Washington restaurant industry adapts to new minimum wage
Restaurateurs in the state of Washington are trying to deal with a recent change in time and attendance legislation that makes the state's minimum wage the highest in the country, the Edmonds Patch reports.
Minimum wage in the state - which rose by 37 cents to $9.04 on January 1 - is determined by the cost of living. For restaurant owners like Chad Mackay, president and COO of the Mackay Restaurant Group, the increase translates to an additional $50,000 per year.
"The increase in the minimum wage is one of these things that there's a real financial cost," he told the news source. "We have to run labor tighter."
Many of the state's restaurateurs are dealing with the new minimum wage by taking steps such as raising prices and reducing workers' hours.
However, industry veteran Ben Sheffield noted that it's important to balance reductions in employee attendance with other factors.
"Food quality and service can suffer when the front of the house is understaffed," he said, as quoted by the media outlet.
Minimum wage also increased on New Year's Day in Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Montana, Ohio, Oregon and Vermont.
Minimum wage in the state - which rose by 37 cents to $9.04 on January 1 - is determined by the cost of living. For restaurant owners like Chad Mackay, president and COO of the Mackay Restaurant Group, the increase translates to an additional $50,000 per year.
"The increase in the minimum wage is one of these things that there's a real financial cost," he told the news source. "We have to run labor tighter."
Many of the state's restaurateurs are dealing with the new minimum wage by taking steps such as raising prices and reducing workers' hours.
However, industry veteran Ben Sheffield noted that it's important to balance reductions in employee attendance with other factors.
"Food quality and service can suffer when the front of the house is understaffed," he said, as quoted by the media outlet.
Minimum wage also increased on New Year's Day in Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Montana, Ohio, Oregon and Vermont.
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