Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago Recognizes McDonald's Corporation for Leadership in Providing Employment Opportunities for People With Disabilities

January 10, 2006

CHICAGO - The Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago (RIC) has awarded the 9th Annual Henry Betts, MD, Employment Advocacy Award to McDonald's Corporation for its global commitment to the employment of people with disabilities. McDonald's Chief Human Resources Officer, Rich Floersch, accepted the award on behalf of the company.

This award is given to individuals or organizations that have made significant contributions towards promoting employment for people with disabilities through job training, job placement or advocacy efforts.

'We're proud to be honored by such a distinguished organization like the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago,' said Rich Floersch. 'Our commitment to people with disabilities is not a program -it's a living and breathing part of our culture to embrace the diversity of our employees and customers - it's who we are. That's why this recognition is so important to us.'

McDonald's is an active participant of RIC's Business Leadership Team, a business consortium dedicated to enhancing employment opportunities for people with disabilities by promoting active participation of the local Chicagoland business community to enable qualified individuals to succeed in today's workforce.

'McDonald's has been a valuable business partner and local leader in successfully returning people to work and, through these efforts, providing them with the opportunity for independence, dignity and self respect,' said Wayne M. Lerner, DPH, FACHE, president and chief executive officer, RIC. 'It's with this dedication that McDonald's plays a role in helping us with our mission to help people who, through injury or illness, may have experienced a disability, achieve the best life possible.'

Additionally, McDonald's has been globally active in enhancing opportunities for people with disabilities. Their restaurants, head office and regional offices are designed to allow ease of access for employees and visitors who have special needs.

Internally, McDonald's has produced a video entitled 'Customizing Customer Service' that explores positive attitudes towards disability. This video, which was distributed to all restaurants in the U.S., promotes good employment practices and raises awareness amongst restaurant managers of disabled people, both as employees and customers.

The Company is also a partner with Scope (for people with cerebral palsy) and is working with the Multiple Sclerosis Society on their 'MS and Employment' project. And, McDonald's has assisted in research to determine best practices for hiring people with disabilities. McDonald's participated in a project conducted by RIC entitled 'The Business of Employing People with Disabilities: Four Case Studies.' The study was designed to develop employer case studies for use in a business school curriculum and as a basis for other research projects on barriers to employment for selected populations.

In the early 1990s, McDonald's launched the McJobs program, an innovative initiative that trained and placed mentally and physically disabled people in meaningful jobs that allowed them increased independence in their lives.

More than 2,000 people with disabilities are employed in McDonald's workforce in Europe. Additionally, they served as principal corporate sponsors of the 2003 European Year of People with Disabilities. And in Japan, 3 to 4 percent of McDonald's employees are people with disabilities, making them worthy of being honored with Tokyo Governor's Award and the Labor Minister's Award.

The award was presented on December 1, 2005 at RIC's 30th Annual Vocational Rehabilitation Corporate Awards Luncheon that recognizes Chicago - area business leaders who assist people with physical disabilities with entering the workforce.

Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago is dedicated to helping people with all levels and types of physical disabilities enter the workforce. More than 100 area employers participate in the RIC Vocational Rehabilitation Services program that provides consultation, training and job placement for people with physical disabilities. Nearly 90 percent of job applicants find employment through its services with the support of participating employers.

Past recipients of the Henry Betts, MD, Employment Advocacy Award include:

  • Rush University Medical Center & Rush University College of Nursing (2004)
  • Sears, Roebuck & Co. (2003)
  • Polk Bros. Foundation (2002)
  • Mayor Richard M. Daley, City of Chicago (2001)
  • Marca Bristo, President & CEO, Access Living (2000) The Northern Trust Company (1999)
  • Eugene Horcher, Illinois Office of Rehabilitation Services (1998)
  • Henry B. Betts, MD, Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago (1997)

Other local businesses honored with a 2005 RIC Vocational Rehabilitation Employment Award include:

  • Aon Corporation/Cananwill, Inc.
  • Bank of America
  • Cook County State's Attorney's Office
  • Costco Wholesale
  • East Bank Club
  • Grainger
  • Holland Company
  • Illinois Lieutenant Governor's Office
  • La Rabida Children's Hospital
  • LaSalle Bank
  • Merrill Lynch
  • Northwestern Memorial Hospital
  • Open Doors Organization
  • Pampered Pupz
  • The Progress Center
  • Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago
  • RML Specialty Hospital
  • S&C Electric
  • Sun Steel Company
  • US Gypsum
  • US Railroad Retirement Board
  • Walgreen's
  • Woodridge Controls

About the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago
The Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago (RIC) is dedicated to helping people with all levels and types of physical disabilities regain or improve their physical functions and empowering them to participate more fully in family, social, vocational and leisure time pursuits. The Institute has been ranked the 'Best Rehabilitation Hospital in America' by U.S. News & World Report, every year since 1991 and is the first independent rehabilitation hospital in the country to receive the Magnet award for excellence in nursing services by the American Nurses Credentialing Center. For more information, please visit our Web site at www.ric.org.

About McDonald's
McDonald's is the leading global foodservice retailer with more than 30,000 local restaurants in more than 100 countries. Approximately 70 percent of McDonald's restaurants worldwide are owned and operated by independent, local businessmen and women. Please visit our website at www.mcdonalds.com to learn more about the Company.

Journalists contact: mediarelations@ric.org, 312-238-6044.
All others contact: webmaster@ric.org.