A report released on March 16 by Fight for 15, a labor campaign developed by Service Employees International Union, may be of concern for fast food workers and labor unions in New Jersey. According to the report, McDonald’s has an issue with workplace burns, the treatments of burns with condiments and insufficient first aid kits and safety equipment. The document alleges that McDonald’s workers in 19 cities have made complaints of burns and workplace injuries resulting from under staffing and pressure from supervisors to work faster. The organization admits to bias against McDonald’s as it has been trying to push for unions and an increase in wages for employees at McDonald’s.
A survey of 1,400 fast food workers by Hart Research Associates, conducted for the National Council for Occupational Safety and Health, shows a similar trend of using condiments such as mayonnaise, mustard and butter for burns. Approximately 33 percent of the employees surveyed claimed to have received this type of treatment for burns. Poll results show that over 50 percent of the workers surveyed had had multiple workplace injuries.
The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration has already looked into six claims from McDonald’s workers and is conducting an investigation on a number of others. A McDonald’s spokesperson claimed that the labor union had launched a campaign meant to discredit the fast food chain.
When workplace injuries occur, supervisors and managers are responsible for reporting them to insurance companies and government agencies. In New Jersey, workers can receive partial or permanent benefits even if they held some fault in an accident. In some cases, disputes result when employers call into question whether employees were acting in a job-related capacity when injured or whether the injury or illness resulted from the workplace accident.
Source: RT Question More, “‘Put Mustard On It’: McDonald’s Workers Sue Over Workplace Burns,” March 16, 2015