President Donald Trump has no problem serving loads of fast food to victorious athletes visiting the White House, but his record at serving the fast food workers who serve him leaves a lot to be desired.
In addition to dismissing fast food workers who fight for an increased minimum wage, the Trump administration is now issuing a federal rule designed to make it harder for employees of fast food chains to sue franchise-based companies like McDonald's.
A sharp turn away from legal guidance issued by the Obama administration, the Joint Employer Rule raises the standards for workers to sue a company as a whole rather than just the owner of an individual franchise.
The new rule advises four criteria for the franchised entity to control in order to be considered a joint employer of an individual worker.
The Department of Labor, headed by Eugene Scalia, says those criteria are whether or not the entity
"(1) hires or fires the employee; (2) supervises and controls the employee's work schedule or conditions of employment to a substantial degree; (3) determines the employee's rate and method of payment; and (4) maintains the employee's employment records"
This will inevitably make it harder for individual workers to hold franchise-based entities accountable for wage disputes and overtime work.
While the fast food industry is hailing the change, everyday Americans are not.
Just another victory for the Trump administration against working people.
Jane Rosenberg
Jane Rosenberg
