Struggling to get by? Well you may just not be trying hard enough, according to McDonalds, who have apparently given their impoverished employees some eyebrow-raising advice.
A video released by anti-low wage group Low Pay Is Not OK, appear to show suggestions from the fast food giant on how its workers can reduce "holiday debt."
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McDonald’s might want to rethink their human resources, or rather, “McResource,” team, after the company's struggling employees were reportedly given handy tips to drag themselves out of poverty, including to eat less and break food into smaller pieces when they ate to stay full for longer.
Staff should also complain less, it advises, as "stress hormone levels rise by 15% after ten minutes of complaining."
"Singing along to your favourite songs can lower your blood pressure" and may also help, the hot line cheerfully recommends.
Under the "Tightening Your Belt," section the company advises that staff may also want to consider returning gifts for cash, or selling unwanted possessions on eBay to bring in "some quick cash."
Paradoxically the company also advises hard-up staff to take "at least two vacations a year ," in order to cut their heart attack risk by 50%.
While it would seem to many that these tips are totally useless, McDonald’s maintains they were taken out of context.
“This is an attempt by an outside organisation to undermine a well-intended employee assistance resource website by taking isolated portions out of context," the fast-food company said in a statement quoted by NBC Chicago.
"The McResource website has helped countless employees by providing them with a variety of information and resources on topics ranging from health and wellness to stress and financial management.
"The website also includes some rotating ‘quick tips’ and while we recognise that some of these could be taken out of context, the vast majority of the resources and information on the site are based on credible outside experts and well-published advice," they added.
At least Walmart had the decency to hold a food drive for its starving employees.
The Walmart food drive has also sparked outrage
Low wages for workers in the fast-food industry have recently been the subject of increased scrutiny from academic researchers and prompted protests from employees.
A study released in October found that families of fast-food workers received an average of $7 billion in federal assistance per year between 2007 and 2011.
McDonald's employees received the most public assistance of all fast-food chains during that period, averaging $1.2 billion annually.