After an anonymous poll of several fast food chain's staff and ex-employees, McDonald's was found to be the worst fast-food chain to work at in the UK, according to The Telegraph.
The survey, which ranked the best bars and eateries to work for in the UK, was performed by jobs website Glassdoor. Apparently, only three companies has ranked below average in the list of 10 strong chains, and McDonald's is the topmost in below average ranking.
While McDonald's UK was voted as the worst company, dwich chain Pret A Manger and Domino's Pizza UK falls behind the fast food giant.
Workers criticised the corporation's low salaries and senior management. Workers ranked its career opportunities as 2.7, while the culture and work/life balance of McDonald's received 2.9.
According to The Telegraph, the nearly 7,000 reviews of the fast food chain on Glassdoor were by McDonald's employees.
As for McDonald's response, a company spokesperson expressed surprise.
"We have a strong heritage of employing people at all stages of their lives and that is as true today as it was when we first opened our doors 40 years ago," according to the spokesperson.
"Our people enjoy flexible hours, allowing them to fit work around their studies and home/social life. They receive fantastic formal training as well as the development of essential soft skills," the spokesperson added.
In the UK, McDonald's reportedly has 1,249 restaurants, with investments on developing its employees reaching more than £43m annually.
As a whole, the fast food industry in the UK has poor satisfaction ratings as compared to other job sectors. Ranking the best 25 organisations in the UK, fast food industry reportedly has starting scores of 3.2 and hast not reached more than 4.
To know more about the fast-food chain industry, below are 5 fast-food myths according to The Business Insider.
1. Most fast-food workers are teenagers
Labor data reportedly show that about 70 percent of fast-food workers are aged at least 20 years old.
2. Employees can rise through the ranks and eventually own a restaurant
The National Employment Law Project (NELP) reported that only 1 percent of the fast-food workforce owns a franchise, since owning one costs a minimum of $750,000 to several million dollars. There is also reportedly no suggestion that this percentage was gained through "rising through the ranks."
3. Fast-food companies can't regulate wages or working conditions
According to critics, fast-food chains actually have control over their franchisees. Companies can reportedly put some pressure on owner-operators in order for labor costs to be squeezed down.
As compared to most fast-food chains, McDonald's exerts more financial control over its franchisees as it owns the rental real estate of its restaurants.
4. Working at fast food is easy
Complaints filed with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration indicate that some fast food workers have been suffering injuries while employed at fast food chains, some of which include hot-oil burns. Violence, racial discrimination, sexual harassment and even retaliatory punishment by management were also commonly reported.
5. The wage of $15 an hour would make fast food costly, ultimately hurting the industry
Since wage increase would be incremental, it could be absorbed if parent companies lowered fees they collect from the franchisees. In other countries where there is strong labor regulation and union representation, fast-food workers reportedly enjoy higher pay.
