Washington D.C. – Today the Employment Policies Institute (EPI) released the results of a national survey conducted by CorCom Inc. of employees of CKE Restaurants (Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s) franchisees. The results show overwhelming job satisfaction among employees of the company's franchisees, with a majority of employees strongly agreeing that they feel safe and respected in the workplace, and have ample opportunity to move up. […]

Washington D.C. – Today the Employment Policies Institute (EPI) is highlighting the 42 state and local minimum wage increases taking place on either December 31st or January 1st. Nineteen states are raising their starter wages on New Year’s Day, with Arizona (24 percent increase), Maine (20 percent), and Washington state (16 percent) having the dubious distinction of the largest increases. Twenty-three localities, including 12 cities in California, […]

Washington D.C. – Today the Employment Policies Institute (EPI) released new polling data about Maine voters’ knowledge of Election Day’s Minimum Wage ballot measure, Question 4. The poll, conducted with Google’s Consumer Survey tool of 500 Maine residents who voted on the ballot measure, found that one-quarter of “yes” voters did not understand that it also eliminated the tip credit, raising the base wage for […]

Washington D.C. – Today, the Employment Policies Institute (EPI) is highlighting a study by Dr. Thomas Ahn of the University of Kentucky examining the effects of Connecticut’s first-in-the-nation state paid sick leave policy passed in 2011. In the most robust and extensive analysis of the policy to date, Dr. Ahn analyzes the data available thus far and concludes that the policy reduced the number of hours worked by […]

Washington D.C. – Today, the Employment Policies Institute (EPI) criticized the New York City Council’s  inflexible work scheduling bill and “Worker Empowerment” labor union organizing bill, both of which are being introduced today. Among other provisions, the curiously-named Fair Work Week bill would require fast food employers to post shift schedules at least two weeks in advance and pay a penalty for any subsequent changes. The […]

Washington D.C. – Today, the Employment Policies Institute (EPI) released four new mini-documentaries featuring victims of dramatic minimum wage increases. As another round of coordinated minimum wage protests occur tomorrow, the consequences of dramatic starter wage increases -- including lost jobs, reduced hours, and business closures -- are playing out in real time. EPI has been documenting these consequences through its project Faces of $15. The stories […]