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Auggie

(31,059 posts)
Fri Jul 10, 2020, 10:34 AM Jul 2020

Oakland: Mcdonalds Linked To 25 Covid Cases Is Ordered To Do More To Protect Workers, Public

A McDonald's restaurant in Oakland's Temescal District that has been linked to 25 cases of the novel coronavirus may reopen Sunday but must show it is keeping employees and the public safe from the virus, following a court order on Thursday.

A 10-month-old baby who experienced severe symptoms of COVID-19 was among the employees of this McDonald's and an affiliated restaurant in Berkeley and their family members who have contracted the virus, according to a complaint filed in the case last month.

Workers allegedly were discouraged from taking sick leave when they experienced virus symptoms and were not told when their co-workers tested positive. An emergency ordinance in Oakland mandates paid sick leave for many workers affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Owners of the McDonald's at 4514 Telegraph Ave., which closed in May after its employees went on strike to protest their working conditions, according to the complaint, face contempt charges if the store backslides, said Michael Rubin of Altshuler Berzon, an attorney for the employees and their families. The Berkeley restaurant is at 1998 Shattuck Ave.

MORE: https://www.sfgate.com/news/bayarea/article/Oakland-Mcdonalds-Linked-To-25-Covid-Cases-Is-15398555.php

The stores are owned by a "Michael Smith" who appears to live in Hayward. This is the SAME GUY who told employees to make masks out of coffee filters and dog diapers (and was closed down by a judge for doing so).

Fast food -- breeding ground for all things bad (made worse by absentee and/or bad franchise owners)


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Oakland: Mcdonalds Linked To 25 Covid Cases Is Ordered To Do More To Protect Workers, Public (Original Post) Auggie Jul 2020 OP
My grand daughter worked at a McDonald's and was treated poorly. pwb Jul 2020 #1
I'm not surprised Auggie Jul 2020 #2
I used to buy breakfast there once a week wryter2000 Jul 2020 #3
And this is the kind of person McDonald's hires as either a franchisee or owner? SWBTATTReg Jul 2020 #4
McDonald's doesn't hire a franchisee ... Auggie Jul 2020 #5

pwb

(11,204 posts)
1. My grand daughter worked at a McDonald's and was treated poorly.
Fri Jul 10, 2020, 10:39 AM
Jul 2020

Late pay, wrong pay, no breaks, limit hours to avoid breaks, she didn't stay long.

Auggie

(31,059 posts)
2. I'm not surprised
Fri Jul 10, 2020, 11:08 AM
Jul 2020

Did some marketing work for an owner of multiple Burger King franchises long ago.

One restaurant doesn't make that much income for the franchisee, but if you multiply by them ten, fifty, or even in the hundreds, then you're talking big money. The guy I worked for owned about 240 franchises in Louisiana and California, plus about 40 Chili's restaurants, and had two partners. They were looking for more investment money, and had projected their annual revenues to go as high as $100 million a year with the right approach.

Though this was in the early days of the internet, the company was wired into each location, and knew exactly what sold where and when, allowing them to minimize food spoilage and hire just enough staff to meet demand (can't have idled workers).

For owner like these it's not about food quality, cleanliness, worker safety or fair pay. And it's easy to understand how there are so many problems with mega-franchisee absentee owners. Burger King, McDonalds, Yum Brands (Taco Bell, KFC, Pizza Hut), etc.

I stay away from fast food franchises and support local Mom and Pops.

I'd like to know how many restaurants this Michael Smith owned. McDonald's should strip this jerk of his license.

SWBTATTReg

(21,856 posts)
4. And this is the kind of person McDonald's hires as either a franchisee or owner?
Fri Jul 10, 2020, 12:32 PM
Jul 2020

This really ticks me off. I am thinking that I'll never shop at McDonald's again if they have this nonchalant attitude or feelings against it's workers (coffee filters!). McDonald's should be ashamed and embarrassed. I expected more from this company.

Auggie

(31,059 posts)
5. McDonald's doesn't hire a franchisee ...
Fri Jul 10, 2020, 01:56 PM
Jul 2020

someone has to apply, get approved and buy-in. It requires a lot of cash upfront, I believe.

It's not just McDonald's, but possibly any franchise.

I agree with you. To be honest, McDonald's only cares about its share price. That means they need lots of restaurants paying them a franchise fee and percentage of sales.

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