McDonald's Shuts Down Internal Website After Series of Public Gaffes

After a wave of public scrutiny and commentary, McDonald's has done away with the McResource Line, an internal employee website that, among other things, offered obtuse and ironic advice to the fast food conglomerate's employees, many of whom earn near the minimum wage.

Before it was taken down this week, McDonald's employees - or anyone with a valid email address - could access the site. The website's removal came after CNBC and various news outlets reported that the home of the Big Mac and the Double Quarter Pounder with Cheese was ironically suggesting to its workers that they should practice a healthy lifestyle by avoiding fast food.

"Fast foods are quick, reasonably priced, and readily available alternatives to home cooking. While convenient and economical for a busy lifestyle, fast foods are typically high in calories, fat, saturated fat, sugar, and salt and may put people at risk for becoming overweight," one post on the site read.

The health advice also noted that regularly eating at fast food restaurants makes it hard to maintain a healthy diet.

"Although not impossible it is more of a challenge to eat healthy when going to a fast food place. In general, avoiding items that are deep fried are your best bet. Healthier choices include sandwiches that can be loaded with vegetables. Limit the extras such as cheese, bacon, and mayonnaise. Eat at places that offer a variety of salads, soups and vegetables to help maintain your best health," another post read.

The irony behind the messages was likely unintended. The McResource Line was managed by a subcontractor rather than McDonald's itself. The messages that are making headlines this week are also dated, with posts from as long ago as 2009.

The site had been criticized in the past as well for the obtuse advice it offered to the McDonald's workforce, who earns a median wage of less than $9 per hour.

Earlier this year, the McResource Line offered advice for how to tip luxury service providers such as au pairs, pool cleaners, massage therapists and personal trainers - services not likely utilized by the average minimum wage earner. The advice was pulled from the site after CNBC first reported on it.

In another gaffe, the $7 billion dollar company offered budget advice to employees that suggested taking a second job, and omitted accounting for basic necessities such as paying for water and childcare.

McDonald's spokeswoman Lisa McComb responded to the recent wave of criticism and the removal of the website.

"We have offered the McResource program to help our valued McDonald's employees with work and life guidance created by independent third party experts. A combination of factors has led us to re-evaluate, and we've directed the vendor to take down the website. Between links to irrelevant or outdated information, along with outside groups taking elements out of context, this created unwarranted scrutiny and inappropriate commentary," McComb said, according to CNBC.

McDonald's will continue to offer employees advice via telephone, McComb said.