Tag: Fast Food Accountability and Standards Recovery Act

Proposed California Bill Would Increase Rights of Fast-Food Employees The California State Assembly has passed a new bill that could bring significant changes for fast food employers. Assembly Bill NO. 257 (AB 257), the Fast Food Accountability and Standards Recovery Act, would, if passed by the state Senate and signed into law, potentially provide the more than 500,000 fast-food employees in the state with increased rights as well as new statutory requirements, and a Fast Food Sector Council within the California Department of Industrial Relations. Under AB 257, the Fast Food Sector Council would be entrusted with creating new standards for wages, hours, and working conditions for fast-food workers in restaurants with a minimum of thirty establishments anywhere in the U.S. These wage and hour standards will then be enforced by the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement and the health and safety standards will be enforced by the Division of Occupational Safety and Health, both of which are already responsible for enforcing these types of regulations. The governor and legislature will be responsible for appointing the eleven members of the Fast Food Sector Council. This council will include two representatives of fast-food restaurant employees and two advocates for these employees. In addition, fast-food franchisees and franchisors will each receive a single representative. The remaining five representatives will be from various state agencies, including the Department of Public Health and Cal/OSHA. This proposed makeup would mean that only two of the representatives in this council will be advocating for fast food employers. This Act will also establish certain statutory requirements that will place greater liability on the franchisor for the behavior of their franchisees. This would include the following: A franchisor would be responsible for ensuring that franchisees comply with certain employment, health, and safety requirements. This would include those relating to discrimination and compliance with the Fast Food Sector Council’s standards. A franchisor would be subject to certain laws established in this Act to the same extent as franchisees. A franchisor would be jointly and severally liable for certain violations committed by the franchisee. If the terms of a franchise agreement prevented or impeded compliance with applicable laws, regulations, rules, or orders, a franchisee would have a private right of action to seek injunctive relief and monetary damages against the franchisor. Employer Takeaways The FAST Recovery Act would have significant impacts on fast food employers. The effects would be broad, from changing compensation and workplace requirements to the relationship between a franchisor and franchisee. However, the State Senate has not passed the Act or signed into law by the governor, so it is uncertain if it will ever make it into law. Pre-employ can help your company stay in compliance with these new guidelines with free resources available to you. Download our guide on 5 Tips To Avoid FCRA Non-Compliance to discover more.

Tag: Fast Food Accountability and Standards Recovery Act

Proposed California Bill Would Increase Rights of Fast-Food Employees

Our Process

Our Platform

Screenings

For Your Industry

For Your Role

Webinar

Resources Library

Logins

E-Book

Services

Industry

Resources

Our Company