Good Example Of The Faces Of Fast Food Essay

In the book "Fast Food Nation" it’s author, Eric Schlosser, described and analyzed pros and cons of the fast food business for the employees and franchise holders.
The chapter entitled Behind the counter” familiarizes us with Colorado Springs - the favorable place for the modern business development, including a restaurant industry. One of the most illustrative examples of the rapid growth of chain restaurants in the territory is McDonald’s.
As the company aimed at innovation, McDonald’s Corporation chose Colorado Springs to be the launch pad for the approbation of new technologies and machines. These enhancements have to ensure a reduction of labor costs and increase in the speed of service.
The owners turn their restaurants into small factories with the strict rules and regulations of work process. Designing rigid standards results in a simplification of work and eliminating the need to involve skillful staff. That is the reason these jobs can be filled cheaply by teenagers, handicapped, and immigrants. Moreover, the owners of the big restaurant chains are against increasing the minimum wage and try to avoid overtime payments to their employees.
In order to keep people away from concerning about the unfair work conditions, managers use techniques called “stroking” which is the psychological approach concentrated on praise and recognition that every person is looking for.
As was pointed out by the writer, during 1960’s and 1970’s McDonald’s workers tried to join the unions to protect their rights. However, the management used the same “stroking” approach and more direct ones to reveal the leaders and plans of this operation. All restaurants involved in a union drive were simultaneously closed.
Fast food industry shows an increasing trend of the violence at the workplace. These companies are extremely attractive to the thieves due to the fact they still operate mainly with the cash, unlike the other businesses do.
High turnover and low payment rates are the reasons for the robberies since the significant part of them are committed by the employees. Therefore, Eric Schlosser concludes, that expensive and innovative security measures will not be effective until the employers do not start treating their workers fairly.
The writer illustrates the franchisor-franchisee relationship in the chapter four. Franchise is an agreement between two parties, one of those aimed at expanding the business it owns without investing in it. In contrast the other one wants to put up the funds in well-running company, instead of taking a risk in a new business.
The franchise rules established by McDonald’s differ from the one adopted in the other organizations. The Big Mac seller concentrated on the fast expanding and long-term benefits more than on financial reward from franchisee.
As the writer explains, Ray Kroc, the leader responsible for developing the franchise network, was searching for people who are ready to devote themselves to McDonald’s and shows his loyalty, rather than those who are willing to pay a large fee.
The writer mentions that, even though the opportunity to become a franchisee can be an attractive one, more than 38% of new franchising businesses have failed. Another important disadvantage related to this business relationship model is that it is not protected enough by the federal law.
Eric Schlosser states that, despite the lack of legal support, a lot of franchisee restaurants were opened due to the federal loans.