Episode 219: Delta Variant Threatens Restaurant Recovery Process and Poses New Risks for Industry

The Delta Variant is threatening to significantly disrupt the economy again just as the industry was showing signs of a meaningful recovery. And with it will bring new public affairs and employee relations challenges for operators including masks, immunizations and potentially the return of dining restrictions to name a few. We’ll take a look at what might be in store for restaurant owners both operationally and reputationally as the virus makes a comeback. And data continues to emerge on the impacts of supplemental unemployment benefits on the labor market. We’ll take a look at the latest information and discuss what could lay ahead for operators. And a new study by researchers at Notre Dame and Penn State examines the potential linkage between the practice of tipping and the increased risks of sexual harassment. We’ll discuss how these findings could lead to more extensive research and potentially place tipping itself under more scrutiny. We’ll discuss those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.