McDonald's Canada CEO calls foreign worker controversy 'bullshit'

[arikara]

The CEO of McDonald's Canada has branded recent criticism of its use of temporary foreign workers "bullshit" in a conference call to franchisees that was given to the CBC.

His remarks from earlier this week came before federal Employment Minister Jason Kenney announced an immediate moratorium on the food services sector’s access to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program late on Thursday, as a result of CBC Go Public's inquiries.

...

In a recording of the call given to the CBC, McDonald's Canada CEO John Betts discusses recent CBC stories on the company's use of temporary foreign workers and his resulting meeting with federal Employment Minister Jason Kenney.​ "This has been an attack on our brand. This has been an attack on our system. This is an attack on our people. It’s bullshit OK! I used those words when I described my conversation with the minister last week. He gets it."

Betts says he was "incredibly impressed" with the minister, adding, "He really knows his stuff. And I’ll say he knows his stuff from a business person’s perspective." Responding sarcastically to how his company has been portrayed in the media, Betts said, "The fact of the matter is we are a big bad company, corporate, you know, bad company and these poor maligned employees are who they are."

"Yes, they are disenfranchised. Some of them don’t work for us anymore. But in the scheme of things, it doesn’t matter."

....more...

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/mcdonald-s-canada-ceo-calls-foreign-worker-controversy-bullshit-1.2621151

Quite a damning article for both Macdonalds and for the "Harper" government.

[Joe Shlabotnik]

1. Gotta admit, I LOL'd when I read the headline.

Knowing the CBC, I'd expect them to Ned Flander-ize the headline into "bullpucky"

But aside from that, the shit has officially hit the fan. Hopefully a real discussion can emerge now about our government's cozy relationship with the 1% and systemic wage suppression.

[laundry_queen]

3. Nah, the CBC lets that stuff go.

It was repeated on The National too with no bleeps. It made me giggle. I was half hoping to hear Peter Mansbridge repeat the word, LOL. But no, they just played the tape.

[laundry_queen]

2. Was coming here to post the same. John Betts is completely incompetent.

First of all...before I get into the ethics of this...as a business student...this CEO is totally incompetent and should be fired immediately. Rule #1 - you are probably being recorded. Watch what you say. Act professionally. Clearly, he is incapable of acting the part.

Anyone with basic business classes also should understand the power of marketing, PR and how to mitigate damage to one's brand. I'll let you in on a secret, John. Doubling down on your mistake NEVER works. You apologize, make the necessary changes as quickly as is fucking possible, and move on, apologizing profusely the entire time.

Seriously, John Betts is like the poster child for how not to be an effective CEO in the face of bad press.

Now for the rest - haha on him. He went and talked about Kenney being on his side, whoops! When one is juggling a hot turd, it's probably best not to announce to the world that the guy whose job depends on public opinion is on your side if you aren't a million percent sure about that.

This program needs to end. Companies are (and have been for awhile) using TFW not because they can pay them less, but because they can hold them hostage (figuratively...or not so much) and force them to pretty much do anything...and they have a reliable worker (Because said worker cannot go anywhere or they have to leave the country). I guess they save money on turn over...but if they paid their employees well and treated them nicely (instead of the crap their CEO said about them) then they wouldn't have high turnover.

Anyway. I'm just glad this is finally coming to light.