OPINION:
According to the National Federation of Independent Businesses, small-business optimism is now at its lowest level in the past 10 years and, excluding the Great Recession, optimism is at a historical trough, with the majority of owners surveyed saying that they “remain doubtful that business conditions will get better in the coming months.”
Can you blame them? Sure, inflation is a worry. So is labor. But another big reason why so many business owners are depressed is that it’s not very fun — or as profitable — to run their companies this year in the current anti-business environment. We already know the Biden administration is implementing new rules and regulations that will affect us at the federal level. But that’s not all, folks! A regulatory tsunami of more regulations is on its way across the country and particularly in blue states.
Here are just a few examples.
The minimum wage is now as high as $16.10 per hour in some places.
Workers in more than 20 states have seen minimum wage increases in 2023. Nine states will require $15 per hour. California will reach $15.50 per hour, and the District of Columbia will be at $16.10 per hour.
Illinois is now mandating vacation for any reason.
A new law in Illinois now requires all employers there to provide up to 40 hours of annual mandated paid leave — regardless of reason — to their employees. The state also requires additional meals and a “day of rest” for every seven days worked and increases fines for...
Dish Wireless LLC agreed to pay roughly $17 million to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act, common law, and the Communications Act of 1934 relating to claims submitted to Fed...