Where It’s More Dangerous To Work At McDonald’s
McDonald's is facing work shortages at its cutting-edge HQ in Chicago due to an uptick in violent crime across the city.
Drug overdoses in the bathroom, homeless individuals loitering, violent crimes over small misunderstandings, and closing the bathrooms for good to ensure safety. This is the new way of life if you want to go out to eat across the U.S. However, Chicago’s issues are now bubbling over to skilled workers at McDonald’s headquarters. And, the company says it cannot convince people to work there.
According to CNN, McDonald’s CEO says that Chicago’s crime index is so incredibly high, that no one wants to work there, even at corporate. The brand’s CEO, Chris Kempczinski recently spoke at an event at the Economic Club of Chicago and shared his concerns over rising crime–especially at the corporate level.
McDonald’s Not Immune to Increasing Violence
He noted that what is happening in Chicago with the elevated crime rate, is happening across the country, but Chicago is getting the brunt, even at McDonald’s. Although it hurts civic pride–in any city–Kempczinski says that the issues must be faced so crime can be curbed.
The biggest issue the company’s CEO sees, aside from violent crime and unspeakable horrors of drug overdoses in the bathroom, is that people are refusing to work at McDonald’s corporate headquarters. This is nerve-wracking because the brand opened a brand new building in the heart of Chicago just two years ago.
The multi-million ($250 million to be exact) was designed to showcase McDonald’s as a progressive–“cool”–if you will burger joint. And moving the building from the suburbs of Chicago–about 30 minutes from downtown–closer to the heart of the city, was part of that image makeover. Unfortunately, it may be backfiring. And, when one sees McDonald’s corporate offices, one may wonder just HOW bad the situation could be to keep one from working there.
A Cutting-Edge Building With Perks
The McDonald’s building is home to the famous “Hamburger University” where all managers are trained. In addition, the HQ rivals what you may expect from Amazon or Google. “Work neighborhoods” were designed in mind to create the utmost in collaboration, while a fitness center and several outdoor terraces to take in the view of the Windy City.
However, as reports of senseless violence are on the rise, many incidents, some over condiments have taken place in fast food restaurants, including places like Starbucks. In fact, many Starbucks restaurants have decided to close a number of their restaurants due to increasing violent trends.
McDonald’s Has Issues Internally As Well
In addition to violence occurring from, patrons, and those not working at the restaurant, a McDonald’s employee was actually fired from her job because she reported sexual harassment. If McDonald’s is so interested in keeping employees, perhaps they should remember that retaliation is in fact, illegal.
If the CEO wants to blame outside forces for keeping employees wanting to move to Chicago, the brand should look in the mirror as well. Beatings have also been occurring as McDonald’s looks for ways to expand, yet keep their employees safe.
