9/1/2021- 5:51 p.m.
Oregon – The Biddle Road franchise in Medford put a banner outside its shop two weeks ago, urging younger workers to apply.
A branch of McDonald’s in Oregon, US, is calling on 14 and 15 year olds to apply for jobs at the restaurant amid a shortage of fast food workers.
According to reports, it has seen a spike in applications since making the offer, which complies with labour laws. It comes as fast food and other outlets across the US struggle to fill vacancies despite restrictions easing.
McDonald’s declined to comment on the move but told the BBC it was sharing best practices for hiring with all its franchisees.
It added that franchisees had a range of measures to tackle staff shortages including better pay, sign-on bonuses, and new benefits like backup childcare.
Branches of Burger King and Wendy’s have put up similar signs recently.
And according to reports, the Texan chain Layne’s Chicken Fingers is promoting workers in their teens and early 20s into managerial positions, amid a lack of more experienced recruits.
US labour laws vary from state to state, but in Oregon, people aged 14 and above are allowed to work in non-hazardous jobs such as food service, as long as their hours are limited to accommodate schooling and they get adequate rest breaks.
However, it seems to be rare – the average age of an employed McDonald’s worker in the US is 27, according to research from jobs website Zippia.There is currently a sharp labour shortage in the US as fear of Covid, schools remaining shut, and a lack of available child-care keeps workers at home.
Some economists have also blamed generous federal benefits brought in during the pandemic – which provide an extra $300 every week – although these have already expired in many states.
