Culver’s CEO Suggests Increasing Minimum Wage For Adults

The CEO of Culver’s, a major Wisconsin-based restaurant chain, says he would support an increase in the minimum wage if it is tied to a separate youth wage. Craig Culver thinks the two-tiered idea could break the impasse on the issue.

Craig Culver, the CEO and co-founder of Sauk City-based Culver’s Restaurants, says he is in favor of raising the minimum wage to $10.10 an hour — or even higher — if there is a separate, lower minimum wage for young people.

“What I would like to see done is a two-tiered minimum wage, a youth wage,” Culver said. “[For] those 14-, 15-, 16-, 17-year olds, a wage for them, and that could be what it currently is, or $8.00 an hour or something like that, $8.50 an hour.

“Then a wage for those 18 and older, or 19 and older… and that could be $10.10 an hour, that could be $12.00 an hour,” he continued.

Culver says a minimum wage increase is in line with his company’s philosophy.

“We do pay our people more than I’m pretty sure most of our competitors do, and we also have health benefits for our team members as well,” Culver said. “Yes, we’re in the restaurant business, but most importantly, we’re in the people business.”

President Obama’s proposal to raise the minimum wage to $10.10 an hour is being challenged by conservatives who think the proposal would be too expensive for small businesses, particularly those that hire younger workers. Craig Culver says a separate youth wage could break the national political impasse.

“I’d like to see a two-tiered system. Nobody’s really talking about it. I really believe [if] somebody really brings that to the forefront, I think that would fly,” Culver said.

In two weeks, Culver’s will mark a milestone by opening its 500th restaurant. The company now has franchises in 21 states.