Exploring the Wages of McDonald’s Employees in New York
Overview of McDonald’s
McDonald’s is a multinational fast-food chain headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, and the second-largest private employer globally, with over 1.7 million employees under its payroll. Founded in 1955 by Ray Kroc, McDonald’s has grown to become a household name in the fast-food industry, with its Golden Arches logo and iconic menu items – Big Mac, fries, and shakes.
Minimum Wage in New York
Minimum wage refers to the minimum amount that an employer is legally obligated to pay its employees for their services. In New York, the minimum wage differs depending on the size of the employer and the location of the employee. For employers with ten or fewer employees, the minimum wage is $12.50 per hour; for employers with more than ten employees, the minimum wage is $15.00 per hour. This minimum wage is achieved over a phased-in series of increases, with different schedules depending on the location of the employee.
Exploring the Wages of McDonald’s Employees in New York
Many McDonald’s employees in New York earn minimum wage, though wages may differ depending on the location of the employee, their job role or responsibilities, and the length of their employment with the company. Entry-level employees, such as those working the cash register or serving customers, typically earn minimum wage, while shift managers and other higher-ranking employees earn more.
A study conducted by the National Employment Law Project (NELP) revealed that a large proportion of fast-food workers in New York receive minimum wage or slightly above it. According to the report, 58% of fast-food workers in New York State earn minimum wage or less, and 89% receive less than $15 per hour. This is significant because, as discussed earlier, the company is obligated to pay its employees the minimum wage.
Despite this, the wages paid to McDonald’s employees have been a point of concern, with the company being accused by labor groups and workers of underpaying its employees. In consolidated cases in California in 2016, McDonald’s was sued by workers who claimed that the company was paying them below the minimum wage.
A 2017 report published by the National Employment Law Project (NELP) stated that McDonald’s was among the five largest employers of workers requiring public assistance in each of the states in the United States. The report revealed that 52% of fast-food workers in New York receive some form of public assistance, such as Medicaid, food stamps, or housing assistance.
McDonald’s Response
In response to accusations of underpaying its employees, McDonald’s has taken several steps to address the issue. In 2015, the company announced that it would increase the minimum wage for its employees working in company-owned stores to $10 per hour, which was higher than the federal minimum wage at the time.
In 2016, McDonald’s also announced that it would gradually increase the minimum wage for all its employees in the US by an average of 10% over the next two years, with target completion by the end of 2017. Furthermore, each of McDonald’s franchise locations, which represents 90% of the company’s outlets globally, also set its own pay rates for employees.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the wages paid to McDonald’s employees in New York have been a topic of debate for several years, with many accusing the company of underpaying its employees. While many McDonald’s employees in New York receive minimum wage, wages may differ depending on the location of the employee, their job role or responsibilities, and the length of their employment with the company.
The company has taken several steps to address the issue, such as raising the minimum wage for its employees, but the debate remains ongoing. With a continued focus on the wages of low-level employees globally and the role of major corporations in addressing wage inequality, it is essential for McDonald’s to continue to adopt measures that address this issue in a systematic and comprehensive manner.