Mcdonalds have set up a website:  http://www.changethedefinition.com/ to petition dictionary writers to buckle under corporate pressure.

Registrant: Emma Bailey, 30 Farringdon Street, London, London, London EC4A 4EA GB

Domain name: CHANGETHEDEFINITION.COM

Administrative Contact: Bailey, Emma  emma.bailey@barkers.co.uk
30 Farringdon Street, London, EC4A 4EA GB +44.2076341126

Has set up a website on behalf of Barkers  http://www.barkers.co.uk/

Who offer a recruitment service. Maybe Barker Mcjobs keep them awake at night.


The petition reads

"We, the undersigned, petition the UK’s dictionary houses to change the current definition of McJob to better reflect the reality of service sector jobs. McJob is currently defined in the dictionary as “an unstimulating, low-paid job with few prospects, esp. one created by the expansion of the service sector.” This definition is out of date, out of touch with reality and most importantly is insulting to those hard-working, talented and committed people who serve the public every day in the UK. As the namesake for this derogatory term, this prejudice is felt most sharply by the 67,000 people who pursue careers and jobs at McDonald’s in the UK."

(fair use quotation from a publically accessible web site  http://www.changethedefinition.com/)

and claims to be nothing to do with recruitment.

The term is not derogatory. It describes a job not a person. You cannot degrade a job. Especially if the job is degrading. The definition insults no person employed in the McJob and to suggest that it does is outrageous. It is more insulting that a corporation would wish to have a definition changed without fundamentally changing the job definition.

In promoting this corporate puff piece, McDonalds have enlisted the BBC ( http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/6683365.stm). This gives the corporation access to a large audience. It is, essentially free advertising. The kind of advertising that costs a lot. The kind of advertising that could be held to demonstrate a meanness of spirit inherent in the creators of McJobs. A term first used in a 1991 book and hiow the term is most commonly used. The attempt bullies people into corporate speak by attempting to rewrite the language.