Clarifies employer rules for franchise businesses, aiming to protect them.
Right now, there's confusion about when a main company (a franchisor) is considered a "joint employer" alongside its local business owners (franchisees). This bill would set clear limits on when a franchisor is responsible for employees of its local businesses. This aims to help franchise businesses continue operating as they do today, affecting millions of workers.
Today, the rules for when a main company (franchisor) is considered a "joint employer" with its local businesses (franchisees) are unclear, leading to legal uncertainty. If this bill becomes law, a franchisor would only be a "joint employer" if it has direct and significant control over specific employment decisions like wages or hiring, not just general brand standards. This aims to protect the business model that generated about $825 billion in 2022 and employs about 8.4 million workers.
S 3525 · 119th Congress · December 17, 2025 · AI Summary by gemini-2.5-flash · 9/10
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45 filings mentioned this bill
Amounts reflect total quarterly lobbying spend reported to the Senate, not bill-specific spending. Source: Senate LDA filings.