What is the new minimum wage for fast food workers in California?
A new law in California will take effect on Monday, April 1, raising the minimum wage for fast food workers from an average of $16.60 per hour to $20.
It’s April fools’ Day on Monday, but the new minimum wage for fast food workers that will take effect on April 1 is no prank.
A new California law will increase the minimum salary for fast food workers from an average of $16.60 an hour to $20 per hour. Golden State employees who work in this sector will have the highest guaranteed base wage in the entire industry.
The minimum salary for all other workers in California is already among the highest in the country at $15.50 per hour.
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Do all restaurants need to pay the new $20 per hour minimum wage?
Not all fast food restaurants are required to provide the increase to their workers. According to the new law, the higher wage only applies to companies that have at least 60 locations all over the United States, except for restaurants that make their own bread on-site and sell it as a stand-alone menu item. Also exempted are restaurants that operate inside a grocery establishment.
The law will provide more financial security to a profession that has long been known to offer low pay. However, it could also result in higher prices in a state already known to be an expensive place to live.
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Some employers say that the bigger cost of salaries for their workers will likely be felt by their customers, as menu prices will most probably be raised to keep up with the higher minimum wage.
If an employee is not paid the new rate, they can file a legal claim with the labor commissioner.
The new law has other provisions aside from the increased minimum wage. It mandates the creation of a Fast Food Council that could hike that salary further annually through 2029.