McDonald’s To Bump Select Workers’ Pay This July; Online High School Diploma Course And College Aid Free For All

ST. CROIX – McDonald’s announced Wednesday that it would be giving pay raises to employees who work at 1,500 company-owned restaurants in the U.S.

The wage hike would give employees at least $1 over the legal minimum – an average $9.90 an hour – by July 1. That average will increase to more than $10 in 2016, according to the New York Times.

The decision does not affect the 750,000 employees who work for more than 3,100 franchises across the nation, according to the Times’ report. That means the corporate decision neither applies to Arcos Dorados Holdings Inc.— the largest operator of McDonald’s restaurants in Latin America and the Caribbean, including the U.S. Virgin Islands.

VI Consortium contacted the franchise for clarification on whether its McDonald’s employees would see an increase in wages like their corporate counterparts.

But in lieu of giving a direct answer, Arcos Dorados highlighted the job opportunities it provides in the territory, which include “competitive salaries, flexible hours, paid leave, training to improve their professional growth and other benefits,” according to a prepared statement from franchise heads.

“Our salaries are constantly reassessed given local market conditions to offer an attractive proposal for people seeking a job with flexible hours and benefits,” the statement read. “Our employees receive continuous training, not just in operating matters, but also in values, teamwork, communication, confidence, leadership, hospitality and responsibility. That is why we are proud to be recognized as the 4th best company to work for in Latin America by the Great Place to Work Institute.”

While the lengthy prose simply means that corporate heads’ decision to offer a pay increase have nothing to do with employees under franchises that are independently owned and operated, there is encouraging news for local, McDonald’s workers who seek to further their education.

Aside from increasing the wages of its direct employees, McDonald’s will also expand a program intended to help employees of both its own restaurants and those operated by franchises like Arcos Dorados, to take online classes that will ultimately lead to earning high school diplomas.

The multinational firm said it will cover those costs and help employees with college tuition.

“We know that a motivated workforce leads to better customer service, so we believe this initial step not only benefits our employees, it will improve McDonald’s restaurant experience,” McDonald’s new Chief Executive Steve Easterbrook said in a statement sent to the media.

Easterbrook is moving quickly to improve the company’s standing with customers by introducing plans to offer breakfast all day, among other customer-pleasing initiatives.

McDonald’s has followed in the footsteps of other giant companies to attempt to boost employee incentives via raised wages over the last year. Companies like Walmart and Ikea have done the same in efforts to keep their employees from migrating to the competition.