Issue: McDonald's and Rest Breaks (further background information provided below). Provide a very brief outline of the organisation (specific industry, type of work; number of employees, types of occupations/jobs - skill levels; unionised or not; any other important or distinguishing features of the organisation or its workforce). Then, analyse the issue: From an HRM and IR perspective why has the employer taken this stance? How do they hope to benefit from it? Are there any risks? How could they be addressed? What are benefits or risks to employees/workers? How could they be addressed? Are there any other stakeholders who should be considered? 1. McDonalds and Rest Breaks Part 6D of the Employment Relations Act requires employers to provide rest breaks at reasonably regular specified intervals. The government is changing this provision to effectively remove any prescriptive measures relating to rest breaks and to allow very broad flexibility including the ability to replace rest breaks with "compensatory measures". There has been much debate about these changes particularly in the fast food industry (and similar industries, e.g., supermarkets) - between employers (who support the changes) and workers/unions (who have concerns about the changes). McDonald's is a good example of the issues on both sides. Some background resources to get you started:
McDonalds Restaurants (NZ) Ltd submission to Parliament (in 2010) on the proposed
A different view on McDonalds approach to Rest breaks, from the Union representing a changes to the law applying to rest breaks: https://www.parliament.nz/resource/0000116617 number of McDonald's workers: https://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/mcdonald-s-workers- claim-wage-stealing-5444950 breaks-law.htm
https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA1305/S00459/mcdonalds-case-shows-flaws-in-meal-
https://livenews.co.nz/2013/09/13/unite-union-defends-workers-breaks/ You are expected to use the resources provided, your HRM & IR knowledge from the course, and additional resources (e.g., further online company or news media information; library HRM and employment relations books and articles) as required.