Seattle’s minimum wage will rise to $22.14 an hour on Jan. 1, 2027, under the city’s annual inflation adjustment. Ahead of that increase, the owner of Penelope & The Beauty Bar at the Fairmont Olympic Hotel has frozen hiring and turned to artificial intelligence for some work, according to Seattle Red 770 AM.
On “The Jake and Spike Show” on KIRO Newsradio, Seattle Red 770 AM host Jason Rantz questioned how much businesses can charge to cover labor costs, while co-hosts Jake Skorheim and Spike O’Neill discussed hiring opportunities and raises for experienced employees.
“At some point, I think everyone kind of understands there’s a limit to how much people will pay for whatever product or service that you’re offering,” Rantz said. “The same is true of a facial at a high-end spa. There’s only so much people will be willing to spend.”
Rantz details spa staffing changes
Rantz described changes the spa began making before the latest wage announcement…