Janice R. Andrews
On April 1, workers’ hourly wages increased from $16 to $20, a huge change for the fast food business in California and a turning point for franchise owners and employees alike. Lawrence Cheng, who is in charge of multiple Wendy’s restaurants close to Los Angeles, is a prime example of the difficulties and adjustments being made.
Cheng, whose family oversees seven Wendy’s locations, quickly modified operations to meet the rising cost of labor. At his Fountain Valley location, he used to schedule about a dozen workers per shift; these days, just seven. “We kind of just cut where we can,” Cheng said, highlighting his own determination to make up for scheduling lapses in order to lessen the effects.
The hourly salary for workers went from $16 to $20 on April 1. This was a significant shift for the California fast food industry and a turning point for both franchise owners and employees. Leading several Wendy’s locations around Los Angeles, Lawrence Cheng, is a shining example of the challenges and changes being implemented.
Cheng swiftly adjusted operations to accommodate the growing cost of labor. Cheng’s family is in charge of seven Wendy’s sites. He used to schedule roughly a dozen people per shift at his Fountain Valley location; now days, he only schedules seven. “We kind of just cut where we can,” Cheng said, emphasizing his own will to make up for missed deadlines in an effort to mitigate the consequences.
Reflecting on the changes taken to maintain operations in the face of economic hardship, Chacon said, “I’ve been in this business for 25 years, and I never had to increase prices like I did this past April.” Although their venues continue to receive business, there have been discernible shifts in consumer spending patterns, with fewer add-ons such as drinks and desserts, indicating a tightening of belts.
Looking ahead, the summer months present a possible break, as they are usually buoyant with more dining out. Cheng is cautiously optimistic that the current financial pressures may be overcome by seasonal economic upticks.
In light of these wage improvements, California’s fast food business might be seen as a microcosm of larger economic changes. Franchisees continue to face difficulties adjusting to rising labor expenses, although early job data points to resiliency. The persistence of this trend depends on how business structures and customer behavior continue to change.
In conclusion, even though the $20 minimum wage is a significant development, it is yet unclear how it will affect the fast food industry as a whole. Operators such as Cheng and Chacon demonstrate resilience and adaptation in a changing economic climate as they navigate through these changes.
