What's a McJob?
Judging by McDonald's response to one of the 10,000 additions to Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, managers now have a new yardstick by which they can determine if their employees will honestly say "i'm lovin' it"(sic) or not, with regard to employment satisfaction.
A McJob has been defined as "A job, usually in the retail
or service sector, that is low paying, often temporary, and offers minimal or
no benefits or opportunity for promotion."
In an open letter, McDonald's CEO Jim Cantalupo said the new
term is "an inaccurate description" and "a slap in the
face." Well, I hate to tell you,
if your employees feel that they have a McJob, you might just need that slap
in the face.
If the shoe fits...
McDonald's management style has a knack for allowing the least employable to
mindlessly follow well-established routines and recipes with special
equipment, timers, bells, whistles, and gongs. All guesswork is removed from every process. You buy a franchise and the rest is
pre-programmed for you. Some
prospective franchisees balk at how restrictive the franchise agreements are,
since they prevent a great deal of "thinking outside of the box" that
made the chain famous in the first place.
While McDonald's Theory X
management style may have survived since the 1950's, they're racing to keep up with
America's need for healthier and trendier foods. They've begun offering "better for you" fast food
items, such as white-meat nuggets and an adult Happy Meal, featuring a
salad. Additionally, they've opened a
handful of new stores called McCafe, offering coffee drinks and brioche, à la
Starbuck's.
The McCafe may very well become the next "New Coke"
fiasco. Its successful execution
depends heavily upon the ability of management to actually allow their staff
to truly think something new and different. Thus far, however, it seems that they're just going through the
motions, keeping McCafe in line with the micromanagement mentality McDonald's
manifests.
The years have brought us many advances.
Many other companies have realized the need to embrace the 21st
century. Software exists to automate
nearly everything, computers are faster and smaller than ever, and
practically every piece of information is accessible at the speed of light
over the Internet. Even the
automotive industry woke up a few years ago and started producing more fuel-efficient
engines. Maybe the inventor of the
100mpg carburetor will soon emerge from his hiding place in Area 51 - who
knows!
Most of these significant advances would have been impossible
without modern management techniques. It doesn't really matter which ones, they're all a far cry better
than assuming that, unless supervisors micromanage, all employees will avoid work, and
if necessary, go so far as to harm their host company in attempts to enrich
their personal lives.
Advances in Management Techniques
Why, of all things, with so many success models to choose from
(such as TQM (Total Quality Management), MBO (Management By Objectives), and values-based management), are there
still managers in all sectors whose management style for performance management and project management is more akin to a prison warden than to a career coach or success coach? Why do some managers
ensure that they and their organization will progress negligibly?
Perhaps they fear becoming useless as competent underlings
excel with technologies that are just outside of the manager's grasp. Maybe these micromanagers are just unable to
change with the times and keep current with advances in organizational
psychology. Regardless, it should
start becoming obvious to all managers today; no one will tolerate a
McJob.
McManagers Have a Short Life in the 21st Century
McDonald's disappointment with the disparaging term indicates that they fear that a McJob won't be long tolerated, even in McDonaldland. Certainly, as the economy picks up and first quarter budgets are approved, many employees, tethered to their current employer through fear of unemployment will find an escape from their McJob. This holds especially true for software engineers who saw 180,000 jobs in their field disappear over the past two years and whose employers have become more and more abusive in this employer's market. When the dust has settled, those managers who cling to antiquated management styles may still be able to find a place which will embrace their talents: managing McLatte-slinging baristas at the local McCafe, with rulebooks, time cards, and coffee timers.
Perhaps managers with outdated skills can survive in an economy where people are hungry for whatever job comes along. However, every economic downturn brings an upturn of greater magnitude. When better situations arise, their wage slaves will find a new master. And those managers who suddenly find themselves without a team will surely be suspect.
| 
