Free Republic

A few weeks back we pointed out a couple of the reasons that businesses are fleeing California by the 1,000's ("3 Simple Charts That Help Explain Why 9,000 Businesses Have Left California In Just 7 Years"). Clearly the implementation of a State-wide $15 minimum wage hasn't helped "lure" business owners. On Friday, Ashley Furniture's 840 employees working in the company's production and warehouse facility in Colton, California became the latest victims of California's minimum wage hike. Ashley announced they would be leaving open their retail store in Colton, but would be relocating the production facility that accounts for most of...

In response to a wrongful death lawsuit filed by Aileen Harbidge's family against Ashley Furniture HomeStore and its parent company, its CEO, Gary Seals, said the shooting death of their employee was a “heartbreaking situation” but denied the store was at fault. Seals called the lawsuit a “disappointing event,” according to a copy of the statement forwarded by a company spokeswoman. Harbidge “was a valued member of our team at the Fiesta Store in San Antonio and her death was a shock to us all,” he wrote. “Aileen always had a smile and a kind word for everyone. We miss...