Friday, March 1, 2024

Gavin Newsom's office says Panera Bread is not exempt from the new law regarding minimum wage for fast food workers

AP:

[The governor's spokesperson] said to be exempt from the minimum wage law as a bakery, restaurants must produce bread for sale on site. The Governor’s Office said many chain bakeries, such as Panera Bread, mix dough at a centralized off-site location and then ship that dough to the restaurant for baking and sale.

...

[A Panera Bread franchisee who owns 24 Paneras in California] says its likely his restaurants will have to raise wages either way.

“Such a narrow exemption has very little practical value.