[central_va]

If you do the $15 minimum wage, it’s probably going to escalate to around $12.

That is crazy talk.

Labor is but one cost in a bigger production cost structure of food service in general. A $5.00 hamburger has many costs built in to the price. Labor is around $1.50 for a $5.00 hamburger. So is labor goes up 33% then the cost goes up 33% of $1.50 = $50. So the new price is now $5.50 and NOT $12.00!!!

[small farm girl]

Well, you cannot deny McDonalds has replaced about 30% their employees at all the rest stops on the MassPike and some percentage off it with kiosks and robotics. I read two years ago when they made the move, their break even point was $10.30/hr. Let's not forget all the taxes and additional workman's comp with these raises. It is not so simple to just add the additional dollar or two.
Also, when the newbies start at $15, the existing staff all want a raise too, and all the other people that service your business go up accordingly.