McDonald's said it was the first contract of its kind in the UK

Members of the same family working in the same outlet will be able to swap shifts without giving prior notice or getting a manager's permission.

The new contracts were aimed at cutting absenteeism and improving staff retention, the company said.

It said they were tested in Cardiff, Cambridge, Stoke and Luton, and were the first of their kind in the UK.

It was hoped the contracts would also "encourage people to become fully trained and fully rotatable".

It is currently limited to family members, but might be extended to cover friends who work at the same restaurant.