[nascarnation]

I suspect in 10 yrs the typical fast food place will have 2 employees per shift, basically to do logistics and sanitation.

[2ndDivisionVet]

The machines already exist, they just have to be purchased and installed:

Robot hamburger factory makes 360 Gourmet Burgers every hour...
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/3100817/posts

You can’t tell me that NO ONE at SEIU knows about this.

[Vigilanteman]

But many people now are staying with fast-food restaurants for years, because they’re often the only ones available, workers said.

Yes, ever since the jag-off most of you pea brains voted for begin his "fundamental transformation of America."

[IMR 4350]

There will be at least 3.

The 2 you point out and a third to check your permit to see what Moocher Obama’s food police will allow you to eat.

[cripplecreek]

I suspect in 10 yrs the typical fast food place will have 2 employees per shift, basically to do logistics and sanitation.

That might be enough to get my business back.

[rktman]

Not to mention automation and robotics.

[catnipman]

“I suspect in 10 yrs the typical fast food place will have 2 employees per shift, basically to do logistics and sanitation.”

Indeed. Each wage increase, government regulation of employees, obamacare, lawsuit, etc. provides yet another incentive for automation. Pretty soon fast food joints won’t be much more than automated self-serve kiosks. And as you say, there will be a need for an actual employee to load the raw ingredients into the input hoppers from the delivery trucks and someone to haul out the trash and swab the floors.

Coffee shops will probably be the first to go that route. 99.9% of coffee shops already have 100% automated espresso makers that require no more than punching in the number of shots and pushing the “START” button, not too much more difficult to operate than the self-serve soda-pop machines all fast food outfits have.

My prediction is that in short order the espresso makers will be moved from behind the counter to the FRONT of the counter where customers make their own espresso drinks, completely eliminating the need for a “barista” to push the “START” button for you.

It’s only one more step for the espresso machine makers to add a credit-card swipe unit that auto-charges you for the espresso you make based on the number of shots you dial in.

At that point, the only need for an employee is to load the beans in the hoppers. Big enough hoppers, and that need be done only once a day. At that point, many of these shops can then just be converted into totally self-serve kiosks.

Once this equipment gets built, installed and self-serve shown to be successful, the rest of the country will quickly move in that same direction.