The decision earlier this week by McDonald's Holdings Co. (Japan) to make up for inadequate overtime wages and nonscheduled cash earnings owed to nearly 130,000 part-time and regular-payroll workers has sent a shock wave through industries heavily dependent on employees paid by the hour.

The operator of franchise and directly controlled hamburger restaurants said Aug. 1 that it will pay the wages due retroactive to August 2003.

McDonald's said it had mistakenly calculated employee hours worked to the nearest half-hour, ignoring any time that had been worked beyond the half hour.