McDonald's pilots family friendly flexible working revolution
UK Press Releases
January 26, 2006
Several sets of twins are among McDonald's employees trialling a new innovation in flexible working being pioneered by the company.
The Family Contract enables two people from the same family working in the same McDonald's restaurant to cover each other's shifts - with no prior notice.
McDonald's believes the Family Contract is a UK first which could re-define flexible working as we know it. Employees are now putting pen to paper on the contracts - at a time which many psychologists say is the most stressful of the year. It is set to benefit busy mums juggling childcare and work, students with last minute deadlines and people who care for a parent or relative.
Two sets of twin brothers are using the contracts in one restaurant in Cambridgeshire, while in Cardiff identical twins Omah and Ali Dulaeh, students aged 22, have swapped shifts on a regular basis since joining the scheme. They look so alike that often their name badge is the only thing that tells their restaurant manager who is doing the shift!
The flexibility of the contract is a perfect fit with their lifestyles, as Omah explains: "Having the freedom to cover each other's shifts as and when we need to has been brilliant. So far we've used it to help each other out when big coursework deadlines have been looming."
It has also made them happier at work and more motivated in their jobs, according to Ali: "We've worked at McDonald's for three years, and have always enjoyed it. But having this option has made it even better because we are able to decide who covers a shift ourselves. It shows that our manager values us and trusts us to be well organised."
As many as 1,000 people out of McDonald's 67,000 strong workforce are family members, so the Family Contract has the potential to have very real benefits for the company's diverse mix of employees. Pairs made up of married couples, parents, children, siblings, grandparents, step-families, adopted families, cohabiting partners and same-sex partners are all eligible to apply for the contract.
Common last minute work-life balance pressures where the contract will be particularly helpful include:
· Students who may find it helpful to change shifts at the last minute to accommodate a heavy workload or tight deadline - in fact, 60% of McDonald's employees are 16-21 years old;
· Parents with young children who would benefit from being able to make quick decisions when childcare arrangements fall through;
· Those with the responsibility of caring for a parent or elderly relative;
· Grand-parents who enjoy working and keeping active, but want more choice over when they work.
David Fairhurst, Vice President, People, McDonald's, has introduced the scheme. He said: "Our employees are incredibly diverse but they have one thing in common - hectic lives. That's why we've created the Family Contract to help our staff juggle their busy lives.
"By giving our employees the freedom to manage their shift commitments, we will increase their motivation and enjoyment of work. That is fundamental to our business because it is a simple fact that happy employees mean happy customers.
"If the Family Contract proves as successful as we hope it will, it may be just the beginning. In the future we may even look to extend it beyond the family to include friends and extended family members such as cousins."
In addition to the Family Contract, other flexible working opportunities are available at McDonald's:
· Restaurant crew are able to choose the hours that they are available for work in advance and their shifts are scheduled within this availability giving them the ultimate in flexibility;
· Rotas are operated according to a weekly schedule system, and published ten days in advance giving staff the opportunity to plan and request days off according to their needs;
· We enable parents to work during schools hours with holidays off, while students can work around college and university, often transferring between restaurants during the holidays;
· A part-time scheme for restaurant management is available, which retains both the benefits of part-time working and the career benefits of a management position - there are currently 194 members of Operations Management employed on a part-time basis.
Other facts you might not know about McDonald's employment practices include:
· The average tenure for a McDonald's restaurant manager is 10 years
· 80 per cent of McDonald's restaurant management started out as hourly paid crew members
· 1 in 5 McDonald's franchisees started out as hourly paid crew members
· McDonald's invested £14 million in training its people in 2005
· Last year McDonald's became the first large employer to achieve the new Investor in People Profile status
For further information please contact McDonald's UK press office on
0208 700 7320
