McDonald’s Corporate-Owned Stores to Offer Takeout and Delivery Only | Eater

"The company has closed dining rooms and self-service stations at its company-owned locations in response to COVID-19 while keeping drive-thru and delivery operating; this policy affects fewer than 20% of all locations because most restaurants are franchised. Franchisees are strongly encouraged to adopt the same measures but may keep dining rooms open where local rules allow, and the company cannot compel them to change policies. The operator is offering up to 14 days of paid sick leave for employees exposed to COVID-19 and under quarantine, but that benefit applies only at company-owned stores. This corporate/franchise split complicates workforce protections and collective action—federal “joint employer” rules treat franchise owners as the employers—yet the company's preemptive move could influence other national chains, and its scale and corporate support may help it better withstand the economic fallout than many independent restaurants." - Jaya Saxena