McDonald’s unveils special benefits for past and present employees

Former and current McDonald’s employees are getting the best happy food.

According to the fast food chain, 1 in 8 Americans worked at one of its stores, a statistic that McDonald’s turned into a club of its own, the “1 in 8” club (aka Crew), with a website for members. to be formally associated with each other.

Now, Golden Arches is launching a series of exclusive events for past and present crew members.

The events, which kicked off with a show in Chicago on Tuesday, Employees Only is a first-of-its-kind event series celebrating their employees.

“We’ve heard from 1 in 8 members that they feel a sense of pride in being part of this exclusive club and the shared experience that a job at McDonald’s brings,” Alma Anguiano, McDonald’s US National Field People Officer and 1 in 8er, it said in a statement.

“Employees Only is just one example of our ongoing commitment to connecting past and current crew members, providing them with exclusive opportunities like mentorships with distinguished alumni who have gone on to make an impact on the world, and much more. “

The event featured a star-studded lineup of former McDonald’s employees who spoke in a “Fryside Chat” panel, a question-and-answer session with attendees, about their career journeys, what it means to be a part of 1 in 8 and how working at McDonald’s works. a role in their success.

Comedian and “Saturday Night Live” alum Chris Redd talked about how his two stints at McDonald’s gave him the drive and work ethic for his comedy career. He even performed a stand-up set inspired by his time as a member of the Golden Arches crew.

“Nowadays, people are surprised to hear that one of my first jobs was at McDonald’s,” Redd, 39, said. “When I look back on those times, I remember that McDonald’s always supported me. Once I walked through the doors of ‘Employees Only,’ I learned what it means to practice true work ethic, which is a must if you want to survive as a comedian—or indeed in any profession.”

James Beard Award-winning chef Kwame Onwuachi was also in attendance and discussed how the skills he gained working at McDonald’s – including running a kitchen – helped propel his culinary stardom.

Actress, TV host and Emmy Award winner Clarissa Molina talked about how her time at McDonald’s helped her prepare to become Miss Dominican Republic 2015, place in the Top 6 at Miss Universe and win Nuestra Belleza Latina VIP in 2017.

In addition to hearing from distinguished members of the 1st 8th, attendees had the opportunity to have professional headshots taken, tour a historic uniform display displaying the crew’s clothing over the years, participate in a friendly skills challenge, and receive prizes of limited to an exclusive station market.

The headline, “Employees Only,” is a nod to the doors you see at McDonald’s locations — or any restaurant — marking backstage territory off limits to customers.

“What happens behind these doors is so much more than you can imagine – it’s a unique shared experience that unlocks life skills and opportunities to tap into endless career opportunities,” McDonald’s shared in a press release.

A survey by the chain found that more than 70% of past and present crew members said McDonald’s is where they learned key skills – such as communication, collaboration, reliability and leadership – and nearly half said their work at the Golden Arches it creates opportunities. it wouldn’t have been any other way.

The “Employees Only” series will continue to roll out in more cities across the country over the next few months, including Washington DC and San Diego.