Los Angeles CNN —A Panera Bread franchise owner in California said he will raise the minimum wage for his employees after accusations he benefited from ties to the state’s governor to avoid hiking pay.
A new state minimum wage law exempts certain businesses that make and sell bread – a carveout that critics contended benefited Greg Flynn, a billionaire Panera franchise owner who attended high school with Democratic California Gov.
On Tuesday, Flynn told CNN that he has decided to raise the minimum pre-tip wage at all of his Panera Bread locations to $20 per hour, regardless of whether his fast-casual bakeries are exempt from the new minimum wage law or not.
“At Flynn Group, we are in the people business and believe our people are our most valuable assets,” Flynn said.
However, Flynn said he never personally met with Newsom about the minimum wage bill, though he did meet with Newsom’s staff and a group of other restaurant owners to discuss it.
Persons:
Greg Flynn, Gavin Newsom, Flynn, “, ” Flynn, Newsom, ”, Alex Stack
Organizations:
Los Angeles CNN, Democratic California Gov, CNN, Flynn Group
Locations:
California