California raises fast food minimum wage to $20, benefiting workers but concerning some chains

California is raising the minimum wage to $20/hr for fast food workers at chains with 60+ locations, affecting 500k+ people.

The 25% raise is a big win for low-paid fast food workers, but some chains are warning of imminent price hikes, job cuts, and automation.

Some franchise owners plan to reduce workers' hours to cut costs instead of jobs. Research on past minimum wage hikes shows cuts to hours is the main side effect.

Fast food workers like Sandra Jauregui are happy for the raise but anxious about potential downsides like fewer work hours.

It's a high-profile case study on how higher minimum wages spread through local economies, with lessons for other states and industries.