McDonald's executives talk with Trump and lobby against aspects of coronavirus sick leave bill as fast food faces backlash on workers' vulnerability
Donald Trump for Presidentfrom passing in its current form, executives said on a recording of an internal call on Monday that was obtained by Business Insider.
Fast-food chains have faced backlash regarding workers' vulnerability during the coronavirus outbreak, with an estimated 517,000 employees working without paid sick leave at McDonald's locations. McDonald's is working to prevent the passage of a coronavirus relief bill that would require restaurants across the US — 95% which are owned by franchisees — to give workers two weeks of paid sick leave in its current form, in an effort to protect franchisees' financials.
Tovar continued: "So, we're pulling out all the stops to work with the NFLA [National Franchisee Leadership Alliance], owner operators, our trade partners, our friends in Congress, Congressional Leaders, and anyone who can make a difference to fix the bill." McDonald's leadership, along with other fast-food executives, spoke with President Donald Trump about the response to the coronavirus outbreak on Tuesday morning. Trump praised companies' efforts on drive-thru and delivery in a speech on Tuesday afternoon.
McDonald's adjusted its sick-leave policy to provide a 14-day protected leave for employees at company-owned restaurants following exposure to or diagnosis with COVID-19. The company previously allowed and continues to allow employees at company-owned stores to earn up to five days of paid time off a year.
"As the new coronavirus spreads across the United States, the time has come for restaurants, retailers and other industries that rely on low-wage labor to abandon their parsimonious resistance to paid sick leave," the piece from The Times' Editorial Board states. "Companies that do not pay sick workers to stay home are endangering their workers, their customers and the health of the broader public.
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