It could be that I'm completely missing the objective, so if anyone can explain that would be good.
McDonalds have suspended operations in Russian all in the name off sanctions and disrupting the Russian economy.
So why are they still paying all the staff? how is this going to create any problems for the Russian government, people sitting at home with an income, a little like (lock down ) if you wish.
If all these people had no income then they would have to look towards the state. I thought the idea was to create maximum hardship.
Is this just a smokescreen by Macs? because I would guess if they are paying the staff, they are also paying on leases/ rent.
I don't know about rent etc., but with no business the government won't be receiving taxes. People on here have said companies are continuing to pay staff but I haven't seen it in the press. I must have missed it I suppose.
I have a (probably futile) hope that sanctions will finish Putin. The hardship of life in the USSR is within living memory for the Russian people and I'd hazard a guess that, having now achieved an affluent lifestyle, few have the appetite for an action replay.
Closing the stores is sending a direct message to the Russian people. If they listen to their state-run news (all the non-state channels having been closed down) they'll be getting a very different story.
One thing to close operations in a country it's another thing to fire all of its staff without reason. It's called human rights. They're still owed them just because their leader is a monster.
I just read that Russia intends to seize the assets of those countries that are withdrawing. Whether or not the Russian people will benefit...who knows? If the businesses continue to operate then those they employ will not suffer
It's not good for the business to be seen to be making money in a country that is considered to have illegally invaded another country ; which is causing considerable suffering to the inhabitants of the invaded country
Things aren't gonna back the "normal" anytime soon. There will be a new normal with Russia out in the cold. another cold war that will last for decades.
Thanks for all the answers. I myself just see it for what it is. A public relation exercise that will do little damage to Russian.
I did read that it would cost Mc Donalds £50 million with no details to how they arrive at that amount, or in what amount of time. But £50 million is really chicken feed for macs in any case.
Also its getting to a point that information off internet sites can be very iffy at the best of times.