Group Urges Boycott to Make McDonald's Screen-Out Sex Offenders
by Ed Thomas
May 22, 2006
(AgapePress) - - According to a recent media report, in the four states that identify employers on their sex-offender registries, some 42 offender names were listed as working for McDonald's. The news, along with documented incidents of employees being arrested for new sex-related crimes, has brought criticism from an organization that works to prevent child abuse. The investigative report was done by Nashville's TV NewsChannel 5 and revealed a company employment policy that rules out hiring registered sex offenders at company-owned stores but leaves franchisee-owned stores free to set their own policies. However, a statement from the company notes that criminal background checks on those hired are not guaranteed even at corporate locations. (See earlier article)
Jody Gorran, founder of the National Foundation to Prevent Child Sexual Abuse, finds this unacceptable from a business that markets itself as child-friendly. There is no excuse for such a negligent policy, he contends, especially since computerized criminal background checks are available through commercial databases and from the Federal Bureau of Investigations.
Gorran feels the McDonald's officials should be held accountable and compelled to change their employment policy to require criminal background checks. "By hiring convicted sex offenders to work in their restaurants, they're putting not only fellow young employees at risk but also children from the public at risk," he says.
The National Foundation founder maintains several websites that teach individuals how to get both fingerprint checks and criminal background checks on prospective employees. However, he notes, dozens of the McDonald's staff members found to have sex crime backgrounds were even listed on Internet sex offender registries in their states.
It is ridiculous, Gorran contends, that fast-food giant's employment practices have allowed convicted sexual predators and child predators to be hired at its franchises across the United States. "I've never heard of anything like that," he says. "It's totally absurd. It's beyond the pale."
The fact that the popular restaurant chain "can have standards for making their hamburgers and making their fries but not have standards for their franchisees in terms of who they hire to work in their restaurants is outrageous," Gorran says.
A response statement from McDonald's notes that the safety and well-being of customers and employees is a top priority with the company and that the allegations are being investigated. Meanwhile, the National Foundation to Prevent Child Sexual Abuse is calling on parents and families to boycott McDonald's until the corporation requires its franchises to do background checks on all employees.
Ed Thomas, a regular contributor to AgapePress, is a reporter for American Family Radio News, which can be heard online.
