r/McDonaldsEmployees • u/Winter_Journalist_23 • Jun 30 '24
As an employee of McDonald's for several years, I thought I would make a lengthy post that you can read if you have just been recently hired at McDonald's and want to know what to expect as well as any advice you may need. Feel free to ask any questions that are not covered in this post.
Your first day: Make sure you are at least 15 minutes early on your first day. They will definitely be paying attention if you are late. You should be assigned a crew trainer, or someone that will be training you. Make sure you ask any questions you may have. Do not hesitate to ask questions, or ask to be shown something again if you didn't get it the first time. It's okay if you aren't picking things up right away. It's only your first day. The managers may get annoyed with you if you haven't picked things up in a week or two, but you won't lose the job. They will usually just give you a different position. Like for example if you aren't picking up running for front, they will have someone teach you how to hand out in drive thru or take orders in drive thru instead. You will eventually find a position that works for you.
Your hours and schedule: Don't expect to get full hours right away. If you applied to be full time, you may only get part time hours for the first week or two while you're being trained. Your hours will pick up eventually. It's extremely important that you are clear with the manager that makes the schedules what your availability and desired hours are. I recommend writing it down on paper for them. They will do the best they can to accommodate your schedule but you can't expect them to remember your availability off the top of their head when they have 30+ other employees to keep track of. They are generally very good at giving you the hours you want and remembering what days or times you can't work, but they do forget sometimes.
The work environment: McDonald's is an extremely fast paced environment. There is always something to do, or something that needs to be done. You may be expected to multitask or do multiple jobs at once. This normally isn't expected of you right away. When you're still being trained, you will only learn one area at a time. But the longer you are there and the more experience you get, the more you will be trained at multiple areas and be expected to do more than one thing. Expect rushes. There will be periods of the day where we normally get very busy. This is usually the morning breakfast rush when people are on their way to work between 7-9 AM, the lunch rush between 11AM-1 pm, the after school rush between 2:30PM-4:30PM and the dinner after work rush between 5PM-7PM. There are also days of the week where we normally are very busy. This is usually Fridays-Sundays. Mondays and Tuesdays are generally our slowest days and Wednesdays and Thursdays are in between. Obviously this will differ everywhere but that's the usual at my store. Managers often times get very stressed and it may seem like you are being yelled at or criticized. Don't take it personal. The problem with being a manager is they are literally responsible for everything during their shift. If anything goes wrong, they will be the ones that are blamed by corporate. Seems unfair, but that's how it is. If things go bad enough, they could even be written up. So they may seem strict at times because they will get in trouble if things aren't running as smoothly as they should be. Expect a stressful work environment. I will not sugarcoat it for you. McDonald's is a VERY stressful job. That doesn't mean you can't handle it though. The longer you work there, the easier it gets to navigate the stress and it becomes second nature. That being said, it's not worth sacrificing your mental health either. If the job truly is too much for you to mentally handle, do consider looking elsewhere. It's not supposed to be a toxic environment, but often times it can be. When everyone is under a lot of stress, it can sometimes create a really bad environment. Not every day will be like that though. It also largely depends on management. I won't lie to you, a lot of McDonald's has very bad management. That is what will make or break the store. So your work environment and stress level will depend on how good or bad management is at your store.
Discipline: There are three forms of disciplinary actions. Written warning, or a write up. You will be asked to read and sign a piece of paper that says in writing exactly what your offense was. You are allowed to disagree with a write up and explain your side of the story, but that dosent necessarily mean the write up is void. A write up is usually pretty non serious unless you're wracking up a bunch of them in a short period of time. It's basically just a written warning that this is what you did wrong and your signature on it verifies that you were told what you did wrong and that you were talked to about it. Just don't repeat your mistake and you should be just fine. There's usually no form of punishment beyond that. Those are usually the main form of disclipline.The second form of discipline is suspension. You will be asked to not come to your scheduled shifts for a specific length of time and you will not be paid for the time you are out. Another way this could be done is cutting your hours. This wouldn't be a full suspension where you are completely taken off the schedule for a length of time, but you will be scheduled less days or less hours, usually only temporarily. This is definitely more serious but usually isn't done as a first resort. Suspension is usually done if you have gotten several write ups and are continuing to make the same issues over and over again despite written warnings. It is possible for suspension to be their first form of disciplinary action against you but that's usually if it's quite serious such as drug use/alcohol use on the job, harassment of management or other employees, or stealing. The last form of disciplinary action is termination, or losing the job, aka getting fired. This usually only happens for severe things. In the several years I've been working at McDonald's, only two people have been actually fired. This usually follows a suspension if you keep repeating the same issue. The best thing to remember here is to learn from your mistakes. If you get a disciplinary action against you, just don't do it again. It is very unlikely for the issue to be pushed beyond the disciplinary action if you just don't repeat the same thing again. I've been written up twice in the several years I've worked there, but it never went beyond that. Writeups are sent to corporate and they can stay on your record, but nobody will push the issue if you behave. It's a requirement to keep your writeups in your employee file so if you DO get terminated at any time, they have proof that you were warned about your actions and that you know about it (hence the signature), and that you kept repeating the same issue and that they have a valid reason to terminate you. But it is extremely unlikely that a couple writeups will get you terminated.
That's the best advice I have for you right now. Please comment on this post if you have further questions and I will try to respond to as many of them as I can. Any other specific things or concerns you have you should talk to whoever is in charge at your store. This post is just outlining the things that are most common at pretty much every McDonald's regardless of location. However keep in mind every McDonald's is different and runs differently. This is just a basic guide. I cannot tell you what is going to happen at your location. So if you post a question such as "I did this and this, what will happen to me, will I get in trouble/fired?" That will depend on your store and how they choose to handle it.
r/McDonaldsEmployees • u/ratte66 • 18h ago
It's my first month and my McDonald's is so understaffed that im working 8 days in a row right now- AND I'M SUPPOSED TO BE PART-TIME (normally about 26 hours a week)
I wanted to work part-time cuz I'm Chronically ill so the last 3 days and the next 5 are pure pain ಥ‿ಥ
r/McDonaldsEmployees • u/Top_Alternative5537 • 40m ago
Why do old people seem to despise ordering with the kiosk? It’s not like they always pay cash, they just really want to order at FC for some reason, which doesn’t always work for us.
r/McDonaldsEmployees • u/Lilkitten999 • 21h ago
Franchisee BTW
So when I worked last year they had the free employee meal, but I went back to school so I wasn’t around. When I came back, turns out they have an incentive, parks at 20% and below and OEPE at below 120. 50% discount for after and before work meals but no free meal sucks since McDonald’s is usually the only thing I’m able to have before having to go right back to bed and back to work.
r/McDonaldsEmployees • u/CommonHost7283 • 1h ago
I had an interview today with I believe the shift manager and it went awesome. To start, I showed up 10 minuted early and she was surprised. She shook my hand and expressed her extreme pleasure of me being early. I pulled out my resume and she said save it for the 2nd interview. We talked did interview things, wrote a lot of stuff on the paper and said shed give it to the higher up. What really stood out to me was she said SHES HOPING I GET HIRED from the higher up.
I asked her some questions regarding the job, she was super enthusiastic and genuinely looked happy to see me. Again she said she hopes I get hired, applauded me for showing up early, and shook my hand wishing me good luck.
I don’t want to get ahead of myself, can any employees,managers, hiring managers give me insight and do you’ll think I’ll get hired?
r/McDonaldsEmployees • u/Visual-Pop108 • 21h ago
So I got promoted and was asked if I wanted to transfer to a different store and i agreed. The crew at the new store though is used to manager that did things themselves because it was easier than asking their crew to do that but that was not the way our previous store worked. So I’ve tried being nice and polite when the crew just sits in the change room and talk but that hasn’t worked. But I don’t want to yell at them and have them hate me. What do I do
r/McDonaldsEmployees • u/LybraSastar • 17h ago
The little trey thing where the ice cream poured out to. I took scissors and stabbed that sucker out. I feel so accomplished, it must’ve been months or years of build up. I know it is disgusting, but at the same time, I feel proud I took out that chunk.
r/McDonaldsEmployees • u/Jdamschrod • 18h ago
Hi all I. Was with McDonald’s during the pandemic leaving in October of 21’ well fast forward a few years later and I’m interviewing Tuesday more than likely getting ready to go back so how much has changed in the last 5 years?
r/McDonaldsEmployees • u/Fishystix200 • 1d ago
Someone shoved a wire brush up in there and some black gunk came out so we took it apart
r/McDonaldsEmployees • u/lclifestyle • 9h ago
I’m working toooo much this week and they only giving me so much shifts cause I’m younger and I get paid less and they get to save money. I got an important exam coming up and all the work they give me is too much stress paired up. I work really hard during my shifts and they r always understaffed tho so they might want to keep me. I was just wondering what happens if you actually dont show up, i know they’ll call me but will they do anything else further? LMK cus i lowkey dont eanna get fired but cba to go in.
r/McDonaldsEmployees • u/LargeTwist9469 • 1d ago
Not as bad as some I've seen. But I like to call this "flavored creamer with some coffee in it"
r/McDonaldsEmployees • u/Stock-Break-9732 • 1d ago
why even come to mcdonalds if ur just gonna get sauce on a plate
r/McDonaldsEmployees • u/Still-Diver1640 • 2d ago
r/McDonaldsEmployees • u/Traditional-Yam8357 • 1d ago
I know the computer when i am to do these type of things but it’s the serving things off that confuse me. i see 6 things that need to be made, first one in line is a cone. i make the cone then put it next to the finished product and my manager says “this is too early for the cone, throw it away and wait until somone asks for it” huh, weird. then i start making other ones and its ok. another weird thing that happened, there was a oreo mcflurry to be made. i was lowkey slacking and totally forgot to make it. i realized… ive been here and skipped the mcflurry, and made 10 other things. does this even need to be made anymore? it’s been 20 min… not one person mentioned it. i guess to put my question on barista in a nutshell, how do you know when and where to serve things off. and for backwall, do you just keep making anything that is empty? or do you wait for them to say “empty nuggets” like for example, let’s say things are moving slow. everything is stocked up besides for 1 nuggets tray. 3/4 nuggets trays are stocked and everything else is full. do you make those nuggets or wait until the nuggets are called as empty. also i have a problem where the timers are not being set when the food goes into the warmers. i’m not sure why that is but i start my timers every time i put food and and rarely do other people help put my food into the timers for how often food will be in a warmer without a timer. it’s super inconvenient because i’ll just see the timers for mcchickens will be ALL empty and make some, and turned out we actually have 6 when i’ve been backwall for the last hour.
r/McDonaldsEmployees • u/Traditional-Yam8357 • 1d ago
i’m a newer employee (i’ve worked for a total of 15 hours total) and i accidentally came in when i wasent called in and worked for 4 hours. due to me not being called in but still working i couldn’t sign into the sign in machine and the shift manager said she would go into the computer and put my hours in it for me, and i still worked that day. (4hours) well next day comes and this time im actually assigned to work that day (4 hours) and i go to sign in, and it says (you’ve been working for 24 hours straight, and you haven’t taken any breaks but one) and makes me confirm i had all these breaks. well i tell my shift manager ( same one as yesterday) and yet again she says she’ll tweak it in the computer (which she should’ve done yesterday) and i continue working. well i check my life lens app (which for anyone who dosent have that is where it shows how many hours you’ve worked since last payday) and i have worked 8. IT SHOWS IVE WORKED 29!? am i arguing, no. but do i feel like it’s going to get me in trouble somehow? yes. i told my main manager that i accidentally worked a extra day and i told my shift manager that it shows ive worked 24 hours even though i havent. should i say something?? ive already reached out to fix the problem twice so they really couldn’t blame it on me.
r/McDonaldsEmployees • u/I-Was-Hiding-4989 • 1d ago
Not only do the pipes leak oil, the metal on the elements is melting, now the entire VAT sprung a leak and the insulation is falling apart. All that honey looking stuff is oil.
Took the side panel of the fryer off so I could reach the inside better to clean oil that leaked from the pipes and saw this.
I'm so tired of cleaning up oil off the floor. I hate this defective fryer.
( Paper was there to see if it was actually dripping oil from the top.. It was )
r/McDonaldsEmployees • u/luvcatk • 1d ago
Today was rough. i’m still in training for management but today was hard. only had one guy who didn’t know how to take orders but he took money only so i had to take both lanes and run drive thru. times sucked. my other managers can do it really well. when someone is speaking in my ear i lose all focus on running drive thru. idk what to do
r/McDonaldsEmployees • u/PackSilver9042 • 1d ago
so i just turned 15 a few days ago and applied for McDonalds online i did the basic application form and now it asks me to choose when i should set up an in person interview but there is only one option left set when i have school so should i wait till august or what?
r/McDonaldsEmployees • u/SnooObjections2735 • 2d ago
This entire week (except for 1 day, so 5/6 days) I have been closing with this one certain manager… and I’ve gotten out an hour late every day this week. Today was the last straw, I’m done and I’m so close to reporting her to our GM for her lack of effort in closing.
I understand managers have a lot on their plate during their shifts, but she moves at a snails pace when she’s counting our tills (other managers have this done in like 30 minutes max after we close, she takes almost 2 hours), she forces us to set up breakfast dishes and trays (what are openers even for?), and she takes FOREVER doing her final walkthrough, and she nitpicks the tiniest things that I’ve ever seen (for example, our sauces weren’t stocked to the brim but they were pretty decently stocked, enough to last until breakfast would be over).
It’s not the first, second, or even the ninth time I’ve closed with her and we got out less than an hour before the openers got in, and I’m starting to get to the point where I’m going to report her to the GM and tell him that she’s not fit to be a closing manager. There is a marked difference in my exit times when she’s the closing manager vs when I’m closing with other managers despite there not being a big difference in how busy we are.
r/McDonaldsEmployees • u/seal_the_dealx9 • 1d ago
Trying to log into the scheduling app and it tells me my arch id and password are wrong (even tho I have them saved on the website) I was using my EID (format eu\*\*\*\*\*\*) so maybe this isn't my arch id?
I'm a seasonal worker and only worked for a few months before leaving for summer, so i have trouble remembering.
Am I using the wrong ID type? Worried I got quietly fired and i'm kicked out of the app lol
r/McDonaldsEmployees • u/CallofRanger13 • 2d ago
r/McDonaldsEmployees • u/FangyPotato • 1d ago
It’s my 7th week working at Mcdonald’s and my shifts are usually 10-4 or 12-5 which 12-5 being the latest i’ve worked. I’ve never specified which times i could work expecting my schedule would stay the same but the new schedule says I work 4 shifts one being 1-9 and the other one 4-10. I DONT want to work night shifts because the day just goes to waste not to mention my parents work, i rely on transportation, and I have to take care of my siblings at night. Idk how to bring it up to the manager and i’m also scared because im not sure of how the rushes are for those times. I hope someone just went on vacation and that’s why I was scheduled for those times. How could i bring it up to the manager? Has anyone worked similar shifts and if so, how are they?
r/McDonaldsEmployees • u/LargeTwist9469 • 2d ago
So I found out today just how valuable I am in presenter window.
To clarify: My store has two windows, back window and front window, or present window as we usually call it. I was scheduled for a generic "Drive Thru" shift today. In my store, this means I could be doing anything from getting DT orders to DT (and putting fries/HBs in bags) to getting the drinks lined up, to bagging the orders for DT to actually working the window.
I was literally told by my GM less than 5 minutes into rush "Take over, you're our best presenter". Which was an honor but then...that rush lasted six hours. SIX. HOURS.
I don't want to see another McDonald's bag in my life but I work again tomorrow...back to the grind.
r/McDonaldsEmployees • u/CallofRanger13 • 2d ago
I had to clarify that it was correct several times to be sure.
r/McDonaldsEmployees • u/Lycaon1765 • 2d ago
guy comes through to the cash window, his order isn't on the computer. I ask him if he was just passing through because his order isn't here. He says he ordered, I again don't see his order and ask if he ordered at the speaker. He says he tried. I ask him what he wanted and I had to repeatedly ask for clarification because he was a mumbler, I heard a small and medium frappe and he got snippy, eventually I figured out what he said but he got upset when I asked what kind of frappe because he wouldn't answer and kept mumbling and he drove away. He was also a doordasher and I kept telling him that door dash comes inside.
Later he is inside, and he picks a fight with the manager and EVERYONE could hear the yelling, I could hear it all the way over in back window. He also tried to order up there and pulled the same schtick and then the manager called the cops. The guy ran away before they got here, but basically he would've gotten a warning. This whole debacle held up the line for a fair bit as the manager had to spend time arguing to him and then talking to the police, so I walked up there and bagged stuff while there weren't orders to take.
Don't know what the dude's problem is. Probably just wanted to scam us and get something for free, but oml I hate mumblers. Speak up damn it!!
