What is it with McDonald's' labour policy??? (Interesting story inside)

[SmileyBoy]

OK, lemme tell the story. I was gonna tell it last night, but it basically slipped my mind:

Now, I have publicly avowed never to eat McDonald's again, after reading Fast Food Nation, and knowing about all the horrible, disgusting attributes of their food. but last night, I was in a desperate situation. I had 51 dollars in my pocket from the tips I had collected the previous nights delevering. But I needed to spend most of it on my medication refills. 45 dollars, to be exact (God, I wish I lived in Canada). (That's a different issue altogether, tho) I had around $6.50 left, and I literally hadn't eaten in 24 hours (I was STARVING), and the campus cafeterias were officially CLOSED. I needed some cheap food within my budget, so I bit the bullet and went to McDonald's. (I'm kind of digressing here, but I'm just explaining to you why I patronized a McDonald's.)

OK anyway, so I went to the Mccy-D's next to my campus, I walked in the place, and the first thing I noticed when I entered was a boy, a little boy, I would describe him. Completely pre-pubescent. Couldn't pass for 14 in any way whatsoever, and he most definitely was 11 or 12. He was wearing a McDonald's uniform, and he was changing the garbage below the soda fountain.

I had made my order, but I couldn't help but keep glancing over at the kid. I SWEAR TO YOU, this boy could NOT have been 14. I know that child labour laws dictate that as a private service retail business, you can hire 14 year-olds, but there's a shitload of regulations that you have to abide by. I do know that a place like McDonald's isn't allowed to hire 13 or younger.

I then remembered that I had witnessed the same thing a few months previous, when I had stopped at another McDonald's in town for a Shamrock Shake (I'm in love with them, I know). The boy, a little boy, behind the counter also couldn't have looked older than 12. He had a very cherubic, baby face, and a very childish voice. (He sounded like he was 8 or 9) Oh yeah, he was also about 4'8". When I saw that the first time, I just tried to forget about it and brush it off, but now after what I saw last night, I just couldn't let it rest anymore.

These kids are supposed to be spending 7.5 hours a day in junior high school, fer chrissakes. WHY THE HELL IS McDONALD'S HIRING THEM??? These young boys at that age don't understand anything about work ethic when it comes to a job. 11 and 12 year-olds shouldn't be working anything other than a paper route. They shouldn't be expected to change garbages and clean out ovens 4-5 days a week at a McDonald's like you'd expect a 16 or 17 year-old to do.

I mean, what the hell is happening here?? I felt so sorry for that little boy. Is McDonald's doing something illegal?? Is this another symptom of Bush's New Economic America??? Could there be cultural factors in this too?? Why aren't people outraged?? Am I the only one outraged by the fact that 11 and 12 year-olds are working at McDonald's?? Is this year 1888, or something??

I mean, my GOD...

[SmileyBoy]

1. Kick, cause it's a busy night

:kick:

[JohnKleeb]

2. Damn thast interesting

Whats a shamrock shake and where can I get one in the old dominion?

[SmileyBoy]

3. You don't know what a Shamrock Shake is???!!!

You really live in the wrong part of the country, Kleeb.:D:D:D

[JohnKleeb]

4. Tell me something I don't know man

:)

[driver8]

8. Kleeb, you need to get out more...

Go to your local McDonald's around St. Patrick's day. That is when this wonderful shake makes it's appearance.

[PittPoliSci]

7. it's a minty flavored milk shake

it's green, you can find them at McDonalds as you get closer to St. Patrick's Day.

If you're really clever, like myself, you'll blend the chocolate and shamrock shakes together for a real treat. I call them Andies Candies Shakes, like the after dinner mints, cause that's what they taste like.

[Nikia]

5. They could actually be 14 or older

Children mature at different rates. Some boys don't start turning into men until 15 or 16. A boy who liked me in junior high looked very young at 14 and at that point came up to my breasts and I am (and was) 5'5''. When I worked fast food part time, the 15 year old girl who worked there was significantly under 5'0'' and did not appear to have been very far if at all into puberty. The 14 year old boy on the other hand, was almost 6 feet tall and had a mustache.
They must pay very low wages or aren't in an area with high unemployment because there are plenty of adults and older teens who now want those jobs since the job market is bad and as you said, there are many regulations on what 14 and 15 year olds can do.

[SmileyBoy]

6. Shameless kick

:kick:

[Floogeldy]

9. And the problem is?