Responsible Restaurant Act Fact Sheet
Analysis
Promoting Good Jobs in New Yorks Restaurant Industry:
The Responsible Restaurant Act
Lead Sponsors: Council Members Eric Gioia and Rosie Mendez
New York City is Americas restaurant capital. Whether its in Union Square or Jackson Heights, our
multitude of great restaurants makes New York one of the worlds foremost food destinations. And
the restaurant industry is a key part of our economy, providing jobs for more than 165,000 New
Yorkers and serving millions of patrons each week. Thats why its so important to ensure that our
restaurants act responsibly and follow the law.
The Problem: Too many restaurants are cutting costs by violating basic employment laws.
? Research shows that many restaurants pay less than the minimum wage and dont pay
overtimeand some discriminate in hiring and promotions.
? This undermines New York Citys workforce and its economy, and is unfair to the majority of
responsible restaurants that are playing by the rules.
The Solution: New York City can reverse this trend through the Responsible Restaurant Act.
The Responsible Restaurant Act builds upon the Citys existing legal authority to deny or temporarily
suspend a restaurants permit for good cause, including its established record of violating the law.
Specifically:
(1) It creates a process to help the City decide whether to grant or renew a restaurants operating
permit, including consideration of its record of employment law violations; and
(2) It provides the City more information about a restaurants history of employment law
violations:
Restaurants will disclose their employment law violations when applying for or
renewing an operating permit;
The public may submit written comments regarding a restaurants record of complying
with employment laws; and
The City may also hold a public hearing to gather more information especially for
restaurants with a clear record of violating these basic employment laws.
By enacting the Responsible Restaurant Act, New York can make clear that compliance with basic
employment laws is not optional and help to promote a strong restaurant industry.
For more information on the Responsible Restaurant Act, please contact Raj Nayak at the Brennan
Center Strategic Fund: 212-992-8639 or .