Day 180 - 31 Oct 95 - Page 30
1
2 Q. You have said in your statement that if a 60 per cent
3 labour turnover figure at McDonald's is accepted, this is
4 double the industry average; and if, as it is the case, it
5 was 195 per cent at one stage in the winter of 1989/90, do
6 you have anything further to say about that?
7 A. Yes, I do. McDonald's has got high labour turnover,
8 much higher than the industry average. Secondly, I think
9 that any reasonable commentator would agree that, in part,
10 this is due to the age profile and, if you like, the career
11 profile of the workforce.
12
13 MR. JUSTICE BELL: Just pause a moment. (Pause)
14 A. But I say "in part", because what I was trying to get
15 to with regard to the table is that if you strip out like
16 the youth factor which is there, if you can strip out the
17 youth factor, then, arguably, from this table, there are
18 many other reasons to do with the satisfaction issue which
19 also seemed to be relevant to the high labour turnover.
20
21 MR. JUSTICE BELL: Pause there, please.
22
23 MR. MORRIS: Maybe -----
24
25 MR. JUSTICE BELL: Just pause a moment, please. (Pause)
26
27 THE WITNESS: If I may add -----
28
29 MR. JUSTICE BELL: No. I would like you to pause, because it
30 is important that I get that answer down, or it may be
31 important.
32
33 THE WITNESS: Sorry.
34
35 MR. JUSTICE BELL: Yes. You were going to add something,
36 Mr. Pearson?
37 A. Yes.
38
39 Q. The note I have just made is that: "Firstly, McDonald's has
40 a level of labour turnover, much higher than the industry
41 average; secondly, in part, that is due to age profile, if
42 you like, the career profile of the workforce". But you
43 say: "In part, because if you strip out the youth factor
44 then, arguably, on this table, there are many reasons to do
45 with the satisfaction issue which also seemed to be
46 relevant to the high labour turnover." Then you were going
47 to add something, but I stopped you because I wanted to
48 complete my note.
49 A. Thank you, my Lord. Yes.
50
51 Q. Does that prompt you to remember what you -----
52 A. It does, actually, yes. I mean, just two points:
53 number 1 -- and I trust the -- no, this is my opinion.
54 Number 1 is that this survey -----
55
56 MR. MORRIS: The one in this book?
57 A. Sorry, yes. This survey, the results of which are in
58 the table.
59
60 MR. JUSTICE BELL: Which survey?
