Sad MacDonalds is closing

[SleepingStandingUp]

They've announced theyll be closed by tomorrow night.
I feel sad for the thousands of staff but also for us thst we've lost another part of our lives, my DS loves MacDonalds, it's part of our aider routine and something tbsts just for us that it's gone now. Not even like we can go for one last happy meal

I hope the lovely staff can pick up work in the supermarkets

I’m thrilled. This will save a lot of litter-picking from our lane. Sorry for the staff, though.

I think things like this are just another “shit just got real” moment. Keep thinking it’s all a bad dream and will wake up and it just gets worse and worse. It’s not the actual McDonald’s closing which makes me sad.....can’t think when I last went (though want a McFlurry now) but the symbolism of it all.

Thank you for al, the helpful replies. Having a teen with ASD, stable with her choices and now things aren’t available, it’s not the worst but it’s not great and we all have to work whilst they are off school.

I’ll speak to our local Mac Donald’s but they would even donate balloons for our fundraiser event, I update.

I’m not big on McDonaldsbit I mourn the increasing loss of normalcy. Its just a bizarre thought that they won’t be open. It’s a bit chilling somehow. I don’t like it.

www.bbc.com/news/technology-51999604

I can't help wondering if this is a cynical business decision to get the UK government to pay all the staff wages, rather than carry on a partial business model

Definitely

I’m not big on McDonaldsbit I mourn the increasing loss of normalcy. Its just a bizarre thought that they won’t be open. It’s a bit chilling somehow. I don’t like it.

I agree. The virus itself isnt what's scaring me and giving me anxiety. Its peoples behaviour, no food on the shelves and every day we hear of a massive chain closing its doors. My mind cant adjust to it at all. There was a thread last week about if things will ever be normal again and people were saying of course it will and this'll just be a footnote to most people bit its increasingly beginning to feel like it won't. It's scary.

IDK about YANBU as you make a good point, but just the way it goes at the moment.

Glad I had a McDonald's breakfast this morning! This has definitely made it more real, I think that's what's so surreal about it. McDonalds is just always there for a tea and cookie or a box of chicken nuggets. As a shift worker, I ate there two or three times a week as it was normally the only thing open when I finished work at 1am. If I'm going on a long car journey I always get a tea there before leaving. So strange.

Good. My kids have weaned themselves off happy meals and I'll be glad to see no more wrappers blowing around the town

Interesting to note that a few restaurants announced closures on Thursday evening ready for Friday's government announcement about forced closures. It may be that the government are preparing to force retailers and takeaways to close and McDonald's are already aware it's coming.

DD3 is heartbroken this means she'll have to cook propelry or starve;!

Surely the government said the 80% wage thing as they want businesses to close voluntarily rather than a forced lock down?

I mean if business all close, there will be nowhere for people to go so 🤷🏻‍♀️ The stupid will learn to stay home

@Blimeyoreilly2020

No, a lot of us won't be fine financially. Getting 80% of my wage means I'm going to struggle. Other people are worse off than me- I don't have kids, or a car payment, or a mortgage to worry about.

@FormerlyFrikadela01 exactly! I was fully prepared to help vulnerable relatives through a lengthy isolation but then everyone lost it. I had a bit of a moment last week when I went to the supermarket and there were no eggs and no meat at all. And then they started closing things. I was feeling really reassured that the government was being really se sinks bit now it feels like the panic has overcome the entire country.

From their Twitter.

"All company owned restaurant employees will receive full pay for their scheduled shifts until 5th April, and we will further support our employees to ensure that those who are eligible can fully benefit from the support packages announced by the government."

Someone then asked about the restaurants that were franchised.

"As individual business owners, our franchisees set their own pay and conditions for their employees, guided by the UK and Irish governments and by company policy. All eligible employees will be supported by the packages recently announced by UK & Irish governments."

No, a lot of us won't be fine financially. Getting 80% of my wage means I'm going to struggle. Other people are worse off than me- I don't have kids, or a car payment, or a mortgage to worry about.

I thought the whole point of the 80% was that your employer is supposed to pay the other 20 to make it up? I cant say I've overly looked into it though, I acknowledge how lucky I am to work for the NHS right now in financial terms.

I used to work in McD's as a student and I can verify that they have the most stringent hygiene that I've seen anywhere (also worked in hotels in the kitchens and in a chip shop).
Their global reputation is invaluable to them. It would take one case, to take them down globally.

They do not take risks with their reputation. It's why they've survived this long. You know you're safe getting a McDonalds. If anything hurt this reputation, it would impact the business a lot more than shutting down for a few months.
We studied them at uni.

I’m more sad that Lakeland is closing.

Extremely sad for the staff, I really feel for them and all others whose jobs have been affected.

As for the people saying McD's are all owned by small little franchise owners - PMSL!

YANBU.

McDonald's are a food business after all. At a time when getting food is becoming difficult, their closure doesn't seem like a good thing.

I'll miss the Mcfluries but they are being sensible which is nice to see.

@worldweary45 I'm sorry, its so hard and people don't understand when they think if you leave them, they'll just eat something else.

@Malvinaa81 no it'll just reduce the food pool he'll eat. Im perfectly capable of cooking good food from scratch, doesn't mean he'll eat. Unfortunately but understandably the session I've been waiting for with ot regarding his eating will be cancelled. God knows when it can be run again. Not e ery "fussy" child is the product of a lazy parent or being a brat

@GrumpyMug2 it isn't that thry aren't mananging, it's that they're xhoosin