"Lalito, a small restaurant in Chinatown, has made staffing changes in response to the wage increases. Previously, Lalito had two servers on the floor, but now operates with only one, equipped with a handheld POS system, to manage labor costs. The reduction in staff has increased labor costs by about 10 percent, raising them from 30 to 35 percent to 40 to 45 percent of sales. These changes have also led to a 10 to 15 percent increase in menu prices, reflecting the ripple effect of increased costs from suppliers." - M. Tara Crowl
