California fast food workers have more voice in their industry and more protection under the new Fast Food Accountability and Standards Recovery Act. Gavin Newson signed the Fast Food Accountability and Standards Recovery Act into law in 2022, and it became effective on January 1, 20203. The FAST act is just one of several new California employment laws designed to give workers better protection.
What is the Fast Food Accountability and Standards Recovery Act?
The FAST act has several components that are designed to offer fast food industry more protection from workplace discrimination, exploitation, and wage theft. It’s one of the first labor laws that gives power to the workers themselves to enforce existing rules. Part of the FAST act states that fast food employers are forbidden to retaliate against workers who speak out about employer abuses and labor law violations.
Under the FAST act a council of fast-food workers will be formed, which workers throughout California getting the chance to vote on the council members. Any decisions made by the Fast Food Council will apply to all fast food restaurants with a 100 or more locations even if those locations are independently owned.
The council will be able to enforce penalties and call out violations of existing labor laws that protect workers. The inclusive nature of the Council will expand the ability of the Council to help fast food workers all over the state.
Who Makes Up the Fast Food Council?
The Fast Food Council will have 10 appointees including reps from the department of industrial relations, fast food franchisors and restaurant owners, fast food restaurant employees, advocated for fast food restaurant employees, and the governor’s office of business and economic development. By having members of all these different organizations on the Council the Council will be able to work together to find solutions to common problems that affect everyone in the industry as well as making sure that employers are obeying California employment laws.
What Can the Fast Food Council Do?
The Fast Food Council will hold fast food franchise owners accountable for obeying California employments laws and making sure that their workers aren’t being exploited. They will enforce minimum wage standards, laws regarding working hours, and wage theft.
They will also make and maintain changes to the health and safety standards in fast food restaurants that protect fast food workers. Solving problems within the Council will make it easier and more effective for the industry in general to lobby for better worker protections at the state level as well.
Get Help With Your Employment Law Claim
If you are a fast-food worker and you have been discriminated against by an employer or you have an employment claim against an employer or former employer the best thing you can do is talk to an experienced employment lawyer. Fill out the Free Case Evaluation above to get in touch with an independent, participating attorney who subscribes to the website.
