Mark Peterson | Corbis | fake pictures
McDonald’s is partnering with the Mayo Clinic as the global fast food giant tries to navigate the coronavirus pandemic.
The medical center will offer McDonald’s advice on best practices to mitigate the spread of Covid-19 and review the company’s environmental health and safety precautions and some of its global standards. McDonald’s did not disclose the financial terms of the association, which was announced this week at its Worldwide Connection virtual event for all its franchisees.
McDonald’s and some of its franchisees face employee demands related to their response to the pandemic. A Chicago judge, for example, found that McDonald’s had taken steps to mitigate the risk of contracting the virus, but some places were not applying mask policies, and social distancing training was not enough.
Over time, McDonald’s has implemented dozens of new security measures, including adding plexiglass partitions inside restaurants and requiring customers and employees to wear masks.
The fast food chain also shared with its franchisees more about its commitment to diversity and inclusion. It joins a number of companies, from Restaurant Brands International to Microsoft, to address those issues in the wake of global protests against police brutality and racism. In June, McDonald’s spent most of its time in the media for the BET Awards to black activists and business owners.
McDonald’s said it will commit to addressing hiring bias and lowering barriers to make its leadership more diverse and more like the communities it serves. The company plans to intensify its efforts to attract and recruit various franchisees and to reduce barriers to entry for various providers.
“We must also recognize that some people in our system feel that they have not been given a fair chance. We have to face that fact and do better,” CEO Chris Kempczinski said in prerecorded statements to franchisees for the event.
The company will also audit its advertising and restaurant experiences to ensure they “reflect the needs” of all customers.
McDonald’s did not define what characteristics make someone “diverse” or reveal numbers of internal diversity. The company said it would share more commitments with deadlines in the coming weeks.
McDonald’s plans to have another virtual event in November.
.
