Workforce

Why McDonald's is leaving the National Restaurant Association

Working Lunch: This week's political podcast takes a deeper dive into the parting of ways between the nation's largest restaurant chain and the industry's leading trade association. Is the tip credit in trouble?

In this week’s Working Lunch, Joe Kefauver and Franklin Coley of Align Public Strategies take a look at the announcement this week by McDonald’s CEO Chris Kempczinski that the nation’s largest restaurant chain is departing from the National Restaurant Association.

The reason? Kempczinski is not a fan of the tip credit, a policy the association has fought to protect for years. 

Kempczinski argues that the tip credit creates an unfair playing field for restaurants that accept tips if employers are allowed to pay a sub-minimum wage. And now with no taxes on tips, it creates an extra benefit, he said.

This episode explores what that policy disagreement will mean for both parties and the industry at large.

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