California Turns Fast Food Into Higher-Skilled Work
In response to the state’s new minimum wage law, companies accelerated the adoption of technology. Now workers aren’t expected to just flip burgers.
Fast food work can no longer be categorized as low-skill.
Photographer: Joshua Lott/BloombergThis article is for subscribers only.
California’s new fast food minimum wage law may be the thing that pushes the industry to churn out a higher-skilled workforce.
The law, which went into effect on Monday, will allow fast-food workers to earn at least $20 an hour — among the highest minimum wages. Some half a million workers across eateries such as McDonald’s Corp., Yum! Brands Inc.’s Pizza Hut, Subway Restaurants Inc., and Starbucks Corp. will see a pay bump, and for some people, their new pay could be as much as 25% more than what they were earning just last week.