McDonald’s employees must now answer a series of questions about their health prior to starting work.
The major fast-food chain said that before any shift, workers will be asked if they are showing COVID-19 symptoms, if they’ve been diagnosed, if they’ve been in close contact in the past two weeks with someone who has been diagnosed, and if they’ve been told to self quarantine.
If an employee answers no to all the questions, he or she can start the shift. But if one of the answers is yes, the employee is sent home until a medical official says it’s okay to return.
“Implementing these extra precautionary measures is another way employees can feel good about where they work, and customers can trust their favorite McDonald’s menu items are being prepared by healthy crew members. This is one of the many ways McDonald’s is doing its part to help stop the spread of COVID-19 at this critical time,” Joe Erlinger, president of McDonald’s USA, said in a statement.
Recently, RBI announced that it sent 15,000 infrared thermometers to its stores to test employees’ temperatures prior to work. Starbucks used the same measure in China to prevent sick workers from entering.
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McDonald’s has closed many of its dining areas and all of its play areas, adopted social distancing guidelines, increased sanitation, and made hand sanitizer available at its stores.
Employees at corporate stores are eligible for two weeks of paid sick leave if they’ve been impacted by COVID-19, and a large portion of franchised employees will receive paid leave via the Families First Coronavirus Response Act.
The fast-food chain closed all 1,270 units in the U.K. because of the virus. The company said people directly employed by the company would receive full pay for their scheduled hours until April 5, according to the BBC. Restaurants are also closed in France, Italy, and Spain.
McDonald’s suspended its all-day breakfast menu to lower complexity and increase efficiency at its stores during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well. Nearly all U.S. locations are operating via drive-thru, takeout, or delivery. Some locations have limited hours.
“The health and safety of our restaurant employees is a top priority for franchisees across the McDonald’s System,” Mark Salebra, National Franchisee Leadership Alliance chair, said in a statement. “At the same time, I think restaurant employees across the country are taking great pride in serving our communities. Whether it’s preparing a hot meal for a healthcare worker or providing a sense of comfort for families with a Happy Meal, our people have stepped up tremendously during this time.”
