Will you let this man handle your food? See what this restaurant employee did that sparked disgust!
- Replies 9
Food and eating is an integral part of our life. It fuels us for daily activities and keeps us healthy.
Yet, in a world where we're increasingly aware of the importance of food safety standards, it's disheartening to see some of these standards being disregarded by food establishments.
This was the case at a Hungry Jack's branch in Elizabeth Street, Melbourne, where a worker's 'disgusting' act sparked outrage and concern among Australians.
In footage posted online, a customer spotted a Hungry Jack's employee performing a dangerous balancing act.
In an attempt to compress rubbish bins, the worker jumped into one, with the bin wobbling under the man's weight.
The worker continued to jump from one bin to another to push down rubbish.
The man's act of desperation to manage waste raised serious questions about the working conditions in the fast-food industry.
'That's disgusting, and I work in fast food,' one comment read.
'I never thought I'd see anyone actually do this,' another wrote.
'This is so wrong. It's a health and safety violation,' a third lamented.
Josh Cullinan, the Secretary of the Retail and Fast Food Workers Union, expressed his dismay about the footage in an interview.
Mr Cullinan stated that the said conduct was 'unsafe and contrary to anything workers should be doing'.
'Unfortunately, this is a consequence of the value employers in the fast food and retail industries place on workers,' Mr Cullinan explained in an interview.
'Rather than contracting additional waste removal capacity, employers will insist workers literally use their bodies to compress waste and save a buck.'
'Hungry Jack's will no doubt blame the workers. They will claim some policy is being breached, but Hungry Jack's encourages this by devaluing their workers and putting profit first,' Mr Cullinan added.
In response to the video circulating online, a Hungry Jack's spokesperson stated that the worker breached the company's rubbish process.
'We have strict processes to ensure the safety and wellbeing of staff and customers,' the spokesperson stated.
'This issue is now being investigated internally, and the approved processes have been reinforced.'
Meanwhile, the manager of the Hungry Jack's branch location where the incident occurred was surprised at the worker's conduct.
Unfortunately, this was not the first time a Hungry Jack's store has been in the spotlight for questionable practices.
Last year, a Hungry Jack's store in Preston received hefty fines for improper waste liquid management.
The store's improper waste management practice led to cooking oil flowing into storm water drains.
Although Hungry Jack's took responsibility by cleaning up and taking additional precautions, the incident underscored a broader issue within the fast-food industry.
Watch the whole footage here:
Source: @elizabethsouth4/TikTok
Environment Protection Authority (EPA) Victoria's West Metropolitan Regional Manager, Steve Lansdell, emphasised that 'everyone has a duty to protect the environment'.
'Oil and cooking wastes do not belong in our drain networks,' Mr Lansdell stated.
Mr Lansdell further stressed that major fast-food franchises should have controls in place and ensure that staff members are trained to manage waste properly.
This incident should be a reminder for everyone to stay observant and maintain high food quality standards, especially in the places we dine in.
Have you witnessed any concerning practices at your local eateries? Share your thoughts and experiences related to this issue in the comments section below.
Yet, in a world where we're increasingly aware of the importance of food safety standards, it's disheartening to see some of these standards being disregarded by food establishments.
This was the case at a Hungry Jack's branch in Elizabeth Street, Melbourne, where a worker's 'disgusting' act sparked outrage and concern among Australians.
In footage posted online, a customer spotted a Hungry Jack's employee performing a dangerous balancing act.
In an attempt to compress rubbish bins, the worker jumped into one, with the bin wobbling under the man's weight.
The worker continued to jump from one bin to another to push down rubbish.
The Hungry Jack's employee had little to no safety equipment while handling rubbish. Image Credit: TikTok/Elizabeth South
The man's act of desperation to manage waste raised serious questions about the working conditions in the fast-food industry.
'That's disgusting, and I work in fast food,' one comment read.
'I never thought I'd see anyone actually do this,' another wrote.
'This is so wrong. It's a health and safety violation,' a third lamented.
Josh Cullinan, the Secretary of the Retail and Fast Food Workers Union, expressed his dismay about the footage in an interview.
Mr Cullinan stated that the said conduct was 'unsafe and contrary to anything workers should be doing'.
'Unfortunately, this is a consequence of the value employers in the fast food and retail industries place on workers,' Mr Cullinan explained in an interview.
'Rather than contracting additional waste removal capacity, employers will insist workers literally use their bodies to compress waste and save a buck.'
'Hungry Jack's will no doubt blame the workers. They will claim some policy is being breached, but Hungry Jack's encourages this by devaluing their workers and putting profit first,' Mr Cullinan added.
In response to the video circulating online, a Hungry Jack's spokesperson stated that the worker breached the company's rubbish process.
'We have strict processes to ensure the safety and wellbeing of staff and customers,' the spokesperson stated.
'This issue is now being investigated internally, and the approved processes have been reinforced.'
Meanwhile, the manager of the Hungry Jack's branch location where the incident occurred was surprised at the worker's conduct.
Unfortunately, this was not the first time a Hungry Jack's store has been in the spotlight for questionable practices.
Last year, a Hungry Jack's store in Preston received hefty fines for improper waste liquid management.
The store's improper waste management practice led to cooking oil flowing into storm water drains.
Although Hungry Jack's took responsibility by cleaning up and taking additional precautions, the incident underscored a broader issue within the fast-food industry.
Watch the whole footage here:
Source: @elizabethsouth4/TikTok
Environment Protection Authority (EPA) Victoria's West Metropolitan Regional Manager, Steve Lansdell, emphasised that 'everyone has a duty to protect the environment'.
'Oil and cooking wastes do not belong in our drain networks,' Mr Lansdell stated.
Mr Lansdell further stressed that major fast-food franchises should have controls in place and ensure that staff members are trained to manage waste properly.
This incident should be a reminder for everyone to stay observant and maintain high food quality standards, especially in the places we dine in.
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. I just hope he didn’t lose his job.
