Today, California Gov. Jerry Brown's goal to increase the state's minimum wage to $15 is a reality-- as just this Monday a deal was reached between Brown and state legislators and was the measure passed on Thursday. This makes California the first in the United States to approve a statewide $15 minimum wage.Under the measure, minimum wage would be gradually increased up until Jan. 1, 2022. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo is also following suit for his state, pushing for $15 minimum wage in his latest budget. For full details click here.While this news proves to be a victory for labor unions and many workers, it goes without saying how large of a negative impact the hike will have on restaurants. For example, hiring, employee hours and menu prices may all be affected in order to maintain the wage increase.At Synergy, we implement strategies to help restaurants during these uncertain and stressful times. Please contact us to learn more about our programs.Photo credit: The All-Nite Images license CC by SA 2.0