MCDONALD’S IN US HIRE TEEN WORKERS DUE TO LABOUR SHORTAGE

A McDonald’s store in Oregon in the United States has advertised that they are now hiring 14 and 15-year-olds.

This is because of the country’s labour shortage where some restaurants were forced to close their sit-down options because of the lack of workers.

Business Insider reports that labour laws for minors vary by state in the US, but the federal Department of Labour set 14 as the minimum age for non-agricultural jobs. At ages 14 and 15. Children are allowed to work in restaurants and quick-service businesses, and the number of hours and times of the week are specified by law.

The staff shortage is due to many restaurant workers quitting because of the pandemic’s impact on the restaurant industry.

On the one hand, restaurants suffered tremendous losses due to lockdowns and curfews with thousands of restaurant workers and other catering industry workers that were either retrenched or just informed that they no longer have a job when their restaurants were forced to shut down.

On the other hand, several waiters and other restaurant staff have complained that customers are aggressive towards them. Complaints about customers refusing to wear masks or becoming violent when asked to wear a mask inside the restaurant have grown in numbers.

Image credit: Market Watch