CHICAGO — Dictionary publisher Merriam-Webster has hit a McSore Spot with McDonald's over the inclusion of the word "McJob" in its latest Collegiate Dictionary.
The latest edition of the dictionary defines "McJob" as "a low paying job that requires little skill and provides little opportunity for advancement."
In an open letter sent to the media Friday, Jim Cantalupo, chairman and chief executive of the world's largest fast-food chain, took issue with the inclusion of the word and definition.
The definition "is not only an inaccurate description of restaurant employment, it's also a slap in the face to the 12 million men and women who work hard every day in America's 900,000 restaurants," Cantalupo said.
More than 1,000 people who own McDonald's restaurants got their training serving customers behind the counter, he said, taking issue with the notion that work in the fast-food outlets is a dead-end job. Cantalupo also pointed to members of McDonald's top management, including President and Chief Operating Officer Charlie Bell, who began their careers working as crew members at McDonald's restaurants.
"In fact, McDonald's trains more young people than America's armed forces," Cantalupo said.
He also said the company has a trademark on the word "McJOBS," which refers to its program for training and placing people with disabilities.
Cantalupo called for Merriam-Webster to eliminate the definition in its next edition and on its Internet site.
In a statement, Merriam-Webster stood by the definition.
"For more than 17 years, 'McJob' has been used as we are defining it in a broad range of publications, including The New York Times, U.S. News & World Report, Publishers Weekly, Rolling Stone, The Times (London), The Boston Globe, Ms., Harper's, The New Republic, Utne Reader, The Vancouver Sun," the statement said.
It said "words qualify for inclusion in the dictionary because they are widely and commonly used in a broad range of carefully edited sources."
