The National Labor Relations Board holds its first hearings today holding a franchiser accountable for working conditions at its franchisees as a joint employer. McDonald's will attempt to counter charges it has mistreated workers at its franchises who complained about wages and working conditions. The joint employer designation has proved a flashpoint for both labor leaders and business organizations alike. McDonald's and other franchise businesses believe the designation by the NLRB arises from a fundamentally flawed understanding of the franchise model. Labor organizers however hope a decision against McDonald's in the hearings will result in broader negotiations industry wide for improved conditions at franchises.
See "McDonald's Considered "Joint Employer" As Landmark National Labor Relations Board Hearings Begin", Cole Stangler, International Business Times, March 29, 2015