So you’re trying to get your money up by working in a well known establishment, not knowing the colour of your skin could prevent you from attempting to do more hours.
Well this is what happened to Divine Tenn (age 18) and 20 other black employees working at a McDonalds restaurant in Birmingham. The 18 year old was told by the Asian Assistant manager Jaskaran Singh Khela, “The black people can’t take no shifts – they’re not performing” also insisting that it was “store policy”.
The decision was made by Mr Khela due to two of Divine’s colleagues accused of under performing. Divine, a University student, joined the company in March 2014 on a zero hours contact, earning roughly £400 a month working four days a week. However in July she noticed a decline in her hours without a explanation.
Speaking with a newspaper Miss Tenn expressed, “I spoke to some of the other employees, who happened to be black, and they said they hadn’t been allowed to pick up any shifts either.”
When enquiring as to why this was happening in a phone recorded conversation with assistant manager Jaskaran, it was evident that the colour of her skin was the real issue.
Since these shocking revelations McDonalds said they were taking incident “extremely seriously” and that Khela had been sacked.
Also stressing the point that “McDonalds is an inclusive employer and any incidences of discrimination against our employees will not be tolerated.”
Divine Tenn has since quit working at restaurant.
Words: Ren_GRM