PuroClean executives took to Capitol Hill in October for Franchise Action Network’s Annual Meeting. Steve White, President & COO, and Tim Courtney, Vice President of Franchise Development, spoke with members of Congress on pressing issues, such as the joint employer standard rule-making, brand trademark protection, and tax reform.
It is important to us that we share our voice with lawmakers to help promote and also protect our brand and our franchise owners. The Franchise Action Network and the International Franchise Association (IFA) have the ability to collectively “influence public policy and ensure that franchise businesses are well-represented in Congress, in the Administration, and in-state capitals across the country,” stated Liam Brown, IFA Chair.
The hot button issue on the agenda was the joint employer standard. On September 14th, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) announced its proposed rulemaking to establish the standard for determining whether two employers are a joint employer of a group of employees under the National Labor Relations Act. According to an email from IFA, the proposed rule would effectively reverse the much broader and vague definition set by the NLRB in 2015 when it changed the joint employer standard to include indirect or potential, unexercised control.
Shortly after Steve and Tim’s visit, the NLRB and its Chairman, John F. Ring, announced that they would move forward with the proposed rulemaking on the joint employer standard hopefully providing clear, long-term rules for our nation’s employers on joint employer. You can follow the progress at savelocalbusinesses.com but we will be sure to monitor the situation and inform you accordingly.
Political advocacy matters and we will never stop fighting for our dedicated franchise owners so that they can continue to serve their communities with peace of mind and focus on ensuring a successful future for themselves and their team members.