thinking that McDonalds announcement of 8000 new jobs is bad news

[twistedsista]

www.ibtimes.co.uk/mcdonalds-hiring-thousands-jobs-boost-uk-youth-1453298

Financial pundits were making out this is great news for the UK.

But really they don't pay well, so many people will be reliant on benefits while working, most people in the country are overweight and the NHS is collapsing due to diabetes and cancer! Yet this is supposedly good news?

Are they offering zero hours?

I find shift work worked well around a young family. Provided your employer is fair. I know they pay their managers well.

Of course we need to be concerned about the contracts.

As for the health aspect - get a grip. FFS we are all responsible for our own calorie intake not sodding mcdos.

I hate their food but their coffee is very good.

Why does everyone seem to be so certain that all these new jobs are going to be zero hours contracts?

They might not be. And even if they are, the article posted by OP says that 7 out of 10 of these jobs will be going to young people under the age of 25. So people that are students or likely to be living at home while saving up to move out, not people that are likely to have children and a mortgage. Lots of people of that age benefit from zero hours contracts, and contract work is only a problem if no work is offered. Otherwise, it's fine.

McDonalds actually pay more than a lot of high street shops andif you were desperate for work then it is good news.

Good grief. It's an announcement about new jobs. I know my foster child would love to work part time at Mcdonalds to top up her income, and as its structured work, it would be good for her too. I'd rather she worked for McDonald's than some of the other fast food places.

McDonald have a very well regarded staff training programme. Thats why they were used for training the volunteers for the 2012 Olympics.

Yes, they aren't the best payers but they aren't the worst and in terms of investing in their employees and giving them skills that can be used elsewhere that is a good thing.

Most jobs are likely to go to young and unskilled workers - one of the groups who are currently finding it hardest to get jobs.

As for causing diabetes and cancer. If the blame all lies with McDonalds, I suggest you go and have a good look around your local supermarket. I also expect you to show the research that links Big Macs directly to cancer.

Besides which there are probably a few Asos employees looking for a new employer about now...

ICanHearYou Sun 22-Jun-14 10:37:49

Well I have had nothing but zero hour contracts for the last 2 years, so it is not just 'where I work' it has been in the last 4 places I have worked.

Lots of them in the care sector which is crap for the employee because it is basically the company covering their arses if anything goes wrong.

And until care work is treated like the job of value it really is the problems that occurred at Winterbourne View and the Old Deanery will happen again.

If it is zero hour contracts then it is bad news.
But the other issues raised by the OP are not all valid.

Most people who work at mcdonalds are young and still live with their parents so the wages are adequate. Some of those people might even prefer zero hour contracts because they can work around their studies.

Nobody is forcing anybody to eat at mcdonalds and I don't see how 8000 jobs = lots of people rushing to mcdonalds more often to make themselves obese.

It wont just be young people if these jobs are advertised in the Job Centre.

www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2014/05/06/zero-hours-contracts-uk-benefits-welfare_n_5271302.html

intensiveactivity.wordpress.com/2014/05/06/zero-hour-contracts-job-centre-coaches-to-mandate-them/

Lots of things need to change in the care industry. The way the staff are treated is disgraceful, you are constantly aware that you are disposable, sometimes getting 15mins to cook whole meals and no travel time.

Once I travelled 10 miles to do a 15 minute call which paid me £1.75 and I got no petrol money. I was being paid far less than minimum wage and it is difficult to provide good care under those circumstances.

I now work in the taxi office and get a phone call every night from my old directors, pissed up in the pub (every night) putting taxis for them and their friends on the company account.

Unfortunately that doesn't surprise me at all.