Day 116 - 26 Apr 95 - Page 16
1 Q. "It does not however affect any of the laws relating to the
2 employment of those people under school leaving age.
3
4 Notwithstanding this repeal, this Company had always
5 adopted a moral responsibility for its younger employees
6 and the following guidelines are issued to cover the
7 employment in McDonald's Restaurants for crew over school
8 leaving age but under 18".
9
10 Pausing there, Mr. Nicholson: "Notwithstanding this
11 repeal, this Company has always adopted a moral
12 responsibility for its younger employees", true or false,
13 in your experience?
14 A. Absolutely true.
15
16 Q. Then the numbered paragraphs: "1. Although the legal
17 weekly maximum number of hours (48) that could be worked by
18 young persons is now abolished, the company policy of a
19 maximum number of 39 hours still applies to all employees",
20 true or false?
21 A. True.
22
23 Q. "2. There will continue to be an 11 hour interval between
24 each shift worked by young persons.
25
26 3. No young person should work past midnight - this
27 eliminates the present 10.00 p.m. deadline for female
28 workers. However, consideration should still be given to
29 travel arrangements home for young persons". What does
30 that last sentence mean?
31 A. We send all young staff home by taxies.
32
33 Q. At their expense or at yours?
34 A. At our expense.
35
36 Q. So after this date, the date of the repeal, it was possible
37 for girls to work up to midnight?
38 A. Up to midnight.
39
40 Q. On an equal footing with boys?
41 A. Yes.
42
43 Q. Yes. I would like you to turn over, please, to tab 44. My
44 Lord, here we are concerned with tabs 44 to 51 inclusive.
45 I have taken them all out and put them in a single bundle.
46 Can you tell us, Mr. Nicholson, what this document is, this
47 is page 708?
48 A. Yes. This is -----
49
50 Q. It is dated 15th September 1993?
51 A. Yes.
52
53 Q. It is headed: "Management Reporting - Crew Payroll
54 System", what is it?
55 A. It is an analysis of the hours worked of all the hourly
56 paid staff in the company. This is the front page of that
57 document.
58
59 Q. This is subheaded: "Young persons working over 96 hours in
60 the fortnight ended 11th September 1993". Do you see that?
