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Working Lunch

Working Lunch is a podcast from Align Public Strategies devoted to explaining the so what and now what about key issues impacting the restaurant and retail industries.

Operations

Recent elections provide few clues of what will happen in 2024

 By Peter Romeo on May 19, 2023

Working Lunch: The mayoral contests yielded little insight on what's ahead for restaurants politically.

Workforce

The tip credit could have a powerful enemy in Chicago's new mayor

 By Peter Romeo on May 12, 2023

Working Lunch: Incoming chief Brandon Johnson has plans to push several measures that would have a big impact on restaurants.

Workforce

Child-labor violations are giving restaurants an even darker black eye

By Peter Romeo on May 08, 2023

Working Lunch: A few bad players are making the whole business look bad. And yet there's worse to come.

Consumer Trends

What restaurateurs can learn from the culture wars—including how to stay clear

By Peter Romeo on May 01, 2023

Working Lunch: The Bud Light and Disney controversies show how businesses can be sucked in.

Operations

Last week's kitchen ruling affects more than Berkeley restaurants

By Peter Romeo on Apr. 24, 2023

Working Lunch: A liberal court's ending of a local ban on gas-powered kitchen equipment was a win for restaurants everywhere.

Operations

There's far more than sizzle to Chipotle and Wendy's environmental moves

By Peter Romeo on Apr. 17, 2023

Working Lunch: Both of their newly announced initiatives add up to sound long-term business decisions.

Workforce

Will tipping's rapid spread make it an irresistible political target?

By Peter Romeo on Apr. 07, 2023

Working Lunch: Even unions can't seem to make up their minds on whether it's a good thing or a detriment to workers.

Workforce

When Mr. Schultz went to Washington

By Peter Romeo on Mar. 31, 2023

... And Mr. Sanders might've wished the coffee king had stayed home. The Working Lunch podcast weighs in on Howard Schultz's Senate hearing.

Workforce

What unionized Starbucks employees are demanding in their contracts

By Peter Romeo on Mar. 24, 2023

Working Lunch: The big ask is for a guarantee of 37 scheduled hours per week, set months in advance.

Financing

Restaurants turn to the states for relief on credit-card fees

By Peter Romeo on Mar. 20, 2023

Working Lunch: The argument against including sales taxes in the fee base is gaining traction.

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