“Best of Times . . . and Worst of Times” – AAFD Closes a Watershed Year!
To quote Charles Dickens opening in his epic Tale of Two Cities, “It was the Best of Times and Worst of times.” This can certainly be said of the AAFD’s ... Read More →
Statement of Personal Support of the Nomination of David Weil to the DOL
Several AAFD members have reached out to the AAFD for guidance on our position on President Biden’s nomination of Professor David Weil to again serve as the Administrator of the Wage and Hour Division of the Department of Labor (DOL). Weil held this position previously in the Obama administration and he created controversy by announcing that franchisors that exert excessive control over their franchise networks may be classified as joint employers of franchisee employees.
The Joint Employer Conundrum
The AAFD was founded in 1992 in reaction to an ongoing degradation and deterioration of franchisee rights and equity that had been evolving for many years. The actual premise for ... Read More →
Should You Allow Franchisees Who Are Connected to Your Franchisor to Join Your Association?
Recruiting is always a top priority for franchisee associations, but what happens if you receive interest from franchisees who are connected to your franchisor, such as family members or franchisees who are also employed by the franchisor? This issue of whether to allow franchisees who are especially loyal to a franchisor to join an association was a recent subject of a ‘heated’ dialogue on the American Bar Association Forum on Franchise Law. Some franchisee advocates argued that franchisor friendly franchisees should be barred from association membership as they are innately adverse to an association’s goals and objectives.
Join an AAFD Action Task Force and Fight for the Cause of Fair Franchising!
Do you want to help fix the biggest challenges that franchisees face? Then sign up to participate in an AAFD Action Task Force!
Meet US in St. Louis! Our AAFD Franchisee Leadership Summit Venue is Top Notch
I have recently returned froma site visit to the Chase Park Plaza Royal Sonesta Hotel in St. Louis. The Chase Park will host the 2018 AAFD Franchisee Leadership Summit and Conference this October 21-24. I am happy to report to prospective attendees and delegates that we are in for a wonderful experience – a great venue and a great city.
Will My Franchisor Retaliate If I Join a Franchisee Association?
The AAFD hears frequent concerns from franchisees as they contemplate creating or joining a franchisee association. One of the most common fears is franchisor retribution. While these concerns are understandable, franchisees need to know that the law of the United States is on their side and that their franchisor cannot legally retaliate against members of a franchisee association. Additionally, the AAFD has developed and helped implement successful strategies to address and protect against attempts at franchisor coercion or punishment.
Department of Labor Withdraws Joint Employer Doctrine…a Mixed Blessing for Franchisees?
On Wednesday, June 7th, The Department of Labor made the expected announcement that the Trump administration is withdrawing the Obama era joint employer doctrine. This action is a mixed blessing for franchisees. On the one hand, the threat of joint employer classification has clearly negatively impacted many franchisees, including triggering the withdrawal of vital HR support by many “threatened” franchisors.
California Governor Vetoes Fair Franchising Legislation SB610
It is with disappointment and frustration that I report that California’s Governor, Jerry Brown, has vetoed legislation that would have protected franchisee equity and guaranteed the right of franchise owners ... Read More →
SB610 passes Assembly
This is a small but very important victory for franchisees everywhere. Notwithstanding a major opposition from the International Franchise Association, franchisee interests I have received a major boost from the ... Read More →
