California Lawmakers Scramble To Carve Out Exemptions for New Minimum Wage Law Following ‘Panera-Gate’ Scandal Implicating Governor Newsom

The non-exempt businesses, however, are already laying off employees, reducing hours, and turning to technology to offset the increased costs from the wage hikes.

AP/Richard Vogel
A Panera Bread sign and logo is attached to the outside of a Panera Bread restaurant location in the Studio City section of Los Angeles. AP/Richard Vogel

California businesses are planning to cut hundreds of jobs in an effort to reduce costs ahead of the state’s new $20 fast food minimum wage standards going into effect on April 1. 

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