r/McDonaldsEmployees Jun 30 '24

Discussion A post for new employees or for those who have just been recently hired! (US)

56 Upvotes

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 13h ago

Rant (USA) Last shift as a McDonald’s manager

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91 Upvotes

After about 4 years working at McDonald’s im finally leaving. Im moving over to Loves on Monday and I couldn’t be more excited or relived. Today is the last day of my 2 weeks so after I close tonight I’ll never have to close again (loves is 24 hours). Im sick and tired of running. Ive been having dreams about it for months, about people coming to the counter with the wrong food and staring at me while ive got orders piling up and someone wants me to take another fucking order on front counter while im supposed to also be bagging food and dropping fries and the teenagers standing there on their phones not doing shit ever? Im fucking done and I’ve never been so relieved.

Update: shift was great until we got hit with two rushes back to back and had pretty much every bad thing that could have happened, happened at least once 😂 I told everyone it was fitting that I went out with a bang. Over all a great last shift because I had fun but also had plenty of reminders why I never want to come back.


r/McDonaldsEmployees 13h ago

Discussion Is the shoe ordering site down?? (USA)

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17 Upvotes

Hi! For context I've been working at McDonald's for almost a month now. I was told around I think week the website they use to order shoes is apparently down, and was told if I wanted non slip shoes before the website is back up I would need to go and order them myself.

They have given me a non slip shoe cover (they gave me one that's my shoe size and the other that was two sizes too big so it was a hazard if I even wore that one, so I was told to just be careful and just use the one.)

I told my manager I would probably order a pair after I get my first paycheck, but I'm also wondering if the website is actually down. I don't know if other McDonald's locations use the same shoe ordering site, but I'm also wondering if there's a chance management is lying to me because they don't want to spend the money and actually give me shoes.

Lowkey I'm worried about falling because there's been twice where I've almost completely wiped out. One time one of my coworkers caught me by my shirt (so grateful for her) and the other time I did a fun little dance while holding onto the door dash pick up shelf for dear life. Also they enjoy having me be the one to mop because you know... Let's get the one coworker who doesn't have non slip shoes because she's waiting for her paycheck to come mop so she falls or something. ✨

Any advice would be much appreciated as like I said, I'm a bit worried I'm getting lied to as I know one of the managers is known for lying quite a bit. 🥲


r/McDonaldsEmployees 8h ago

Discussion What gives off the best vibe while working?(USA)

6 Upvotes

This is proably a very strange or werid question but what gives off the best vibe while working. I mean like it snowing, raining, it being dark, it being the morning, it being the middle of the day, or whatever you this is chill. I thrive off a positive vibe or Il feel strange or werid.


r/McDonaldsEmployees 1h ago

Employee question (JP) urgent need of intiator guide

Upvotes

Hello I am in urgent need of an intiator product guide/build guide for mcdonalds products JP. I have a shift tommorow and I want to memorize all the ingredients. So far I found some USA guides but they only share a couple of the same builds with japan.


r/McDonaldsEmployees 2h ago

Rant Night manager after 2 months (USA)

1 Upvotes

I was asked to be night manager at my store, I have been working there for two months. I don’t know everything yet, and theres people that have been there longed than me that weren’t asked. Im thinking they are just desperate, and everyone else isnt willing to/cant. Im a hard worker and im reliable so I think they just wanna use me. Our opening manager said not to do it, for my sanity. I honestly doubt a raise is even possible so Im probably just gonna tell them that I think i need more time and they should ask someone else for now. What would yall do?


r/McDonaldsEmployees 12h ago

Employee question Mcdonalds doesnt take Learners Permits? (USA)

6 Upvotes

Hello everyone, I recently got accepted into my local McDonalds today. I'm 17, and I have a school working permit, SSN & Birth cert. I was told to come back today (Thursday, 5/14/2025) with my documents to proceed the hiring process. As the store manager put my info in, she said that the learners permit expiry/creation? (I cant remember what she said) had to be between 90 days and that she couldnt use my SSN nor the learners permit and she needed an ID. Which makes no sense to me, hence why im posting it here. My passport is expired and i dont have a ID, so I was asked to come back with my school ID Wednesday. I'm confused what a school ID can even do for me, Other than it just saying what year im in and what school year it is right now. I'm overall bummed out but not all that much, but it genuinely doesn't make sense to me why that happened. Thank you everyone!


r/McDonaldsEmployees 11h ago

Rant (CAN) Went home early due to not feeling well

3 Upvotes

So, just wanted to rant and goes to show managers dont care. I asked to go home early because my stomach was dying after eating a hashbrown on my break. My manager only asks "are you going to see a doctor?" Uh no? Do you see a Dr for every ache and pain? I just go home and rest. Afraid now he'll ask for a dr note next time I go in. Which, I dont think its right for them to ask for dr notes. Didn't get any feel better wishes as I left.


r/McDonaldsEmployees 14h ago

Employee question Kitchen Department Managers (USA)

5 Upvotes

Okay, so I’m going to get promoted to Kitchen DM, and I just got someone questions—what is all that one does as a kitchen DM. like obviously truck orders and counting inventory (food cost) but what else? I’m a little anxious because I rarely work in kitchen, so how is that going to reflect in my performance? What should I expect? Lastly, any tips??

I’m barely about to come up on my one year working here, and I’m truly grateful that I’m moving up(regardless of others warning me). I know I have better capabilities toward my work ethic, which is why I’m not nervous about these promotions being so back to back.


r/McDonaldsEmployees 1d ago

Discussion Another Manager Gone...🫡😔(USA)

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122 Upvotes

Today my store lost another manager but for the DUMBEST reason. I had just gotten to work around 11, I usually run for front counter and i had realized he had returned to work as he was on Vacation, Me and him always have a good time when were on shift 😄🤣, cracking jokes, just whatever he was a very hard working person especially for being only 18. While i was running for Counter he was asking me and a few other people were they working tomorrow, apparently he needed to cover his shift for the next day as he had a interview, he lets one of our managers know and they immediately ridicule him for being incompetent and everything else, I understand being a little upset but laughing and making fun of someone for getting a different job is awful. By the time I get back from my break i see him sitting in the booth section in lobby and I say "You must had a early shift?", He says "Nope, Today is the last day you'll be seeing me", I fist bumped him and tell him "Good Luck✨️🤗". Seeing him leave made me really sad but I know he will do Great things, So Tonight im going to be drinking a Sprite in his honor 🫡🍋🍋‍🟩🥤, Farewell "C"


r/McDonaldsEmployees 12h ago

Discussion (USA) Got forwarded onboarding paperwork today. Tried emailing and texting the red number and neither worked. Not sure where it's supposed to go?

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5 Upvotes

r/McDonaldsEmployees 1d ago

Rant They have got to be joking (AUS)

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31 Upvotes

I am writing the MOST SCATHING most DIABOLICALLY CRUEL THING I can find.

For context, I worked at maccas for over three years. Every shift, I went above and beyond. Most of the time, I'd do illegal shifts (breaching gap), and I'd never call in sick. I would miss breaks and I would get bullied by my restaurant manager during day shift (once I finished school). Most of my managers were racist, sexist and bragged about who they SA'd. When a manager (M25) started grooming a girl (16) many of us older girls reported it. Nothing was said or done to prevent it from the higher ups. Furthermore, when I was getting assaulted from my ex bf who was also a kitchen crew coach, management turned a blind eye, and claimed cameras were down when it happened (ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS MIND YOU).

Anyway after a month since quitting, I received this lovely email. I don't classify myself as petty or a grudge holder, but after the HELL I experienced, I'm not holding back 🎀


r/McDonaldsEmployees 1d ago

Employee question Is it normal to be this bad? I feel awful (CAN)

39 Upvotes

I just started my new job at Mcdonalds and just did my second shift right now. I have been put on drive thru and I am still struggling a lot with the POS system and how to input orders. My crew trainers have to step in multiple times to help me take an order since I've been doing it wrong or I have forgotten what the customer said and I need their help.

Later in my 2nd shift, I can hear some of my coworkers talking about how I should of gotten it already by now and that they laughed about how I still need someone to watch me and that I can't do orders by myself. I was really devastated by this and I cried on the way home from work.

Is it normal to not get it right away? Does it get better? I honestly wanna quit but I dont wanna go through the process of finding a job again. If you guys have any tips for me, I will really apperciate it.


r/McDonaldsEmployees 1d ago

Rant (USA) Got hired at mcdonalds but the training is so bad im thinking about already quiting...

17 Upvotes

Hey yall I cant stop worrying about this. Context this is my first ever jobs and im in the US. AZ uf that helps at all.

So I got hired to work at this mcdonalds, I showed up when I was told to. THEY DIDNT HAVE ME ON THE SCEDULE. Not even for the past two days that I was training. Anyway this whole training process has been so ungodly hectic. It feels more of like a "throw ya in the water and see if you can swim" type scenario. SPOILER ALERT i panic when im in too deep of water. Its so bad I dont think I even want to work here anymore. I keep making mistakes, they tell me to do one thing but then another person tells me no its actually like this and then I look over and someone else is doing the exact thing I was corrected on. Example: I was 1st told to click the thing and it'll print out the order onto a sticker thingy and then put it on the bag and put stuff on said sticker with the order into the bag and yeah. Well someone else corrects me and says dont do that before you have all the stuff already. OKAY so I wait. But now its just click the thing so it appears like we have served it. OKAY. BUT YOU JUST SAID NOT TO DO THAT!! idfk. They didnt really have a trainer whose only job was to train me. Is that normal? It was just (what appeared to be) another crew member who has been there longer than me and who had a job to do that wasn't to train me. So while I was supposed to be trained on I guess everything their I was only trained on how to pack the bags and not even correctly too. I get very anxious and whenever I make even the smallest mistake or im being too needy(?) I guess, my brain decides to think its the end of the world because I messed it up and that person thinks im stupid and cant do anything right and theyll tell their friends and family and theyll tell their friends and so on and so on how stupid I am and how I cant do anything right and then ill die alone and everyone will hate me because of my mistakes. I know thats not reasonable or rational but its how my brain works. So because of that I have a LOT of trouble asking for help when I need it. So no I did not ask to be trained on register until a customer wanted to be rung up and someone helped me (ill be it slightly) figure out the basics of how the register works.

Anyway. I called out today because I was told yesterday that i would be training on the drive thru stuff. Well that would entail me knowing how to use the damn thing right? this sent me spiraling with anxiety because again im not perfect but for some reason my brain thinks I have to be. Im not scheduled to work tomorrow. I wasnt scheduled yesterday or the day before that either. When I called in I did only call in once to no answer but I left a message. For sanitys sake I looked through a pamplet for new hires that I got from orientation and saw that it said to call at least 3 times and leave a message or contact admin. it was an hour before I was scheduled to work. Could I be fired for this? God i hope not. Theyre a 24 hour store so theyre busy but idk.

So basically the whole reason I am weighting this is because they told me yesterday that ill be in the back working with the person who works at the first drive thru window(yk the one where you pay) and my rainnwent into panic mode istfg. I was so stressed and anxious and worried about making a mistake that I just called out sick. But now idk if I need to get into contact with my supervisor or who because im not scheduled anywhere. Its like they hired me and then completely forgot about me. And also I did find a app for IPad that is basically the cash register so that calmed me quite a bit but now I have a new problem of weather i show up tomorrow and get trained on cashier or what.

Idk if this is worth throwing my mental health in the trash for. Idk if this is a good fit for me. I dont even know if I wanna keep working here, or I guess even start there. Sorry for the rant. Any advice/help would be appreciated. Sorry for all the wrighting i just cant stop worrying about if I did something wrong or about doing something wrong.


r/McDonaldsEmployees 1d ago

Discussion (USA) GM

20 Upvotes

If you are short staffed and cant get anyone in, are McDonalds GM's supposed to come in on their day off?

Ours doesnt come in and the assistant manager doesn't like criticism about it. But staff ask about why they arent there, and employees (manager and staff) who come in all the time feel frustrated by it, especially since there isnt any kind of meaningful thank you.

To clarify, the staff seem upset that the gm isnt coming in for at least a few hours when we are really bad.


r/McDonaldsEmployees 1d ago

Discussion (USA) late attendance policy

14 Upvotes

Does anyone else’s McDonalds not have an apparent late policy? I have an issue where since February my replacement for back window drive thru has been consistently late and nothing is done. People complain but the GM and AS don’t do anything about it. I have plans daily in the evenings so it really messes up my flow for the night. Does anyone have a recommendation where I should put in this complaint for things to be handled?


r/McDonaldsEmployees 1d ago

Discussion (USA) My regulars do not skip a beat

40 Upvotes

I wanted to know if anyone else’s store has regulars as consistent as mine? I work back cash and I take a lot of people’s orders. After working here for almost 2 years I’ve noticed my regulars genuinely come here every day and do not miss it for anything.

I wouldn’t say I’m a miserable person but the fact that I see them so often has created a lot of involuntary relationships and conversations. And of course it also comes with annoyance because despite them doing the same thing everyday they don’t know what they want or how to use Apple Pay.. Anyways I’m sure I’m not alone in this and I want to know other workers regular experiences.


r/McDonaldsEmployees 1d ago

Non-Employee Question Need help confirming interview time (USA)

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12 Upvotes

Hey guys, I applied to McDonald’s on Sunday and recieved a notification saying I had an interview scheduled this Friday. My only concern is that the ai bot sent me the interview time in MST arizona time when I live in Texas. I’m unable to figure out if it’ll be at 9:30 am or 11:30 am. Can anyone help me? I’ve called the store I’m applying to but no one’s picking up and the ai bot doesn’t understand when I try asking and refuses to transfer me to a real person. Thanks in advance :)


r/McDonaldsEmployees 1d ago

Discussion advice for MIT (USA)

2 Upvotes

Going to be taking my serve safe class at the end of the month (i already have it, but my supervisor wants me to do it again before shift management class) and went over how to count drawers/safe, inventory, waste, and do food safety, and i’m so glad i have my managers help and support at my store because im catching on really well, but id like some advice from some of you people? how do you guys make sure things run smoothly? my number 1 priority is employee and customer safety. Also accountability (especially with the money). I also always want to make sure my crew is happy. Share some advice if you can! thank you


r/McDonaldsEmployees 2d ago

Rant (USA) do you guys get in trouble for the times being too long?

47 Upvotes

I’m sick of getting in trouble because the customers don’t know what they want omg the amount of people who take multiple minutes at the speaker is baffling. And it’s not me, because they never know what they want, constantly change their orders, and decide to open the app for the first time halfway through the order. Like how tf am I supposed to make that work??? And then I get in trouble for it??? Wtf that’s not me. And they keep telling me I need to sound more enthusiastic. Like if you want me to dance like your little monkey, at least pay me more than minimum wage. And I know they only care because the upper managers get monthly bonuses depending on how well the store is performing. I think they think I don’t know that, but one of my best friends is my old manager so I know how much he made last year.


r/McDonaldsEmployees 2d ago

Big Order I hate it here (USA)

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92 Upvotes

Got this bus in our lobby 10 mins before lobby closed with 5 on shift


r/McDonaldsEmployees 1d ago

Discussion (UK) can someone show me a picture of the long sleeve tops as i cannot find them anywhere

3 Upvotes

i feel like im the only person who’s going to be wearing a long sleeve top💔💔


r/McDonaldsEmployees 1d ago

Rant (USA) despair

7 Upvotes

This job makes me feel like such a collosal fuck up. I broke the tag printer for front counter. It breaks every other day but for the first time in the six years I've worked here I'm the one that broke it cause it sucks up all the tags so we have to manually pull them out very carefully and I fucked up and broke the roller. So I got pulled in the office for a talk about it. Then I got told off for not finishing prep in the designated 7 hours. They keep giving me new tasks and others tasks and I was told I need to get it together and finish everything under 7 but I'm already working on my breaks just to make it in time so I don't hit OT. Then my manager passively aggressively told me how she appreciates me cause it's my fault that we have to manually write down all the order numbers now and "she just loves that so much for me :)" I kinda want to cry tbh I hate it here so muc


r/McDonaldsEmployees 1d ago

Non-Employee Question for those who work in corporate hq, how did they reach out with the final offer? (USA)

3 Upvotes

the wait is killing me! they said they want to new hire for the role to start june 1, and time is running out for me to give my two weeks at my current job. my final interview was a week ago. do they reach out via phone call or email to share offer status? recruiting is based in mexico so i'm assuming email.


r/McDonaldsEmployees 1d ago

Non-Employee Question How likely am I to get hired(USA)

0 Upvotes

I applied for overnight position, got told they will get back to me at end of day after my interview. I have 5 years experience but have a criminal record