Government Regulations and Policies and Their Affection the Restaurant Industry - Research Paper Example

 Government Regulations and Activist Groups affect Restaurant Industry There are federal, state and local government regulations that the restaurant industry has to put up with. The regulations are not only limited to the preparation and the sale of food but as well as the building and the zoning requirements. A restaurant company is also subject to a number of laws governing its relationship with employees, for instance. The law includes the working conditions, the safety conditions, the minimum wage requirements, the overtime pay, and the citizenship requirements.  Failure to comply with these regulations could greatly affect the company’s financial condition and operations. What does these government regulations and policies do to affect the restaurant industry? Government regulations help establish fair labor practice. The site business.gov, the Official Business Link to the U.S. Government, lists the legal issues as well as regulations affecting restaurant business. The regulations are not limited to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Child and Teen Labor, the Immigration, the Minimum wage, Tips, and Overtime, and the Taxes, but as well as the Nutritional Labeling, the Food Safety, and the Franchises and Business Opportunities. The ADA or Americans with Disabilities Act provides specific some challenges restaurant owners has to follow. As the same site put it, “employers must avoid discriminating against customers and employees with disabilities while obeying strict public health rules.” The government also provides guidelines publish on the site mentioned to “help restaurant owners comply with these requirements.” It also created guidelines on employing youth and their provisions as well as their safety. Laws on Immigration were also founded for the betterment of the state and its people. The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) establishes not only the teen and child labor but as well as the “minimum wage, overtime pay, and the record-keeping standards affecting full-time and part-time workers.” Furthermore, the government imposed taxes on the industry for the improvement of the state and its people. Laws on Franchises open opportunity for the progress of the company. Another aspect as to how the government affects restaurant industry is by imposing health regulations. A restaurant prepares and serves food for our consumption. Government imposed standard health requirements or regulations “to reduce the risk of food-borne illness” (Kudder 2002). The same source cited the following areas to be check: the source and labeling, temperature, cooking, cooling, thawing, employee health, handwashing and gloves, and cross-examination. Government restricts food choices that do not passed their examination. Restaurant operators no doubt have some ethical issues to consider in the business. However, some restaurant owners feel that the government policies are crippling their industry with its too many rules and regulations that gradually rise to a level. In addition, activists such as PETA and Greenpeace are present to guide the environment and that’s pressing on the situation. On their website, peta.org, PETA or People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals state their mission as “the largest animal rights organization in the world.” It focuses on factory farms, laboratories, clothing trade and entertainment industry. According to the same site, PETA “works through public education, cruelty investigations, research, animal rescue, legislation, special events, celebrity involvement, and protest campaigns. In what way this group affects the restaurant industry? Turner (2009) wrote on Florida Times-Union about PETA associating a city Jacksonville as “meat-eating with obesity”. The group created a drawing slogan depicting an obese woman in a bikini with messages “Save the Whales” and “Lose the blubber” on the background. The organization tried to feed off body insecurities to deliver the messages of not eating meat. There are many meat lovers even before the ad was made public. It could affect the minds and perception of individuals that are conscious of their beauty and bodily appearance specifically those that are cognizant with their figure and health. It somewhat meant to make the public anxious of animal rights. It influences an individual’s desire to have what is needed and what is being wanted by the body. It definitely affects the restaurant industry in a sense that it discourages prospected customers on eating meat. However, we all know our body needs some proteins. The industry has several regulations mandated by the government that promoted human responsibility as well as protect consumer choices. The group’s act of protest could mean less revenue for the industry. But then again, consumers are becoming even wiser nowadays and companies must understand their “social responsibility”. Consumer not only purchase on the basis of value but as well as on the basis of “social responsibility” and that includes proper treatment of animals. Restaurant industry needs to weigh things down. Another activist group is Greenpeace. On their website, greenpeace.org, they state their mission as “an independent global campaigning organization that acts to change attitudes and behavior, to protect and conserve the environment and to promote peace by catalyzing an energy revolution, defending our oceans, protecting the world’s ancient forests, working for disarmament and peace, creating a toxic free future, and campaigning for sustainable agriculture.” It “ensures the ability of the earth to nurture life in all its diversity” and “stop degradation of the planet’s natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature”. In similar with PETA, Greenpeace have its own issues against the restaurant industry. The organization wanted to ban some sources of recipes such as the blue fin tuna and salmon. Japan, for instance, greatly needed this fish for they are sushi-loving country. On the other hand, organic agriculture is term unhealthy. Some believe these are just laid out propagandas. To solve conflicts on environment problem, several summits have been held. This is to discuss important issues on environmental food issue. The messages on the summits give out almost the same effect as the PETA activists. In general, the restaurant industry has wide variety of obstacles. All based on scientific justifications wrapped up in the messages of activist groups. It’s definitely changing the way people make choices of their food preference. Works Cited: “Restaurants and Food Service Business.” 16 April 2010. Kudder, James E. “Regulation affecting Restaurants.” Encyclopedia of Public Health. 2002. < http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-3404000726.html > Turner, Kevin.” PETA billboard targets obesity, draws criticism” Florida times-Union. Jacksonville. 20 August 2009. < http://www.allbusiness.com/society-social/animals-society-animal-rights/12700306-1.html > Read More