A common theme in Washington this year is partisan gridlock. Some political analysts believe the country continues to be in a state of constant electoral debate, even with 18 months before the next election. IFA staff are frequently confronted with the challenge of finding bipartisan energy to advance legislative solutions important to the franchise community, particularly on the evolving joint employer standard.

H.R. 1101, the Small Business Health Fairness Act, would allow small-business employers, including franchise owners, to offer health insurance benefits through membership in a legitimate trade association, including a franchise system.

Fix joint employer, avoid restrictions on franchise agreements and non-competes, apply new wages fairly, revise the tax code, establish a market-based health care system, increase access to credit and hire more veterans. Those seven initiatives will lead to additional business growth for the 733,000 existing franchise establishments and the creation of many more new locations that directly support more than 7.6 million jobs in the U.S. For those of us in franchising, sounds simple enough, right?

Nine states have enacted joint employer bills and 10 states are examining the issue in 2017.

New small-business health reimbursement rules provide a great opportunity to employers with fewer than 50 employees, who do not or are unable to offer group health insurance, to assist employees with rising medical costs.

New small-business health reimbursement rules provide a great opportunity to employers with fewer than 50 employees, who do not or are unable to offer group health insurance, to assist employees with rising medical costs.

An executive from a major franchise brand details how the company put in place practices to react to NLRB’s expanded definition of joint employer.

When governments insert themselves into business and unlevel the playing field, consumers ultimately suffer the consequences.

Robert Cresanti’s reflections on the 2016 presidential election.

The Obama Administration’s onerous new requirements are deterring many franchisees from doing business with the federal government and reducing the products and services available.