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Atlas Restaurant Group raises minimum wage to $15 an hour

The wage increase will impact about 30% of the company’s workforce in Maryland, Texas and Florida

Holly Petre, Assistant Digital Editor

August 12, 2021

2 Min Read
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OUZO BAY

As the Fight for $15 wages on in the federal government, Atlas Restaurant Group — parent to 21 concepts across Washington D.C., Maryland, Texas and Florida — announced on Thursday it would be increasing minimum wage at the concepts from $12 an hour to $15 an hour.

According to the company, this move will impact around 30% of its 1,200 employees in three states. Atlas’ tipped employees — who will remain tipped — will be guaranteed $15 an hour minimum with tips every night.

“We are making these changes because higher wages will improve the standard of living for our hardworking team members,” said Atlas Restaurant Group founder and CEO Alex Smith in a statement. “We recognize the hardships that employees of the restaurant and hospitality industries have experienced as a result of the pandemic. With this in mind, we are working hard to implement solutions to offer our Atlas team members more financial stability and a greater sense of security for themselves and their families. Bottom line, it is the right thing to do.”

The current minimum wage in Atlas’ states is $11.75 in Maryland, $7.25 in Texas, and $10.00 in Florida. The minimum wage in Washington D.C. is already $15 an hour.

Atlas joins fast-casual HipCityVeg and big chains like Chipotle, which recently made headlines for announcing it would be paying employees an average of $15 an hour minimum wage across its stores.

Atlas Restaurant Group is also offering a $250 bonus to all new employees who remain with the company for more than 90 days.

Additionally, Atlas Restaurant Group is offering to pay for 50% of the following benefits: medical, dental and vision insurance; teladoc; short-term disability insurance; critical accident and illness insurance; and pet insurance. The company covers at 100% a mental health benefit for all employees and household members, as well as life insurance in the amount of $50,000 for all employees. 

Atlas Restaurant Group owns The Elk Room, Tagliata, The Lollipop, Watershed, The Admiral’s Cup, Loch Bar, Harbor East, Ouzo Beach, Atlas Fish Market, Perennial, Cunningham’s Café & Bakery, Monarque, Atlas Farms, Maximón, The Choptank, Bygone, Italian Disco, Ouzo Bay and Azumi.

About the Author

Holly Petre

Assistant Digital Editor

Holly Petre is a digital editor for Nation’s Restaurant News as well as the host of NRN’s podcast, Extra Serving, and producer for Informa Restaurant and Food Group’s other three podcasts, One On One by Food Management, Off the Shelf with SN and In the Kitchen with Bret Thorn. Holly holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts with a concentration in Sculpture, fibers and Material Studies and Ceramics from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. A native New Yorker, Holly enjoys her place on staff as the resident pop-culture expert and millennial with a sassy attitude and great sense of style.

Holly Petre’s work on Nation’s Restaurant News and Restaurant Hospitality often covers marketing and trends, either aimed-at or examined-through the millennial mindset. Holly is responsible for introducing TikTok and Twitch to NRN and RH readers as well as explaining terms like “Karen” to staff and readers alike. She also spends her time on staff trying not to make every headline a pun.

Holly Petre hasn’t spoken at any events or on panels, but she is readily available with a killer shoe wardrobe and several witty quips.

 

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