Skip to main content
CNN.com
Search
Home Asia Europe U.S. World Business Tech Science Entertainment Sport Travel Weather Specials Video I-Reports
WORLD header

McDonald's bids to reclaim 'McJob'

Adjust font size:
Decrease fontDecrease font
Enlarge fontEnlarge font

LONDON, England (CNN) -- A job that is low in skill, status and opportunities? It must be a McJob, according to British dictionaries and popular slang.

However, McDonald's says it is fighting back.

It says the term McJob, which first came to attention in the Douglas Coupland's 1991 novel "Generation X," may deter people from seeking work at McDonald's.

The Financial Times obtained a letter in which McDonald's executive David Fairhurst wrote: "We believe that it (the term McJob) is out of date, out of touch with reality and most importantly it is insulting to those talented, committed, hard-working people who serve the public each day."

In the UK, half the executive team started on the shop floor, according to the newspaper.

The company has backed down from legal action against dictionary publishers that use the term McJob. But this year it plans a "high profile public petition" to get it changed, the FT reports.


story.mcjob12.getty.jpg

A quarter of McDonald's exceutives start on the shop floor.

Advertisement
CNN U.S.
CNN TV How To Get CNN Partner Hotels Contact Us Ad Info About Us Preferences
Search
© 2007 Cable News Network.
A Time Warner Company. All Rights Reserved.
Terms under which this service is provided to you.
Read our privacy guidelines. Contact us. Site Map.
SERVICES » E-mail RSSRSS Feed PodcastsRadio News Icon CNN Mobile CNN Pipeline
Offsite Icon External sites open in new window; not endorsed by CNN.com
Pipeline Icon Pay service with live and archived video. Learn more