McDonald's against OED

[Ya Sam]

McDonald's begins McJob petition

Fast-food giant McDonald's has launched a petition to get the dictionary 
definition of a McJob changed.

The Oxford English Dictionary currently describes a McJob as "an 
unstimulating low-paid job with few prospects".

McDonald's says this definition is now "out of date and insulting", and 
claims a survey found that 69% of the UK population agree it needs updating.

The campaign by the firm's UK arm is backed by the government's skills envoy 
and former CBI boss Sir Digby Jones.

'Making a stand'

"The current definition is extremely insulting to the 67,000 people who work 
for us within the UK," said McDonald's senior vice president David 
Fairhurst.

"It is also insulting for everyone else who works in the wider restaurant 
and tourism sectors.

"It is time for us now to make a stand and get the Oxford English Dictionary 
to change the definition."

McDonald's says that in its staff surveys, 90% of employees agree they are 
given valuable training that will be of benefit for the rest of their 
working lives.

And 82% of its workers would recommend working at the company to their 
friends.

'Derogatory'

McDonald's is now inviting its customers to sign petition books in its 
stores, or alternatively via a new website, entitled Change The Definition.

Meanwhile, Labour MP Clive Betts is sponsoring an Early Day Motion in the 
Commons, which regrets the use of the derogatory phrases attached to service 
sector jobs.

McDonalds says it will hand the petition into the Oxford English Dictionary 
in the autumn.

Its campaign is further supported by British Chambers of Commerce director 
general David Frost, British Retail Consortium director general Kevin 
Hawkins and City & Guilds director general Chris Humphries.

The word McJob was first used in the US in the 1980s and was popularised by 
Douglas Coupland's 1991 book Generation X.

It first appeared in the online version of the Oxford English Dictionary in 
March 2001.

Last year McDonald's tried to improve the image of its employment 
opportunities with the slogan: "McProspects - over half of our executive 
team started in our restaurants. Not bad for a McJob."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/6683365.stm

_________________________________________________________________
Express yourself instantly with MSN Messenger! Download today it's FREE! 
http://messenger.msn.click-url.com/go/onm00200471ave/direct/01/