Oceanside Activities the Entire Family Can Enjoy The summer season is officially underway and many Americans are planning to take a trip to the beach to celebrate the occasion. If you’re going on a family vacation to the ocean for an extended period of time, you may be worried about keeping everyone entertained. That’s why we put together a list of some of our favorite oceanside activities to try this summer. Your summer vacation will be filled with fun and excitement after trying some of these great activities! Get active. There’s nothing more relaxing than sitting on the beach and listening to the calm repetition of the waves, but maybe you want a little more excitement by the ocean. If that’s the case, there are plenty of sports to try. You can bring a football and throw it around in the water or on the beach. You can buy a net and set up a game of beach volleyball to get everyone involved, or you can try one of the many new beachside sports hitting the market like TidalBall, pickleball, and Spikeball. TidalBall is the beach version of cornhole, so if you haven’t played it yet, you definitely want to check it out.
Experience nature. The wildlife and environment of the beach are most likely drastically different from what you can experience back home, so make an effort to see all you can. At many beaches, you’ll be able to see dolphins, whales, and sea rays from the shore. You can also look in the sand for crabs and small crustaceans. By simply standing still and taking in all of the sights and sounds of the ocean, you’ll gain a greater appreciation for the surroundings. Ride the waves. You don’t need to be an experienced surfer to venture into the water on a board. Of course, you can take surfing lessons at many beaches, but you can also get in the water on a bodyboard for a thrilling experience. Additionally, you can rent kayaks or paddleboards if you want to be on the water, but not necessarily in it.
Keeping It Above Board
WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT TIPPING LAW
Tipping service workers is hotter than ever, but failure to understand employment law can land franchisors in hot water. Allowing tips makes workers happy and leaves customers feeling like they’ve done something good, but the process requires careful management. If your business lets customers tip, you need to know how to keep everything above board. Laws vary by state, but it’s helpful to know the federal basics and what pitfalls to avoid. The primary federal law governing tipping is the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), which also covers rules regarding minimum wage, hours, overtime, and other work-related conditions. First and foremost, it makes clear that tips belong to employees, not business owners. Employers cannot keep tip money, share it with managers, or use it to offset the cost of doing business.
The law allows for a tip credit, which entitles businesses to pay their employees $2.13 per hour, so long as the worker’s full wages with tips total minimum wage or higher. Generally, only full-service restaurants use the tip credit. But if you do, you should know that the Department of Labor created new rules in 2020. Businesses that use the tax credit can only include tipped workers in a tipping pool and cannot use it to pay back of house staff. Tip pools involve all tips being combined into a single pot and split evenly among a group of employees. It is often the easiest and most equitable way to distribute tip money in restaurants with counter service. This way, workers won’t need to fight over whether to work the counter or the grill, and each contribution to the customer’s experience is considered roughly equal.
As cash tip jars fall by the wayside, employers have developed new concerns about credit card processing fees. The Department of Labor has determined that businesses may withhold the amount of the processing fee from the tipped employee. Some states, like California, have stricter laws mandating that the employer cover the processing fee and provide workers with the entire tip. More rules and regulations apply. Tip pools must distribute tips at least as often as they pay wages, and businesses that do not take the tip credit still have record- keeping requirements. Allowing tipping in your establishment has numerous advantages, but the process comes with many responsibilities. Make sure you’re up to date on your state and federal obligations to avoid an investigation — or worse.
2
westcoastfranchiselaw.com
Made with FlippingBook Ebook Creator