Health Care Service Group

Technology and hospitality may not seem as though they work together very well. Most of the tasks are more hands-on, do this now sort of things. However, new ways of accomplishing "old-school" tasks are being invented almost daily. The era of technology being exclusive to the Jetsons is long gone. Advanced robotic vacuums and mops are continuously evolving, providing us with more time to focus on more important tasks. These intelligent gadgets can be easily programmed to clean designated areas at specific times, effortlessly eliminating dust and spills. With the integration of smart home systems, cleaning can even be initiated through voice commands, adding an extra level of convenience. The vacuum does the work while a housekeeper monitors how it performs to make sure standards are maintained. In this sort of a system, the housekeeper could monitor three or four of these smart vacuums at once. This would certainly increase efficiency.

The U.S. Senate recently took action to overturn the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB)'s joint employer rule, which had significant implications for businesses and workers. Let’s delve into the details: Background on the Joint Employer Rule: In late October 2023, the NLRB released a final rule that expanded the circumstances under which a company could be considered a joint employer. The new rule created uncertainty for small and local businesses by forcing liability on companies for another business’ employees, even if they did not directly manage them. Under the previous standard, a company could only be considered a joint employer if they had “direct and immediate” management over another business’ employees. However, the 2015 rule changed this to include “indirect” and “reserved” control, resulting in significant costs and job losses for franchises. In 2020, the Trump administration reverted to the longstanding “direct and immediate” standard, providing liability relief to businesses. ????????? Senate’s Action: On April 11, 2024, the U.S. Senate passed H.J. Res.98, a Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution of disapproval, to overturn the NLRB’s new joint employer rule. The resolution passed by a vote of 50 to 48. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) cosponsored and supported this resolution, emphasizing that the rule would negatively impact workers and businesses. North Dakota businesses, including Anytime Fitness and Great Clips, were directly affected by this rule and applauded Senator Cramer’s efforts to repeal it. ???????????????????Potential Veto and Implications: The resolution now awaits action from President Biden. If he chooses to veto it, Congress would need a two-thirds majority to overrule the veto. The White House has previously expressed concerns about interfering with workers’ bargaining rights. The joint employer rule would have held franchisors and franchisees jointly liable for labor terms and conditions, affecting scheduling, pay, and more. The business community and franchising associations have generally opposed the broadened joint employer rule, citing added costs and reduced independence for franchisees. In summary, the Senate’s vote aims to protect businesses and workers by overturning the NLRB’s joint employer rule, but the resolution’s fate now rests with President Biden.