Ok, so I wrote a letter to McDonald's corporate office asking for a list of locations that use E-Verify. I explained my reasons for wanting this, and stated that in these difficult economic times, I want to be sure that corporations such as theirs are taking the necessary steps to ensure they are hiring legal, taxpaying citizens of this country. I explained how E-Verify is a simple, easy process to use in the hiring process to verify that all employees are legal citizens. With the unemployment rate as high as it is, large, well-known corporations such as McDonald's should be doing all they can to support the legal taxpaying citizens that are looking for jobs. They also owe it to us as customers to hire employees who are legal and pay the same taxes we all do.

Here was their response:

Hello:

Thank you for taking the time to contact McDonald's to share your feelings regarding McDonald's employment policies. We truly respect your point of view, and appreciate your feedback and the opportunity to share some additional information with you on this topic.

First, McDonald's values the diversity of all of our employees, and of our customers. It's also important to know that McDonald's has always maintained a zero-tolerance policy against any form of discrimination in our hiring and employment practices. So, this is not a change in our policy. Like hundreds of other U.S. companies, we have only clarified our written policy to explain that we do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, religion, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, and sexual orientation.

You should also know that our policy applies to employees of McDonald's USA and does not affect any policies or practices that our franchise owners may have. Approximately 85 percent of U.S. McDonald's restaurants are owned and operated by independent franchisees.

In short, we cannot and do not discriminate on any basis. To do otherwise would be inconsistent with our own strong convictions as a company to not tolerate discrimination against anyone, for any reason.

Thank you again for writing and sharing your feelings with us. We hope to have the opportunity to serve you in the future.

Caroline
McDonald's Customer Response Center