"Forget the Grinch, kids. Gather 'round to hear a new holiday tale of woe: How Ronald McDonald Stole Christmas.

Yep, it looks like employees of the nation's biggest burger chain are about to get royally Scrooged this year.

According to internal company memos obtained by Ad Age, McDonald's is strongly urging its franchisees to keep the fryers sizzling on Christmas Day. In one memo, Jim Johannesen, chief operating officer of McDonald's USA, calls it "our largest holiday opportunity as a system."*

McDonalds corporate is putting pressure on restaurants to stay open on Christmas and not pay their workers overtime. They're saying no one is being "forced" to work, but is that a fair thing to say? Why does McDonald's treat their workers so badly?