By Allegra A. Jones
California and New York recently became the first two states to protect employees from discrimination based on natural hair and hairstyles traditionally associated with a particular race. New Jersey law may follow. It is important for employers, such as bar and restaurant owners, to recognize policies or practices that could disproportionately
Latest from The Legal Dish
New California Laws In the Context of #MeToo
By Allegra A. Jones
On January 1, 2019, several new laws that were enacted in the wake of the #MeToo Movement will take effect in California. Employers may be impacted most by the new laws that require sexual harassment training of all employees – not just managers – and affect the confidentiality of settlements regarding
Summer Updates In California Employment Laws
By Allegra A. Jones
Summertime in San Francisco and other California cities brings legal updates that are taking effect on July 1, 2018. Employers in the restaurant and bar industries should ensure they are complying with the San Francisco Parity in Pay Ordinance (if applicable) and minimum wage increases. For example, employers affected by the
New Year’s Resolution for Restaurateurs and Bar Owners
By Allegra A. Jones
As 2017 comes to an end, sexual harassment allegations against celebrity chefs and restauranteurs continue to surface. In the bar and restaurant industry, where alcohol flows like water and employees toil away in close proximity under intense pressure, supervisor and employee misconduct is not entirely surprising.
The news media is covering
CaliBurger Copies In-N-Out and Wins
By Constantine Mittendorf
CaliBurger is an in international burger chain, and it seems to be winning after copying the In-N-Out formula. When CaliBurger opened in Shanghai in 2011, it openly copied the In-N-Out formula. It sold Double-Doubles (In-N-Out’s signature burger), Animal-Style fries (In-N-Out’s signature fries), and sodas with palm-trees printed on the cups (In-N-Out’s
Midyear Compliance Check-In for Restaurants and Bars in California
By Allegra A. Jones
Just like checking your smoke detector or the air in your car tires, checking in about employment law updates midyear is a great idea. Here’s a quick primer on some of the most significant, recent developments affecting restaurants and bars:
1. California’s Version of the Equal Pay Act. It’s a good
Dangers of Data-Mining in California Restaurants: Song-Beverly Credit Card Act
By Constantine Mittendorf
Data is hugely important in running a successful restaurant today. Targeted email marketing campaigns can be an invaluable marketing tool. But trying to collect too much data can land your bistro in hot water. California has specific laws limiting what data can and cannot be collected – restaurants need to be aware
Will Restaurants and Other Employers Implement the New Overtime Rule on Dec. 1?
By Allegra A. Jones
Employers nationwide, including those in the food and beverage industries, have been gearing up to implement the U.S. Department of Labor’s new overtime rule that was scheduled to take effect on December 1. But, shortly before the Thanksgiving holiday, a Texas federal judge decided to block it, potentially affecting more than 4
Is Your Restaurant or Bar Compliant with California’s Voting Laws?
By Allegra A. Jones
Since the 2016 election is less than one week away, all employers in California, including restaurants and bars, should have already posted the required notice informing employees of their right to time off to vote, either in the workplace or where it can be seen by employees as they enter or
A Bite-Sized Look at Ballot Measures in California for Restaurants
By Constantine Mittendorf
There are eighteen statewide ballot measures that Californians will be voting on this election cycle and countless local measures. While few items on the ballot directly affect the California restaurant industry as a whole, here are a few statewide and local measures to be aware of:
Soda and Sugar Sweetened Beverage Taxes