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McScrooges: McDonalds Wants Employees to Work On Christmas With No Overtime Pay
According to a leaked internal memo, McDonalds is urging its franchisees to stay open on Christmas Day without paying employees overtime.
Ad Age has obtained an internal memo from McDonald’s USA Chief Operating Officer Jim Johannesen pushing franchise owners to stay open on Christmas, “Starting with Thanksgiving, ensure your restaurants are open throughout the holidays. Our largest holiday opportunity as a system is Christmas Day. Last year, [company-operated] restaurants that opened on Christmas averaged $5,500 in sales.” In a December 12 Memo, the COO upped the ante, and projected that stores that opened on Christmas would do $6,000 in sales.
By opening on Christmas the franchise owner makes money, the corporation makes money that will help them reverse their first sales decline in nine years, but what do the workers get in exchange for giving up Christmas with their families?
Certainly, not overtime pay.
When Ad Age asked McDonald’s spokeswoman Heather Oldani if employees get overtime pay, she answered, “When our company-owned restaurants are open on the holidays, the staff voluntarily sign up to work. There is no regular overtime pay.”
The holiday is “voluntary,” but anyone who has worked in any non-union environment understands what voluntary really means in this context. The franchise owners who want to open on Christmas Day will make it very clear to everyone what will happen both for those who sign up for work, and those who don’t.
Voluntary in this context doesn’t really mean voluntary. It means enough of you better be here to be open on Christmas or heads will roll.
There are some employees who don’t celebrate the holiday, don’t have friends or family to spend it with, or who need the money badly enough that they will sign up to work on Christmas. If asked the majority of employees probably wouldn’t want to give up their holiday to serve Big Macs and fries to the few who find themselves out and about on Christmas Day. Despite the line coming out of corporate headquarters, many employees will be made to feel like they don’t have a choice.
Ten years ago it would have been unheard of for McDonalds to be open on Christmas. Twenty years ago, almost everything except the gas stations and convenience stores were closed on Christmas. Today, corporate profits rule every decision. So more and more employees will spending the holiday at work.
Conservatives bemoan the death of the family unit in this country, but they never acknowledge the damage that corporate greed, which they champion as free market capitalism, is doing to our society. Liberals aren’t destroying families. Corporations like McDonalds are making sure that family memories are made by placing their thirst for every last penny of profit that they can squeeze out of the consumer ahead of what is good for the community that they profit from.
McDonalds has become the modern Ebenezer Scrooge that is prepared to send thousands of minimum wage Bob Cratchits out to work on Christmas Day without even so much as a penny of overtime pay.
This is the America’s 2012 Christmas Carol.
We may not have three ghosts to visit the Golden Arches and get them to change their ways, but you say bah, humbug to McDonalds’ Christmas greed by avoiding their restaurants on Christmas Day.
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29 Responses to McScrooges: McDonalds Wants Employees to Work On Christmas With No Overtime Pay
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judy
Dec. 17th, 2012 at 5:38 pm
Don’t we have labor laws in this country that mandate double time for working on the holidays? The “volunteering” is BS!
Shiva (Moderator)
Dec. 17th, 2012 at 5:54 pm
I dont think double pay is mandated. When I was working a few months ago I put in a 7 day cycle and only got time and a half for saturday and sunday
sherrie heckendorn
Dec. 18th, 2012 at 3:52 pm
We do have labor laws, but without unions to protect the employees, they mean nothing. I do know that Mcdonalds just made it onto my ‘boycott list’
Inez
Dec. 18th, 2012 at 10:14 pm
too bad that hundreds upon hundreds depend on these low paying jobs. too bad they all have the flu!
novenator
Dec. 17th, 2012 at 5:48 pm
America: the land of the new slave. We are the ONLY developed nation in the entire world that does not guarantee one second of Paid Time Off. None for vacation. None for national holidays. Not even if you’re sick.
I researched and wrote an article about this a couple years ago. While there is no guaranteed PTO in the US, the average offered is 13 days, and only 57% of Americans take all the time that is offered, often because they fear they might lose their jobs or a possible promotion.
newsjunkiepost.com/2011/0...
Vacation Time:
Italy 42 days
France 37 days
Germany 35 days
Brazil 34 days
United Kingdom 28 days
Canada 26 days
Korea 25 days
Japan 25 days
U.S. 13 days
Other stunning facts:
*1 in 4 private-sector workers in the US do not receive any paid vacation or paid holidays
*28 million Americans don’t get a vacation
*The average paid vacation + paid holidays provided to U.S. workers in the private sector (15) is less than the minimum required by law in nearly every other rich country
*Only 69% of low wage workers have vacation
*Only 36% of part time workers have any paid vacation
You are nothing but cogs in the machine to the ruling elites. Work longer, harder, and faster for less. Those new Beamers aren’t going to pay for themselves!
Shiva (Moderator)
Dec. 17th, 2012 at 5:56 pm
I worked the first half of my life in the Union and got up to 4 weeks off. When I went to management I got the same 4 weeks off. As I am retired I look with glee as the GOP tries to make sure its supporters lose their benefits.
I do feel sorry for the rest of the country though
mathazar
Dec. 17th, 2012 at 6:23 pm
Here in Australia, as a tradesman, Sundays are double-time, and holidays are triple-time.
Oh yeah, minimum wage is over 15.00$ per hour
If you want dependable, hard working employees, don’t treat them like crap.
A Walkaway
Dec. 17th, 2012 at 9:26 pm
According to the going meme these days (and for the last three decades), vacations and days off are luxury items and if you can’t afford it, too bad – you really don’t NEED it anyway!
(My wife and I have had a sum total of 15 weeks off in 29 years of marriage – and we both dream of being able to get out of this hellhole for a while.)
The people most likely to say that out loud (and I’ve heard it) are the ones who believe that their business (or whatever) should be open 24/7, but at the same time they get their month’s worth of vacation every year and God help the person who even hints that they should even consider giving the same consideration to others that they demand for themselves.
Is it any wonder that the poor have shorter lifespans than the rich? They don’t get a break from the stress – and poverty is stressful enough as it is!
Inez
Dec. 18th, 2012 at 10:20 pm
ONE reason why Unions came into being, was the employer’s disregard for the welfare of the employees who enable them to earn big bucks. All Union members should boycott these . There isno law against peaceful picketing either. Revive the Union mentality, just like the days of old, without the baseball bats.
Shiva (Moderator)
Dec. 17th, 2012 at 6:02 pm
Despite the fact that even eating at McDonalds is insane, lets remember that they do have to pay those who show up.
The difference is we dont have to show up.
luciboo
Dec. 17th, 2012 at 6:07 pm
I have a solution. Just give every employee the day off with pay. You want to be open to make more profit but not willing to share with employees. This is exactly why the middle class is dying. Business feels no moral responsibility for workers.Pony up Mickey Dee!
Grrrr!
Dec. 17th, 2012 at 6:18 pm
When the day comes that it’s more profitable for McDonalds to make burgers out of its employees, will that be “voluntary” too ?
Colleen
Dec. 17th, 2012 at 6:25 pm
I guess McDonalds is another place to avoid eating, along with Papa Johns.
Shiva (Moderator)
Dec. 17th, 2012 at 7:16 pm
If only for your health
Sandra
Dec. 18th, 2012 at 7:56 pm
I hear ya. I’m 62 years old, and have never eaten a MacDonald’s hamburger and am still puzzled why anyone would eat that nasty looking piece of crap.
But to each his/her own as they say.
clarence swinney
Dec. 17th, 2012 at 6:33 pm
BUSH TAX CUTS LOST REVENUE
2001-2010
Lost 1903 Billion
1% got 37.6%
5% got 48.3%
bottom 60% got 16.4%
80% borrowed 10,000 2001-2012 was a result of Bush Programs
Sugapea
Dec. 17th, 2012 at 6:58 pm
Clarence, Don’t forget…
On 9/10/2001 (one day before 9/11) Donald Rumsfeld reported $2.3 TRILLION Missing from Pentagon.
We could use that money now. Bush/Cheney did tremendous damage to America!
Republicans need to be out of our White House for decades!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=x...
Reynardine
Dec. 17th, 2012 at 7:12 pm
Probably what they paid the FAA th go play golf the next morning.
Inez
Dec. 18th, 2012 at 10:22 pm
I don’t see the connection to a labor issue.
aaron
Dec. 17th, 2012 at 9:44 pm
You guys talking about double time are funny. Here in Washington state it’s time and half, but only if you work over 40 in a week, I’ve had managers SCHEDULE me for 16 hour days, then tell me I had to leave early so I would’t go on OT cuz they got in trouble for that.
sandppppr
Dec. 18th, 2012 at 7:12 pm
The companies I worked for and received holiday pay said it was a no brainer to pay double time since they had to pay a days pay anyway. Paying double time is still like paying only one days pay anyway. In reality these companies should be paying double time and a half to be fair.
Gene
Dec. 17th, 2012 at 11:01 pm
I worked hard manual labor for decades.. it may not look like it but working as a CARNIE is tough! it’s Minimum wage for 12hr days for month’s on end..
working on holidays is par for the course.. if you wanna eat you work!
spruett15
Dec. 17th, 2012 at 11:43 pm
yup…another one to add to the list! Never liked McDonald’s that much anyway. Are there any left? Or do all the Big Fast Food Chains work the same way. Please tell me that at least one of these mega-corporations has some integrity…Wendy’s? I swear, a wage you can’t live on…never a break from the stress. No wonder people are getting sick by the millions…stress makes you sick.
The only way any change will be made is if we refuse to support these mindlessly greedy corporations. I will NOT ever shop at Walmart. Now I won’t eat at McDonald’s. This is the ONLY thing they understand. If it affects their bottom line and they know WHY sales are down…maybe something will change.
marilyn logiudice
Dec. 18th, 2012 at 10:50 am
It all seemed like it started with PaPa john’s pizza.Reading an article about an employee who worked for McD’s for 20 yrs making $8-something an hr and just now complaining, makes me wonder.20 yrs and didn’t say a word or complain.Another on my list to boycott.Why these people rejected unions is beyond me.Receiving overtime,db time for holidays,etc.would never happen with a union.Minimum wage should be upped where people can afford to live,not just eat a hamburger or rice and beans.It’s about time people are speaking up.Now to do the footwork and stop letting these CEO’S get wealthy on your time.Things have surely changed since I was a kid.Stores were closed on holidays such as Christmas.To much greed in this world and people contributing to it because they need money to live if you call that life-
clarence swinney
Dec. 18th, 2012 at 11:30 am
AMERICA
WHERE ARE THOU?
What happened? 2001-2009
Repeal of Glass-Steagall and Modernization of Commodities Markets
and Neo-Con Imperialists=disasters
Took a 240B surplus at 9-30-01 to a 1450 Deficit at 9-30-09.
Took an 1830 Budget on 9-30-01to 3520B on 9-30-09
Borrowed 6100B in 8 years— debt —5800B on 9-30-01to 11,900 on 9-30-09
Initiated two wars that cost 2000B
Passed a rich mans tax cut that lost 1900B revenue in 8 years
Now we owe 16,000B thanks to those guys.
Leslie
Dec. 18th, 2012 at 7:04 pm
I was outraged when yesterday I was at McD’s and saw the sign that they would be open Dec. 25th. I told them I was calling corporate! The kid at the window said no one was forced to and he is doing it to get time and a half. So they really are getting over time but they should make a living wage so they don’t have to work on Christmas and they should all get paid for the holiday as well. It would be nice if stores went back to being closed on Sundays too. So moms & dads can be home with their family!
Stacy
Dec. 19th, 2012 at 5:47 pm
Not particularly fond of McGreed this holiday season?? Call the McDonald’s corporate hotline and tell them that no one should be making fries on Christmas Day, especially not without overtime pay. Call 1-800-244-6227 and say “feedback” to reach a live representative. Also please post on the McDonald’s facebook! Happy Holidays!!!
Diane Kay
Dec. 25th, 2012 at 11:00 am
Another company that gets a “Shame On You” is Domino’s Pizza Distribution in Denver. They made their warehouse employees work Christmas Eve and Christmas day loading trucks. The truck drivers are working Christmas day and the day after. The pizza stores aren’t even open on Christmas. This came without warning after almost 10 years of routes being rescheduled so everyone could have Christmas off. How heartless.
Shiva (Moderator)
Dec. 25th, 2012 at 11:06 am
It appears that more and more companies are making sure we sing to their tune