High profile coalition lines up to change the 'McJob' definition
UK Press Releases
22nd May, 2007
High profile signatories from the worlds of business, education and retail are backing McDonald's petition to change the dictionary definition of 'McJob'.
On the day the company officially launches the public petition on behalf of its 67,000 employees and their colleagues in the UK service sector, a coalition including Government skills envoy Sir Digby Jones, British Chambers of Commerce Director General David Frost, British Retail Consortium Director General Kevin Hawkins and City & Guilds Director General Chris Humphries have all put their names to an open letter calling for the UK's dictionary houses to reconsider the existing 'McJob' definition.
A poll commissioned for the launch suggests the campaign to change the definition has the backing of the public too.
Over two-thirds (69 per cent) of those polled agreed that the McJob dictionary definition - 'an unstimulating, low-paid job with few prospects, esp. one created by the expansion of the service sector' - was an outdated picture of work in today's service sector. The same proportion (67 per cent) said they would feel demeaned and 61 per cent said they would feel insulted if their work was described like that.
In tandem with the petition, an Early Day Motion has been sponsored by Clive Betts MP which regrets the use of derogatory phrases attached to service sector jobs such as 'McJob'.
The petition will now go on tour to McDonald's restaurants in 40 towns and cities across the UK over a period of 26 days. Vans with digital display screens will bring the campaign to life by showing a film featuring McDonald's employees telling their own stories of what 'McJob' means to them.
People can sign the petition online at www.changethedefinition.com or text 'change' to 62562 (the digits of which spell out 'McJob'). Alternatively, petition books will be available to sign at McDonald's restaurants.
David Fairhurst, Senior Vice President, Chief People Officer, McDonald's said: "The heavyweight support our petition has already attracted shows we have struck a chord and are not alone in our belief that the current definition of 'McJob' is inaccurate and out of date. I hope over the coming months our campaign will underline the value of the service sector, and jobs like ours, to individuals and the UK economy.
"McDonald's listing in the FT Best Workplaces rankings earlier this month was further proof that the 'McJob' dictionary definition is out of date, out of touch with reality and most importantly is insulting to those talented, committed, hard-working people who serve the public every day in the UK. It's time the dictionary definition of 'McJob' changed to reflect a job that is stimulating, rewarding and offers genuine opportunities for career progression and skills that last a lifetime."
Government Skills Envoy Sir Digby Jones said: "The service sector provides first time employment for the vast majority of young people in the UK, equipping them with vital skills they need to progress and succeed in the labour market. Service sector employers such as McDonald's recognise the importance of investing in learning and development opportunities for their employees, and the jobs and careers they provide should be respected and valued, not written off."
The petition builds on McDonald's ongoing campaign to bridge the gap between the external perception and internal reality of work at McDonald's. The campaign also aims to drive wider reappraisal of service sector jobs.
Notes to editors
1. BMRB polled 1,000 adults in a telephone omnibus survey over 11-13 May
2. McDonald's has a proven track record of investing in the development of employees and offering flexibility as part of its commitment to being a modern and progressive company. In fact:
- McDonald's entered the FT Best Workplaces rankings for the first time in 2007 and was one of only five organisations with more than 10,000 employees to be included
- In 2005 McDonald's became the first large multi-site employer to achieve the new Investor in People Profile status
- 80 per cent of McDonald's restaurant management started as hourly paid crew members
- One in five McDonald's franchisees started out as hourly paid crew members
- The average tenure for a McDonald's restaurant manager is 10 years
- Restaurant crew can choose the hours that they are available for work in advance and their shifts are scheduled within this availability
- Parents can work during schools hours with holidays off, while students can work around college and university, often transferring between restaurants during the holidays
- McDonald's is one of The Times Top 100 Graduate Employers for the eighth consecutive year
- McDonald's was listed in the Guardian's 'Britain's Top Employers 2007' awards
- McDonald's was listed in the Times 'Top 50 Companies Where Women Want to Work' awards 2007
- McDonald's was named Caterer & Hotelkeeper's 'Best Place to Work in Hospitality 2007'
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