OAK BROOK (dpa-AFX) - McDonald's USA (MCD) announced enhanced benefits for employees at its company-owned restaurants, including a wage increase and paid time-off for full and part-time crew employees. By the end of 2016, McDonald's projects that the average hourly wage rate for McDonald's employees at company-owned restaurants will be in excess of $10.
On July 1, 2015, starting wages at McDonald's company-owned restaurants in the U.S. will be one dollar over the locally-mandated minimum wage. The wages of all employees up to restaurant manager will be adjusted accordingly based on tenure and job performance.
Also on July 1, full- and part-time crew employees at company-owned restaurants, with at least one year of service, will begin to accrue personal paid time-off. For example, an employee who works an average of 20 hours per week will be eligible to accrue approximately 20 hours of paid time off per year. If these employees don't take the time off they've earned, they will be paid for the value of that time.
These two benefit enhancements apply to McDonald's company-owned restaurants, which represent more than 90,000 employees and about 10 percent of McDonald's restaurants nationwide. The more than 3,100 McDonald's franchisees operate their individual businesses and make their own decisions on pay and benefits for their employees.
In addition, McDonald's USA has increased efforts to help the about 750,000 employees who work in a McDonald's restaurant -- company- and independently-owned -- achieve a higher level of education by expanding its Archways to Education offerings to include free high school completion and college tuition assistance. This program also reflects the values of the men and women who own McDonald's franchises, and understand the value of opportunity.
Through Career Online High School (COHS), a national accredited program, eligible restaurant employees can take classes required to earn a high school diploma when and where it's convenient for them and McDonald's USA will cover the costs. For those seeking a college education, McDonald's will assist with college credits and tuition assistance.
Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX