It looks like it is his real name though as a management lawyer, Joblove doesn't seem to note the irony.
Anyway, in the context of complaining about the NLRB's complaint involving McDonalds Corp. and whether it can be held liable for the unfair labor practices of its franchisees, Joblove wrote an anti-NLRB 'op-ed' in Monday's Miami Herald. Why they accepted it is beyond understanding, given its canned, slanted Chamber of Commerce and GOP talking points.
Under the squiggle is my response to his propaganda:
Sledgehammer? Puhleaze. Mr. Joblove, your statement that the franchisors do not make employment decisions is transparently incomplete. They may not make all the decisions, but they certainly reserve the right to oversee and reverse them. And, as for daily oversight? Micromanagement is the word which properly describes what commonly happens. Franchise owners often have no more authority than old-fashioned store managers. Nor do you bother to mention the drag which franchisors take from the franchisees. Profit? The franchise owner could make a decent profit if the franchisor didn't vacuum up all but the minimum gross to keep the franchisee from quitting. That means that the franchisor has a direct impact on the wages and working conditions of the employees since the franchisee is left with so little financial flexibility. The franchisor is certainly a joint employer if not the true employer. Your "op-ed" is disingenuous. It is only propaganda supporting your clients, not an effort to present the issue objectively.