Tag Archives: Federal Regulations

by | October 19, 2012 · 6:46 am

Hospitality Industry Legal Risks: Florida-Based Restaurant Group Faces Five Separate "Federal Labor Law Class-Action Lawsuits"; Employees Required To Work "Off The Clock" And Skip Required Breaks

“…Lawsuits filed by the Mexican-American Legal and Education Fund accuse Darden Restaurants—which owns the Capital Grille, Red Lobster and Olive Garden chains—of violating state and federal labor laws…the suits claim the restaurants regularly ask employees to work off the clock, skip legally required breaks and report to work when sick…”

The world’s largest full-service restaurant ownership company faces five separate class-action lawsuits filed by a group that works to protect restaurant workers’ rights.

The litigation began as a single class-action lawsuit filed in federal court in Chicago, with state class-action claims covering workers in Illinois, as well as California, Florida, Maryland and New York. Eventually, the lawsuit was severed into five jurisdictions due to the large size of the classes and the complexity of the various state claims. Five regional U.S. District Courts will hear the cases.

The lawsuits were initiated by the Restaurant Opportunities Cen­­ters United, which seeks to improve wages and working conditions for low-wage restaurant workers.

For more:  http://www.businessmanagementdaily.com/33010/worker-advocates-cook-up-five-suits-against-restaurant-group

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Filed under Employment Practices Liability, Insurance, Labor Issues, Liability, Management And Ownership, Training

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by | January 14, 2012 · 2:10 am

Hospitality Industry Property Risks: Chicago Hotel Pool Remains Closed Due To Failure To Comply With Federal Law Requiring Drains To Be Fitted With Large Covers And Backup Systems

“…The law requires drains to be fitted with larger covers and backup systems. It affects all public pools and spas, including those at apartment and condo complexes, hotels and health clubs…Since the law went into effect, the commission first removed the backup requirement, then reinstated it, bowing to pressure from the industry and then to safety advocates…”

Sunlight still bathes the mosaic tile, terra-cotta fountain and potted palms at the Hotel InterContinental’s iconic indoor pool. But no bathers ripple the water. Stuck in regulatory purgatory, the pool has been closed since October.

The junior Olympic-sized pool is one of the better-known in the city and once drew famous visitors like “Tarzan” star Johnny Weissmuller. Now, it’s among nearly 300 public pools across Illinois still listed as noncompliant with federal regulations designed to reduce the risk of swimmers being sucked into drains and drowning.

Hotel officials say their pool will reopen soon. And many of the other facilities are outdoors and would be closed in winter, anyway. But with so many affected sites, expensive fixes and delays in getting state approval, some pool operators wonder if they’ll be ready come spring.

For more: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/ct-met-pool-drains-update-20120115,0,7498748.story

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Filed under Guest Issues, Health, Injuries, Insurance, Liability, Maintenance, Pool And Spa

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by | October 16, 2011 · 7:06 am

Hospitality Industry Legal Risks: "Enabling Independence: Service For Guest With Disabilities" Outlines "Americans With Disabilities Act" (ADA) Compliance (Video)

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nIGw7QKOJnY&feature=player_embedded]

This video “Enabling Independence: Service for Guests with Disabilities” outlines how the American Disabilities Act (ADA)affects the hospitality industry. It highlights the unique needs of guests with various disabilities and identifies how lodging employees can accommodate their desire for independence. It also covers expanded ADA requirements regarding power-driven mobility devices, service animals, and practical steps you can take to ensure the safety and satisfaction of guests with disabilities.

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by | October 4, 2011 · 5:44 am

Hospitality Industry Employee Risks: Colorado Hotel Owners Sued By U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) For Firing White Workers In Favor Of Hispanic Workers

“…one of the fired employees was told she was being terminated because the hotel owners preferred non-American and non-Caucasian workers ‘because it was their impression that such workers are lazy’..”

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission is seeking back pay for employees that federal officials said were fired from a Hampton Inn franchise in Craig, Colo., according to the lawsuit filed last week.

Former employees at a western Colorado hotel said they were fired and replaced with Latino workers because the business owners thought white and non-Hispanic workers were lazy, according to a federal lawsuit announced Monday.

The lawsuit claims the general manager of the hotel was told by the business owners “to hire more qualified maids, and that they preferred maids to be Hispanic because in their opinion Hispanics worked harder.”

For more:  http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9Q51LLO1.htm

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by | July 15, 2011 · 6:36 am

Hospitality Industry Federal Law Compliance: Hotel Management Must Have Comprehensive Knowledge Of "Americans With Disabilities Act" (ADA) Regulations

For more:  http://www.ahla.com/knowledge/

 

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by | April 26, 2010 · 6:57 am

Hospitality Industry Pool Safety: Hotel Owners Must Comply With Federal Pool And Spa Safety Act Provisions

President George W. Bush signed into law the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act on Dec. 18, 2007, which requires public pools and spas to be equipped with safety devices to prevent such accidents.

The drain covers are designed to prevent someone from covering the entire drain and becoming entrapped. Suction-limiting devices are installed in the pool’s plumbing system and cause the pool’s motor to shut off if pressure rises in the piping, as it does in the case of a blocked drain.


(From an RRStar.com article)  In June 2002, a 7-year-old Virginia Graeme Baker found herself trapped against a hot tub floor drain. She was held under water until she drowned.

The suction created by the hot tub motor was so strong it required two men to free her from the bottom of the pool.

President George W. Bush signed into law the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act on Dec. 18, 2007, which requires public pools and spas to be equipped with safety devices to prevent such accidents.

After May 1, swimming pools and whirlpools that do not meet the new safety standards will not be permitted to operate. The law applies to pools operated by the Rockford Park District, the YMCA, the school districts and community centers — most of which are or soon will be in compliance.

The federal mandate is being enforced by the Consumer Product Safety Commission and the Illinois Department of Public Health, which regulates and renews licensing for swimming pools and whirlpool operations.

The law, named for the granddaughter of former Secretary of State James Baker, requires all pool drains to be equipped with anti-entanglement drain covers or suction-limiting devices.

http://www.rrstar.com/carousel/x1394807857/Rockford-area-pools-undergo-construction-to-comply-with-law

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