Announces support for Scott Mayer and James Murphy; Emphasizes a full Board will increase stability around joint employer and bring our nation’s labor policy

WASHINGTON D.C. – The International Franchise Association (IFA) today issued the following statement applauding the Trump Administration’s nominations of Scott Mayer and James Murphy to serve as members of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB):

“We commend the Trump Administration for prioritizing filling the vacancies at the NLRB and their outstanding selections to serve on the Board,” said Michael Layman, IFA Chief Advocacy Officer. “Under the Biden Administration, the NLRB expanded the harmful joint employer rule, threatening the viability of America’s 831,000 franchised small businesses. Personnel is policy, and an NLRB consisting of pro-growth appointees will support the future of the franchise business model, without the threat of it being dismantled.”

Currently, the NLRB has one Republican and one Democrat, along with two vacancies. Mayer, of Pennsylvania, was nominated for a five-year term expiring December 16, 2029, replacing the seat most recently held by Lauren McFerran, while Murphy, of Maryland, was nominated for the five-year term expiring December 16, 2027, replacing the seat most recently held John F. Ring.

The NLRB’s 2023 joint employer rule sought to expand the definition of joint employer to an ambiguous and overly broad standard that threatened the viability of the entire franchise model.

IFA led the lawsuit that resulted in the March 2024 federal court rejection of the NLRB’s 2023 joint employer rule. The 2023 joint employer rule would have significantly and unnecessarily affected the viability of the franchise model by imposing an unclear and expansive definition of joint employment. A previous joint employer rule destroyed 376,000 jobs, cost small businesses $33.3 billion, and led to a 93% spike in lawsuits in the franchise sector alone.

# # #

About the International Franchise Association:

Celebrating over 60 years of excellence, education, and advocacy, the International Franchise Association (IFA) 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 approximately 830,000 franchise establishments that support nearly 8.8 million direct jobs, $896.9 billion of economic output for the U.S. economy, and almost 3 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.