Panera Is Not Exempted From California’s Fast Food Minimum Wage Law | Eater LA

"I found that the bakery chain Panera was at the center of conflicting reports about whether it would be exempt from California’s AB1228: Bloomberg reported on Feb. 28 that Panera would be exempt, but the next day a Gov. Newsom spokesperson told the Los Angeles Times that Panera would not be exempt and called the Bloomberg report “absurd.” The Times noted the exemption was intended only for bakeries that produce bread and dough on site (or bring it in), which would not include Panera, and Newsom’s team said their legal review indicates Panera is not exempt; Panera did not respond to requests for comment. Bloomberg suggested an exemption might benefit Greg Flynn, who controls more than two dozen Panera restaurants in California and is a longtime Newsom donor; Flynn denied asking for an exemption, saying he only suggested the bill’s definition exclude fast-casual bakeries and bagel shops, that such a narrow exemption has little practical value, and that his restaurants will likely need to offer market-value wages. The dispute prompted calls for investigation and drew attention to the broader political “sausage making” around the bill." - Rebecca Roland