Topic

Labor & Wages

30 articles

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Showing 1–20 of 30 articles

Chili’s traffic grows as margins widen
Finance & Economics

Chili’s traffic grows as margins widen

Traffic and margins rose at company-owned Chili’s restaurants. Annual labor figures explain how sales growth spreads costs.

OCT 28, 2026 · 2 MIN READ
Workers pay more for family health coverage at smaller firms
People & Culture

Workers pay more for family health coverage at smaller firms

KFF compares family premiums and worker contributions. Separate federal data distinguish benefit access from enrollment.

OCT 27, 2026 · 1 MIN READ
Grocery slowdown widens September’s inflation gap with restaurants
Finance & Economics

Grocery slowdown widens September’s inflation gap with restaurants

Limited-service annual inflation held at 3.2% as grocery inflation slowed to 1.8%. BLS also reported a monthly decline in real earnings.

OCT 14, 2026 · 3 MIN READ
Toast IQ Team connects AI scheduling with payroll
Technology & Innovation

Toast IQ Team connects AI scheduling with payroll

Toast’s new labor bundle connects schedule planning, recorded hours and payroll review.

OCT 8, 2026 · 3 MIN READ
Restaurants and bars added 10,800 jobs in September
People & Culture

Restaurants and bars added 10,800 jobs in September

September’s restaurant and bar payroll gain followed a revised increase in August.

OCT 2, 2026 · 4 MIN READ
Wendy’s operator Meritage plans closures, Fast Company reports
Finance & Economics

Wendy’s operator Meritage plans closures, Fast Company reports

Fast Company reports planned closures as Meritage’s bankruptcy proceedings continue.

SEP 25, 2026 · 2 MIN READ
Aspire’s first food-service trainees serve a practice lunch
People & Culture

Aspire’s first food-service trainees serve a practice lunch

Aspire’s first food-service cohort handled a three-course lunch, from taking orders to resetting tables, as part of its preparation for restaurant jobs.

SEP 22, 2026 · 3 MIN READ
Thrive put a Goodwill coach in nine restaurants
People & Culture

Thrive put a Goodwill coach in nine restaurants

More than 80 of about 300 Wichita employees used the coach in year one.

SEP 21, 2026 · 2 MIN READ
industry
Industry Analysis

Food-Service Payrolls Rebound in the First August Jobs Estimate

The September 4 release estimated 59,000 additional food-service jobs. Original release tables also show how July’s decline changed in revision.

SEP 4, 2026 · 3 MIN READ
people
People & Culture

Massachusetts cites Dunkin operator and staffing firms over worker pay

The $1.46 million assessment covers restitution for 100 employees and state penalties, with findings involving classification, pay and assignment notices.

SEP 3, 2026 · 3 MIN READ
industry
Industry Analysis

July Food-Service and Lodging Hires Nearly Matched Departures

July accommodation and food-service hires nearly matched separations. The September JOLTS release shows why stable headcount can still require substantial recruiting.

SEP 1, 2026 · 3 MIN READ
finance
Finance & Economics

Starbucks traffic rises as North American operating profit falls

North American revenue rose $421.1 million while operating income fell $68.4 million. A constant-margin comparison helps explain the size of the gap.

APR 28, 2026 · 3 MIN READ
industry
Industry Analysis

The Regulatory Reckoning: How New Franchise Rules Are Reshaping QSR in 2026

California's $20 minimum wage, the FTC's franchise disclosure crackdown, and a new wave of state-level legislation are changing the rules for QSR operators

MAR 19, 2026 · 6 MIN READ
people
People & Culture

The Next Generation of QSR Leaders: Gen Z Managers Want Different Things - And They're Getting Them

The generation that grew up with smartphones is reshaping what QSR management looks like — and the operators who adapt fastest will have a decisive talent advantage

MAR 19, 2026 · 8 MIN READ
operations
Operations & Management

The Small-Format Revolution: Why Drive-Thru-Only and Pickup-Focused Prototypes Are the New Growth Engine

The 4,000-square-foot dine-in box is dying. The chains that figure out 1,200 square feet will own the next decade of QSR expansion.

MAR 19, 2026 · 9 MIN READ
people
People & Culture

The Shift Manager Crisis: Why QSRs Are Losing Mid-Level Talent and What It Costs

The industry's obsession with crew-level turnover is masking a more expensive problem — the managers who train and retain those crews are leaving even faster

MAR 18, 2026 · 9 MIN READ
technology
Technology & Innovation

AI Demand Forecasting: How Chains Predict Tomorrow's Orders Today

Machine learning is transforming how restaurants predict traffic, schedule labor, and reduce waste — but adoption remains surprisingly uneven

MAR 18, 2026 · 9 MIN READ
operations
Operations & Management

Packaging Engineering: The $0.15 Decision That Makes or Breaks Delivery

Inside the overlooked science of keeping food hot, intact, and sustainable from kitchen to doorstep

MAR 18, 2026 · 8 MIN READ
people
People & Culture

The General Manager Exodus: QSR's Retention Crisis at the Most Critical Position

Store-level leaders are burning out and leaving faster than ever — and the math says it's costing the industry billions

MAR 18, 2026 · 8 MIN READ
How restaurant chains operate abroad
Industry Analysis

How restaurant chains operate abroad

Starbucks, Chipotle and McDonald’s illustrate different operating arrangements.

MAR 18, 2026 · 3 MIN READ