With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Why In-N-Out Fast Food Workers Didn't Strike
Photo by jslander via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr
Growing up in Los Angeles, our dream high school job was working at In-N-Out. Not because of the double doubles (of course those were a perk too), but because of the relatively high wages compared to all the other entry level fast-food jobs a 15-year-old could acquire.
But because In-N-Out pays their workers $10.50 an hour, those jobs are hard to come by. Consequently, we went on to peddle pies at Marie Callender's, where the offering of fresh strawberry pies and home made whipped cream were a draw. There were no tips, but it was a fine first job nonetheless.
That makes In-N-Out the highest paying fast food chain in the country, and by a long shot. The second highest is Chipotle, which pays $8.53 an hour. The California minimum wage is $8/hour. The bennies don't stop there. Though managers at most fast food locations average at $48,000 per year, employees at In-N-Out can eventually work themselves up to $120,000. They also offer vision, medical and dental benefits to both their full- and part-time workers.
Now these high wages have become a topic of conversation because In-N-Out, a homegrown company that's privately owned company with no plans to expand as a national chain, didn't have employees that participated in the recent fast food workers strikes demanding livable wages.
Sponsored message
The reason is that the 65 year-old Irvine-based company, owned by billionaire Lynsi Torres, says it believes that their employees are worth investing in. Seems like quite an outlandish stance when compared to McDonald's insulting employee resource site that suggested its employees get a second job or sell their Christmas gifts for extra cash. (Though In-N-Out has inspired some other employers to pay their employees better.)
Carl Van Fleet, Vice President of Planning and Development for In-N-Outtold KCET in an interview earlier this year that because of their payment policy, they have a relatively low turnover "and that, of course, leads to a more experienced team working in our restaurants. The raises that our associates earn for mastering different positions makes it possible for them to earn more as they gain that experience."
Imagine that.
At LAist, we focus on what matters to our community: clear, fair, and transparent reporting that helps you make decisions with confidence and keeps powerful institutions accountable.
Your support for independent local news is critical. With federal funding for public media gone, LAist faces a $1.7 million yearly shortfall. Speaking frankly, how much reader support we receive now will determine the strength of this reliable source of local information now and for years to come.
This work is only possible with community support. Every investigation, service guide, and story is made possible by people like you who believe that local news is a public good and that everyone deserves access to trustworthy local information.
That’s why we’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Thank you for understanding how essential it is to have an informed community and standing up for free press.
Your support for independent local news is critical. With federal funding for public media gone, LAist faces a $1.7 million yearly shortfall. Speaking frankly, how much reader support we receive now will determine the strength of this reliable source of local information now and for years to come.
This work is only possible with community support. Every investigation, service guide, and story is made possible by people like you who believe that local news is a public good and that everyone deserves access to trustworthy local information.
That’s why we’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Thank you for understanding how essential it is to have an informed community and standing up for free press.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
