California Fast Food Workers Set to Receive Industry-Leading $20 Minimum Wage

A new law in California will raise the minimum wage for fast food workers to $20 per hour, providing financial security for many workers but also causing concerns for small business owners who may need to raise prices and cut staff. The law, a result of negotiations between the fast food industry and labor unions, applies to national chain restaurants with at least 60 establishments and exempts those operating inside grocery stores or producing and selling bread as a stand-alone item. Despite concerns, data from previous minimum wage increases in the state have shown positive employment effects, and some businesses, like Panera Bread, have already committed to paying their workers the new minimum wage.