Starbucks baristas in legal a battle with supervisors and assistant managers regarding who gets tips learned the outcome this week: Baristas must continue to share them with their supervisors, according to New York’s highest court.

Details on the ruling in the case, and more, in today’s Lunchtime Links.

Share the tips: In a ruling on Wednesday, the New York Court of Appeals held that Starbucks baristas must share tips with shift supervisors, who do similar work. However, they are not required to share them with the stores’ assistant managers. The New York State Restaurant Association, in a statement, said the decision is a win for all, as it offers clarity to 42,000 similar businesses across the state as well as a quarter-million hospitality workers. Rick Sampson, president of the association, said as much to the Associated Press: “In this business, many staff members share all kinds of responsibilities, and now we have an understanding of who can participate in the tip pool.”

Storyboard your ideas: Brainstorming allows the creativity to flow. Instead of using traditional pen and pad to jot down ideas, have your team use storyboards to see their ideas unfold scene by scene. Google Ventures’ Jake Knapp shares with Fast Company some tips for getting the process going. One place to start is with a trip to the past. “Because new ideas are so shiny and fresh, the facilitator needs to remind everyone to think old first. There’s no need to be embarrassed of that solution you thought of five months ago while eating a burrito or taking a shower,” writes Knapp.

Dive into mudvertising: Mud races are tough obstacle-challenges that encourage attendees to get down and dirty while testing their athletic abilities, but these events aren’t only for athletes: Advertisers and marketers are welcome. Adweek‘s David Gianatasio explains the unique way that these events mix mud and marketing: “Onsite brand activations, signage, and cobranded merchandise are fast becoming a part of the mix, too,” he writes. “The benefit for marketers is clear, as mudventure events attract demos brands crave.” As more brands get involved with sponsorship and promotional activities during these events, more marketing professionals are finding themselves diving into “mudvertising.” Aside from the promotional elements, companies also use the events as fun ways to get out of the office and create new experiences worth sharing on their brands’ social media channels. An interesting approach that could provide some inspiration for your own marketing strategy, perhaps?

What’s on your radar today? Let us know in the comments.

(photo by by Jason Empey/Flickr)