A DISGRUNTLED employee at a fast food chain in Dudley has complained about staff having free meals taken off them and their hours reduced to "save the billion-dollar company money."

Burger King has scrapped its free staff meals and has introduced a 70 per cent staff discount instead.

A worker at Burger King on Castlegate Drive, Dudley, who didn't want to be named, said the move had hit them in the pocket.

The employee said: "It may not sound like a lot but for those of us that are surviving pay cheque to pay cheque, being able to eat at work allowed us to skip a meal at home, that gives our families an extra meal for them."

They also complained that employees are having their hours reduced saying: "Burger King Castlegate are constantly removing crew members hours to save this billion-dollar company money, meanwhile we continue to lose money and are now losing staff meals.

"Instead we have to pay the company back the wages we just earned to get some food, not to mention we weren’t entitled to a lot of food to begin with."

A spokesperson for Burger King said: “We have recently updated our colleague benefits to enhance our offering for all restaurant team members both on and off-shift.

"Through a significant investment, all our colleagues now qualify for 70% staff discount whilst on-shift.

"We have also upgraded our family and friends discount from 50% to 70% for restaurant colleagues to use when dining with up to five family or friends outside of working hours.

"We recognise the hard work of all our colleagues across the business and continue to invest more in our people every year, through a collective package of pay, rewards and benefits.”

The staff discount program, which is available to all restaurant team members, has replaced Burger King's free staff meals.

All team members are entitled to two free drinks or coffee while working in a restaurant.