Shareholders approved of McDonald's advisory measure on Thursday, endorsing CEO Don Thompson and other top company executives' total 2013 compensation of $9.5 million.
According to Reuters, 94 percent of shares passed the bid at the company's annual meeting in its Oak Brook, Ill., headquarters. Methods to reach final amounts were also approved in a non-binding decision.
Market share losses, beef price increases, health concerns from parents and children and protests against low pay have kept the company busy in the recent past. While higher-ups met inside McDonald's HQ, workers protested nearby, demanding $15 an hour wages and more benefits.
Nearly 2,000 demonstrators, 325 of whom wore McDonald's restaurant uniforms, swarmed the company's main offices this week. 140 workers, 500 employees from other fast food companies, 50 clergy members and several community activists also crowded the property, forcing the burger chain to request workers stay home to avoid protest-related issues on Wednesday.
138 arrests resulted from attendees reportedly refusing to leave McDonald's property.
"We believe we pay fair and competitive wages," Thompson told a crowd of protestors at Thursday's meeting.
Thompson previously said the company does not gear its marketing towards children, dispelling previous rumors.
"We are people. We do have values at McDonald's. We are parents," Thompson said.
National and international fast food employees previously held protests to fight for pay higher than their current $7.25 an hour, which amounts to $15,000 a year.
One Kansas City, Mo., worker previously told USA Today she believes executives don't deserve higher pay than employees who keep company restaurant locations functioning.
"They're making billions ... but we sweep their floors, take out their trash and service their customers," Melinda Tope stated. "We don't deserve to live in poverty and to worry about our lights being cut off."
