McDonald's-NLRB settlement sidesteps 'joint employer' issue

A settlement announced Monday between McDonald’s Corp. and the National Labor Relations Board does not answer whether the corporation is considered a “joint employer” with its franchisees, which significantly expands a company’s legal liability.

The announced deal nevertheless represents the latest effort by the board under President Trump to undo the activist, pro-union stance the board, the federal government’s top labor law enforcement agency, took during President Barack Obama’s administration, especially involving the joint employer issue.