QSR Magazine: What’s at Stake in the 2016 Election

As the most unusual presidential race inches closer to the end, restaurant operators find themselves in a familiar struggle when choosing between the two candidates. According to a recent QSR Magazine article, the restaurant industry must look at a number of factors when deciding which candidate would be better for their business and their lives.

Issue number one for restaurants is labor regulations. Restaurants are always concerned about labor costs and recent regulations and pressures from federal government and local regulators have had widespread implications for operators.

“Whether it’s Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump or somebody else, they’re going to figure out a way to navigate,” Matt Haller senior vice president of communications and public affairs at the International Franchise Association says. “But these regulations do have consequences. Particularly in the labor space, the consequences are going to fall on the consumer, the employee, or the U.S. economy.”

The fight for a higher minimum wage is an important issue that is a cornerstone of the Clinton campaign while Trump’s policy is a little tougher to nail down in terms of specifics. As a businessman, he believes wages are “too high” but later said “I haven’t decided in terms of numbers.”

One issue restaurants may not be as tuned into but should be concerned about is the Supreme Court and who will be filling the vacancy. Whichever direction the court swings will have a lasting effect on the nation’s law decisions for decades to come.

Tax reform, which both candidates plan to reform in one way or another, is something most restaurant operators are watching closely.

“We know that certainly the current administration and Congress cannot come to an agreement,” says Cicely Simpson, the National Restaurant Association’s (NRA) executive vice president of policy and government affairs. “So the next president, whether that’s Mrs. Clinton or Mr. Trump, is going to have to tackle tax reform.”

Last but certainly not least, is Trump’s personality, comments, and often contradictory traits, which have been leaving many voters unsure of their decision when looking at the issues and what is better for their business versus their conscience.

Click here to read the full story.