Day 310 - 04 Dec 96 - Page 26


     
     1        what, in any particular year, the strength of that factor
     2        is likely to have been.
     3
     4        It is true that in all the years that we have examined in
     5        this case, despite whatever influence that fact had, or
     6        might have had, on the level of wages throughout the
     7        catering industry, including McDonald's, the fact is that
     8        in each of those years McDonald's wage levels have gone up,
     9        partly in the early days, at least, in consequence of the
    10        wages reviews(??).  Not so, however, to the same extent at
    11        all from 1987 onwards.
    12
    13        That is the first point.  The other thing that I would like
    14        to say is that although, as I have conceded in my written
    15        submission, the number of people who leave McDonald's from
    16        dissatisfaction is likely to be greater than the number who
    17        actually say so in the reasons for leaving questionnaire,
    18        on the evidence in the case, it is still only a minority
    19        for this reason, amongst others, that, as one would expect
    20        -- and there is evidence of this in Mr. Hendon's evidence,
    21        I think it is -- if people do not like it they normally
    22        leave within the first four weeks.
    23
    24        Add to that the consideration that it is for many people a
    25        first job and that the flexibility of the hours suits
    26        people at certain times of their lives but not others, then
    27        one can see very easily -- and that is leaving aside the
    28        returnee students, mothers and so on -- how it is that the
    29        turnover could be as high as it is.  It is a job which
    30        somebody in their first job might do for six months because
    31        it suited them at the time.  They then go off somewhere
    32        else, get a more permanent job, perhaps restricted to nine
    33        to five, whatever it is, and that is the end of their life
    34        at McDonald's.
    35
    36        If one puts those considerations which are in the evidence
    37        against the detail of Bath and Heathrow, one can
    38        confidently say, as I have said in my written submission,
    39        that dislike of the conditions or poor conditions, poor
    40        pay, though they will be a factor for some people, cannot
    41        be seen as the principal reason, or even a principal
    42        reason, for the high turnover.
    43
    44   MR. JUSTICE BELL:   Well, there may be room for a very real
    45        distinction between poor pay and poor conditions in that
    46        respect.
    47
    48   MR. RAMPTON:   Yes.
    49
    50   MR. JUSTICE BELL:   That is the matter I will have to grapple 
    51        with. 
    52 
    53   MR. RAMPTON:   The final thing is -- I will leave aside poor
    54        conditions for the moment, because I have no concerns about
    55        that -- if one focuses simply on low pay, one does have to
    56        ask the question:  if it be a question of fact by what
    57        standard is that to be judged?
    58
    59   MR. JUSTICE BELL:   Yes.
    60

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