Employment Relations in Fast Food Industry
Compare and contrast the similarities and differences between work and employment relations in the fast food industry in Singapore with work and employment relations in the fast food industries in Germany and the United States. How would you explain those similarities and differences between Singapore and the other two countries?
Introduction
The fast food industry, and McDonald’s in particular, have come to be regarded as emblematic of a new global culture (Leidner, 2002, pg 8). McDonald’s operates in almost the same way wherever its stores are located. Ray Kroc, the founder of McDonald’s, emphasized that a standardized approach to food production and customer service is the key to commercial success (Love, 1995 p114). Some argue that McDonald’s is the reason there is a fast food industry (Love, 1995 p25-27).
In Singapore, although McDonald’s was not the first American-styled fast food restaurant to establish operations, their arrival has paved the way in developing the modern fast food industry and is currently the market leader. In this essay, McDonald’s will be used as an exemplar to examine the work and employment relations in the fast food industry, particularly Singapore, Germany and the United States.
Standardization
Franchising is prevalent in the fast food industry as there is minimal risk in setting up a small business. Franchisees are separate legal entities and can hire their own employees at their own discretion. To ensure that outlets across the country maintain the same standards, the franchising strategy of McDonald’s requires that franchisees implement operating principles detailed in a 600 page procedures manual and used products and equipments from company approved distributors. The specificity of detailing work routine is remarkable. For instance, workers are instructed in the exact arm movement when salting a batch of fries in McDonald’s in Singapore and the States. Therefore, consistency of food standard is maintained even
Introduction
The fast food industry, and McDonald’s in particular, have come to be regarded as emblematic of a new global culture (Leidner, 2002, pg 8). McDonald’s operates in almost the same way wherever its stores are located. Ray Kroc, the founder of McDonald’s, emphasized that a standardized approach to food production and customer service is the key to commercial success (Love, 1995 p114). Some argue that McDonald’s is the reason there is a fast food industry (Love, 1995 p25-27).
In Singapore, although McDonald’s was not the first American-styled fast food restaurant to establish operations, their arrival has paved the way in developing the modern fast food industry and is currently the market leader. In this essay, McDonald’s will be used as an exemplar to examine the work and employment relations in the fast food industry, particularly Singapore, Germany and the United States.
Standardization
Franchising is prevalent in the fast food industry as there is minimal risk in setting up a small business. Franchisees are separate legal entities and can hire their own employees at their own discretion. To ensure that outlets across the country maintain the same standards, the franchising strategy of McDonald’s requires that franchisees implement operating principles detailed in a 600 page procedures manual and used products and equipments from company approved distributors. The specificity of detailing work routine is remarkable. For instance, workers are instructed in the exact arm movement when salting a batch of fries in McDonald’s in Singapore and the States. Therefore, consistency of food standard is maintained even
References: Royle, T & Towers, B 2002, ‘Introduction’, in Royle, T & Towers, B (eds) Labour relations in the global fast food industry, Routledge, London, pp. 1-7. Pereira, A 2002, ‘ “McAunties” and “McUncles”: Labour relations in Singapore’s fast-food industry’, in Royle, T & Towers, B (eds) Labour relations in the global fast food industry, Routledge, London, pp. 136-53. Royle, T 2002, ‘Undermining the system? Labour relations in the German fast-food industry’, in Royle, T & Towers, B (eds) Labour relations in the global fast food industry, Routledge, London, pp. 76-101. Leidner, R 2002, ‘Fast food work in the United States’, in Royle, T & Towers, B (eds) Labour relations in the global fast food industry, Routledge, London, pp. 8-23. Royle, T & Towers, B 2002, ‘Summary and conclusions: MNCs, regulatory systems and employment rights’, in Royle, T & Towers, B (eds) Labour relations in the global fast food industry, Routledge, London. Love, J.F. (1995) McDonald’s Behind the Arches, London: Batam Press. Leidner, R 1993, ‘Fast food, fast talk: service work and the routinization of everyday life’, University of California Press, Berkeley, Los Angeles, London. Ritzer, G 2004, ‘The McDonaldization of society’, Sage Publications, Inc, Thousand Oaks, London, New Delhi. Schlosser, E 2001, ‘Fast food nation: the dark side of the all-American meal ’, Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston, New York. Tan, CH 2007, ‘Employment relations in Singapore’, Prentice Hall, Singapore.