Orlando, FL – Earlier this week, United States Secretary of Labor, Eugene Scalia, attended the International Franchise Association’s (IFA) Annual Convention on franchising in Orlando, Florida. Secretary Scalia participated in a thoughtful Q&A discussion with FASTSIGNS CEO, Catherine Monson, on the final morning of the convention, February 11. They covered key topics related to franchising, including the joint employer rule and what the Department is doing to help franchise businesses and employees across the country. 

“IFA is honored to have Secretary Scalia at our largest event. The Department of Labor has led the way in creating a regulatory and economic environment that allows franchises the clarity needed to thrive,” said Robert Cresanti, IFA President and CEO. “We’re proud to be able to facilitate this discussion on ways that franchise businesses and the Department of Labor can work together to create jobs, grow the economy, and provide opportunity for all Americans.”

Under Secretary Scalia’s leadership, the DOL has quickly implemented rulemakings important to the franchise community, namely the joint employer standard and the overtime threshold. IFA is also a proud signatory of the Department’s Pledge to America’s Workers, committing through its member brands and their franchise owners to hire, train, or upskill more than 250,000 American workers over the next five years.

About the International Franchise Association

Celebrating 60 years of excellence, education and advocacy, the International Franchise Association is the world’s oldest and largest organization representing franchising worldwide. IFA works through its government relations and public policy, media relations and educational programs to protect, enhance and promote franchising and the more than 733,000 franchise establishments that support nearly 7.6 million direct jobs, $674.3 billion of economic output for the U.S. economy and 2.5 percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). IFA members include franchise companies in over 300 different business format categories, individual franchisees and companies that support the industry in marketing, law, technology and business development.

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