Panel Says It's Time Fast-Food Employees in New York Receive a Major Pay Increase But does it make sense for New York to focus on fast-food industry wages in isolation?

By Kate Taylor

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Shutterstock.com

Fast-food restaurants in New York may soon be increasing employee pay – even if the statewide minimum wage doesn't increase.

On Monday, a panel organized by the New York state government to study fast-food wages revealed plans to recommend a substantial increase in worker pay to the state's Department of Labor.

The three members of the panel said research and public meetings led them to conclude that a change is necessary, though they are not yet prepared to make a full recommendation to the State Labor Department. Possible ideas suggested include raising minimum wage for fast-food workers to $15 an hour and creating a higher minimum wage for part-time workers to incentivize the hiring of full-time employees, reports the New York Daily News.

Related: Los Angeles Approves Minimum Wage Hike

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo directed the Department of Labor to establish a wage board to examine raising the minimum wage for fast-food workers in May. The panel stated that New York chose to focus on the fast-food industry due to an imbalance in what fast-food workers are paid, citing statistics such as the fact that 60 percent of fast-food workers in the state are enrolled in at least one public assistance program.

Meanwhile, the restaurant and wider franchise industry have opposed efforts to raise minimum wage that single out the fast-food industry.

"New York State can raise its minimum wage if it wants to. But it should not pick off one industry at a time," International Franchise Association President Steve Caldeira said in a statement on the issue in May. "Doing so would echo the ill-conceived action of the City of Seattle, which is being sued because it designed an unconstitutional minimum wage that rises faster for franchise businesses than other types of businesses."

The board's final recommendation is expected to be announced in July.

Related: How a No-Tipping Policy Helped This Restaurant Triple Profits in 2 Months

Kate Taylor

Reporter

Kate Taylor is a reporter at Business Insider. She was previously a reporter at Entrepreneur. Get in touch with tips and feedback on Twitter at @Kate_H_Taylor. 

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Celebrity Entrepreneurs

From Hollywood to Harvest — How Zooey Deschanel is on a Mission to Make Fresh Produce More Accessible

Along with her business partner and ex-husband, serial entrepreneur Jacob Pechenik, Deschanel founded Lettuce Grow. This hydroponic vertical garden system allows you to grow fruits, vegetables, herbs and edible flowers at home.

Leadership

Why Work-Life Balance Is Overrated — and What to Pursue Instead

Managing quality, not time, is the secret to thriving personally and professionally.

Marketing

How to Nail Your Product Messaging with This 8-Step Framework

Effective product messaging is clear, relevant and focused on solving customer problems, not just listing features.

Business News

You Can Download TikTok Again Through U.S. App Stores

Apple and Google initially pulled TikTok from their app stores on January 18.