From the National Restaurant Association: According to a report issued by the Bureau of Labor Statistics weekly average hours of nonmanager employees at foodservice establishments have risen for the first time in seven years. On a year-to-date basis, ended September 2011, the number of hours worked by those nonsupervisory employees increased 0.5 percent, compared with no changes or declines in each of the six years prior. This is positive news for the franchise industry since the majority of foodservice businesses are franchise operated. Read more