Hundreds of McDonald’s employees have been warned that a push to enforce their right to have 10-minute breaks on shifts four hours and longer would mean they would not be allowed to have a drink or use the bathroom at any other times.

McDonald’s outlets across Australia have been facing union pressure to provide workers with paid 10-minute breaks in line with a condition in their workplace agreements, after the Retail and Fast Food Workers’ Union said it had discovered that few, if any, company-run and franchise restaurants were complying with the obligation.

McDonald's workers have been warned they wouldn't be able to take toilet breaks if they demanded their paid rest breaks.

In response to demands from some staff, the manager for a franchisee running multiple McDonald’s stores in Queensland this week warned workers on a private page on social media that the requested changes would have grave consequences if enacted.

“Let me clarify for you how this 10 minute break rule actually works,” wrote the manager for the franchisee, Tantex Holdings.