this episode, Align's take on whether this impacts tax refor...

Entry-level employers from restaurants and retail stores face a second wave of challenges following Hurricane Harvey. Now that many of their employees no longer have a place to work, the Align reviews the challenges and opportunities ahead for businesses. This week's legislative scorecard has news on the Trump administration's plan to end the Obama-era equal pay data collection rule. Plus, compani...

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...