Cal OSHA Model Plan Guides McDonald's Franchises and Workers

Cal/OSHA offers a set of resources aimed at helping general industry employers develop workplace violence prevention programs, and those materials are directly relevant to McDonald's franchisors and franchisees operating in California. The agency provides a fillable Model Workplace Violence Prevention Plan, fact sheets, and guidance that summarize what must be addressed in a written plan under California Labor Code section 6401.9.

The Cal/OSHA template and guidance identify required elements for a written workplace violence prevention plan. Employers are expected to assign responsibility for implementation, involve employees and their representatives in planning and review, and establish procedures for reporting and responding to incidents. The materials also cover hazard identification and correction, training requirements, post incident response, and maintenance of a violent incident log. While the model plan is not the only path to compliance, it is intended as a practical template employers can adapt for their operations.

For McDonald's restaurants, which commonly operate under franchise arrangements, the guidance matters because it provides a clear checklist for what a compliant plan should address. Franchise owners are likely to need written procedures that reflect who will lead implementation, how front line workers will be trained, how incidents will be logged, and how hazards such as robbery risks will be corrected. Employee involvement and clear reporting channels can change workplace dynamics by encouraging more incident reporting and by clarifying expectations for managers and staff.

The materials note state timelines and indicate that Cal/OSHA is developing a general industry workplace violence prevention standard to be submitted to the standards board by the end of 2025. That process could formalize and possibly expand obligations for employers statewide. Labor advocates and employers already widely use the Cal/OSHA resources as a practical reference for prevention, training, and recordkeeping. For McDonald's workers and managers in California, the guidance offers a roadmap for creating programs intended to reduce violence, improve response after incidents, and document events in ways that affect safety and liability.