I’ve worked at McDonald’s for over 10 years. I’m that face that you see that serves you your hash browns for breakfast, maybe a quarter pounder for lunch, and even gave you a McFlurry to top off your dinner menu. So I ask you, if I caught the coronavirus, would you want me making your next meal? There are 500,000 McDonald’s workers, just like me, that have to go to work, whether sick or well, because we have no paid sick leave. I currently make $11.50. I live paycheck to paycheck. A sick day for me is lost wages. I’d literally have to be damn near on my deathbed to take a full-blown sick day. A missed check is the difference between me having a roof over me and my family’s head versus us being homeless. “Welcome to McDonald’s. May I take your order?” McDonald’s is one of the largest employers in the world. There are hundreds of thousands of McDonald’s workers that touch millions of customers’ food each day. “There is nothing so clean as my burger machine!” The C.D.C. found that 20 percent of food service workers go to work even exhibiting the signs of vomiting or diarrhea. And I should know, I’m one of those workers. Last week, I was under the weather. I was sick to the point where I had to leave the grill to go to the restroom, and I wound up vomiting. I could have been sent home with paid sick leave, and not have to worry about coming to work sick, because I don’t have to worry about how my bills are going to get covered for the days that I missed. “Hello, McFamily.” Last week, McDonald’s did roll out a coronavirus plan, stating that anybody that’s quarantined will be paid. “Protecting the well-being of our people and our customers is our number one priority.” But you guys, don’t be fooled. That’s only for corporate-owned McDonald’s. But 95% of McDonald’s are franchise stores, including my store. So that does not benefit us whatsoever. “Today, the Senate is taking up coronavirus legislation.” This week, the government passed a law that enables people that have the coronavirus to get paid time off. “... two weeks of paid sick leave.” “The bill does have an exemption for businesses with 500 employees ...” “... depending on how you look at it, it only covers about 20 percent of workers.” Republicans made it so that doesn’t apply to big businesses, such as McDonald’s. And listen closely. That’s only with the coronavirus. What about the flu? What about the next outbreak? What then? McDonald’s has the power to make it so anybody in a McDonald’s uniform that wears the McDonald’s logo, like I do, could be provided with paid sick leave, especially during this critical time. Companies can change this. Since this coronavirus pandemic, Olive Garden has given their employees paid sick leave— not just during this time, but for good. So we know that McDonald’s, Burger King, Wendy’s, Subway— they can all do it as well. But they just have chosen not to. McDonald’s could provide paid sick leave for hundreds of thousands of its workers right now, here today. Well, with that being said, off to work I go. Y’all have a blessed day.