Day 118 - 01 May 95 - Page 37


     
     1   Q.   But over the time that you were Head of Personnel ---
     2        A.  Yes, I think -----
     3
     4   Q.   -- staff were not allowed to bring in food themselves, were
     5        they?
     6        A.  I think it varied from store to store, actually.
     7        I think some managers relaxed the rule.  Generally, we
     8        would prefer them to eat our product.  It was given free.
     9
    10   Q.   Yes, you say "generally", but generally staff were not
    11        allowed to bring in food from outside; they had to eat the
    12        food -- is that your understanding?
    13        A.  I believe the situation was that we preferred them to
    14        have our food and we provided it free.  I have heard of
    15        managers who have allowed -- I mean, if someone had special
    16        needs, yes, you would do that.  But, generally, we have
    17        encouraged them ---
    18
    19   Q.   Generally, they had to eat McDonald's food?
    20        A.  -- to eat McDonald's food, yes.
    21
    22   MS. STEEL:   If they were working five days a week, you would
    23        expect them to eat McDonald's food five days a week?
    24        A.  I did when I did my month's in-store training.
    25
    26   Q.   You did?  That would be the normal thing?
    27        A.  Yes.
    28
    29   MR. MORRIS:  I am sorry to keep jumping up.  How is the
    30        provision of free food a benefit?  Never mind the food
    31        quality and all that kind of stuff, quantity or anything
    32        like that, how is the provision of free food an additional
    33        benefit to the basic rates of pay?
    34        A.  I can only draw you a parallel; when I was in the
    35        Police Service I paid for my meals and that is expensive.
    36
    37   Q.   So it is a benefit because otherwise the workers would have
    38        to pay ---
    39        A.  Yes.
    40
    41   Q.   -- additional ---
    42        A.  Yes.
    43
    44   Q.   -- costs?  Are you aware that it was actually -- I am not
    45        sure if it still is -- a condition of paying the minimum
    46        pay under the Wage Council ruling, regulations, that on
    47        condition of being able to pay the absolute minimum wage
    48        McDonald's were paying that they had to provide free meals?
    49        A.  I cannot remember.  That -- you are looking at the old
    50        order there; that finished in 1986. 
    51 
    52   Q.   If you turn to, I believe it is ---- 
    53        A.  I will accept it -- if you are reading it, I will
    54        accept it.
    55
    56   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  No, we may just as well find it if it is
    57        there now.
    58
    59   THE WITNESS:  Can you direct me, please?
    60

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