Day 125 - 12 May 95 - Page 27


     
     1
     2   Q.   This is the summary by Andrew Foster.  It says in the top
     3        paragraph:  "The Company's commitment to achieving good
     4        standards of health and safety performance were not as
     5        clearly expressed as, for example, its commitment to
     6        quality, service, cleanliness and value.  These are
     7        considered the cornerstones of McDonald's business, but the
     8        example of how hustle was interpreted demonstrates that
     9        health and safety were considered as secondary in the
    10        provision of a 'quality service'".
    11
    12   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  It is page 862 as well at the bottom.
    13        Perhaps 828 is the main section and 862 is the part of the
    14        conclusion.
    15
    16   MR. MORRIS:  Yes, at the top of page 829 referring to "hustle"
    17        the Health & Safety Executive Report says:  "It provides a
    18        good illustration of the culture in the Company and the
    19        importance of good communication in the organisation.  Its
    20        application had resulted in a conflict between operational
    21        requirements and safety where the need to get the product
    22        to the customer and to maximise sales in competition with
    23        other stores had taken precedence".  By that they mean
    24        precedence over the safety of employees.  Do you not feel
    25        that a report by a body, a UK body, the top statutory body,
    26        as far as I understand, in the UK regarding health and
    27        safety of employees, should have come to your attention
    28        when it looked in such detail at the application of
    29        something that was a cornerstone of your corporate culture
    30        or corporate activity on the ground, hustle, in fact, in
    31        this case?  Do not you feel that should have come to your
    32        attention?
    33        A.  Well, I would say it this way:  It depends -- my
    34        interpretation is that, yes, hustle is a very important
    35        part of our culture around the world but, as we develop
    36        restaurants in different countries, we certainly want to be
    37        compliant with all laws and regulations, as I have
    38        indicated earlier.
    39
    40        My interpretation of hustle is one that I have indicated
    41        earlier.  It does not mean that we are trying to compromise
    42        the safety and health of our employees in servicing
    43        customers or running various pieces of equipment.  That is
    44        not the intent.  It is not the intent in the United
    45        States.  It is not the intent as we develop our systems
    46        worldwide.
    47
    48        You know, I can just say, I cannot imagine my partners here
    49        in the UK normally want to violate any regulations or
    50        laws.  I think the philosophy of having our employees to 
    51        work with purpose and dispatch is a good one.  It does not 
    52        mean compromising their welfare, their safety and welfare. 
    53
    54   MS. STEEL:  Just going on to ---
    55
    56   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Do you want to go back to the previous one?
    57
    58   MS. STEEL:  -- the Operations and Training manual:  If you turn
    59        to bundle page 149, this is the sales and marketing
    60        section.  I presume there would have been an introduction

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