$10.50 in New York City and $9.75 for the rest of New York State for 2016 -- are the new minimum wage rate for fast food workers that was phased in on December 31, 2015. These new minimum wage rates apply to fast food establishments that primarily serve food or drinks such as coffee shops, juice shops, donut shops and ice cream parlors where customers order and pay before eating and is part of a chain of 30 or more locations, including individually owned establishments associated with a brand that has 30 or more locations nationally -- examples include Ben & Jerry’s, Chipotle, Dunkin Donuts, KFC, Jamba Juice and etc.
The increase in minimum wage affects everyone who works at a fast food chain. Moreover, the change applies to all fast food chain locations, regardless of ownership, if there are 30 or more locations nationally.