Lifestyle7 min(s) read
Published 14:16 12 Aug 2019 GMT
A couple of years ago, I started my 13-month employment at a local McDonald's restaurant. Like any job, there were ups and downs, but overall, I still consider it a pretty decent first job. Would I do it again? Never in a million years.
[post_page_title]Let's Go Behind The Counter And Learn More[/post_page_title]
But one thing I'm always asked is whether or not working at McDonald's has put me off their food for life. Because let's face it, most of us love a cheeky cheeseburger, but if you saw how it was all made, would it be just as appetizing?
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[post_page_title]Drive-Thru Is Quicker[/post_page_title]
If you're really after FAST food, then go through the drive-thru instead of eating in. Employees are instructed to prioritize drive-thru orders over the restaurant customers. The drive-thru experience is supposed to last 90 SECONDS from placing your order to receiving your food.
[post_page_title]Staff Don't Eat The Leftovers[/post_page_title]
There's always been a discussion about what happens with all the food waste. Whether it's the end of the day or the timer on the food product has run out, we are forced to put any food waste in the trash. We don't get to take it home or give it away - it's thrown into a special food waste trashcan and each item is counted to manage exactly what products have been wasted.
[post_page_title]But We Do Break The Rules[/post_page_title]
You'd think working at McDonald's over a year would be enough to put anyone off the food, but that's far from the truth. It may be against company policy, but the temptation is just too much... Whilst the manager's back is turned, every employee will snack, but if we're caught, we're in big trouble. I was once sent home without pay.
[post_page_title]And We Get McDonald's For Lunch[/post_page_title]
This may seem like a pretty awesome employee perk, but after a while of doing it every day, you start to see some serious health side effects... Depending on how long your shift is, you are entitled to an employee meal during your break time. You can basically pick from any standard meal on the menu, and no additions can be made.
[post_page_title]Most Employees Hate Working Nights[/post_page_title]
A lot of people think working a day at a McDonald's restaurant is the worst job in the world. However, it's made twice as bad when the sun goes down... A McDonald's employee has to deal with a lot of customer complaints on a good day, but when the customers are drunk, the shifts become an absolute nightmare.
[post_page_title]The Timers[/post_page_title]
It's true, not all the food at McDonald's is cooked fresh-to-order. Any time we cook food that isn't being used for an order right away, we keep it in a heater with a set time limit. When the timer counts down to zero, we're supposed to take the food out and throw it away. However, most employees will just reset the timer and leave the food in there until it's sold.
[post_page_title]Fresh Food[/post_page_title]
Now, if you want to make sure you're going to get a fresh meal that hasn't been sat under a heat lamp for hours, you should always make a "grill" order... Whenever an employee makes an order that has been altered from the original menu, the kitchen staff receive the "grill" order and must cook it from scratch.
[post_page_title]Fish Products[/post_page_title]
This sandwich has been around since 1962, but has never gained the popularity of a Big Mac! Most restaurants won't even bother keeping a Filet-O-Fish or fish fingers in the heaters, because the chances of them being ordered are rare. Then, out of nowhere, we'll receive five orders all needing fish. This takes time, which isn't great when you're working in fast food.
[post_page_title]Know What You're Ordering![/post_page_title]
So what's the biggest problem with working at McDonald's? The managers? The smell of cooking oil constantly in your clothes? Nope, it's the customers... The guys on the tills honestly cannot stand dealing with stupid and indecisive customers. Know what you're going to order before you reach the counter!
[post_page_title]Bored Staff Play Games[/post_page_title]
When the staff gets bored, they will mess around. I once watched a guy build a fort out of Happy Meal boxes, and employees will often have bets on the customers. But perhaps the greatest "in-joke" is ringing a bell whenever a hot girl comes to the till - all work in the kitchen ceases, as employees peer through to check them out.
[post_page_title]Extra Sauce??[/post_page_title]
Depending on the restaurant, customers can pay up to 25 cents for some extra sauce. But you can get around this just by making sure you ask the right people... However, most crew members (avoid the managers) really don't care, and as long as you ask nicely, they'll be happy to throw you some extra sauce on the side.
[post_page_title]Most Restaurants Really Are Clean[/post_page_title]
Most people I've met have always heard horror stories about the condition and cleanliness of a McDonald's restaurant. But the truth couldn't be more different... Behind the counter, the kitchens are well maintained, and hygiene is extremely important. Most staff are forced to wear hairnets and must wash their hands whenever they re-enter the kitchen.
[post_page_title]Monopoly Season[/post_page_title]
Everybody loves McDonald's whenever the Monopoly game tokens return - and this includes the employees. Despite the fact employees are forbidden from winning any top prizes, that doesn't stop us checking every single empty cup we find in the restaurant... If we do end up winning, we'll just give it to a friend and split the prize!
[post_page_title]Employee Stars[/post_page_title]
Some members of staff have them, others don't - but most customers are not even sure what they represent. Here's everything you need to know about the "Stars"... Staff members have to go through a training program for each star, where each one usually reflects a small pay rise and attributes towards obtaining a higher position.
[post_page_title]Microwaves In The Kitchen[/post_page_title]
A lot of questions I often got asked about were regarding how much of the food was actually microwaved. Well, we do have microwaves in the kitchen, but they're only used for certain things... The kitchen does have a microwave, but the only things we microwave are pancakes and oatmeal. Relax - all your burgers are cooked thoroughly on a grill. I promise!
[post_page_title]Ronald McDonald[/post_page_title]
He's supposed to make kids feel relaxed and happy about eating their Happy Meals, but this guy is literally the personification of all my nightmares... The famous McDonald's mascot is actually real. The company pays people to dress as the fast-food icon and visit stores to entertain the customers and staff.
[post_page_title]PLEASE Don't Order Fries Without Salt[/post_page_title]
It's may sound easy, but cooking a fresh batch of fries without salt is a painstaking process. Not only do we need to fry an entire bag of fries just for you, and all the equipment used to make and package the fries need to be cleaned to get the salt off them.
[post_page_title]Burger Patties Take Just 42 Seconds To Cook[/post_page_title]
So, what really is in a standard beef burger patty, and how long do they take to cook? Well, there's a reason McDonald's is called 'fast food'... That's right, for a standard border patty (used in Big Macs and Hamburgers) it takes just over forty seconds to cook, and there's no flipping because they're cooked on both sides at the same time.
[post_page_title]Do You Really Want Scrambled Egg?[/post_page_title]
McDonald's always proudly states how they only use "free-range eggs" for their McMuffins, but what about the eggs in their Big Breakfasts? The scrambled egg that is usually found on the Big Breakfast actually comes out of a carton...
[post_page_title]Oh, You Wanted Decafe?[/post_page_title]
People love their coffee! But just because you're craving a caffeine fix doesn't mean you have to be rude. Some people want decaf - perfectly understandable and we're happy to help. However, if you order decaf and then get impatient that there's not any brewed, then there's a good chance you'll be getting half a cup of regular coffee with half a cup of hot water mixed in.
[post_page_title]Drop It Like It's Hot[/post_page_title]
Okay, I've never seen anybody spit in a customer's food - but dropping food is a different story. When you're under pressure to get an order out, mistakes can happen, but as long as a manager didn't see, employees will pick up food from the floor and send it out.
[post_page_title]Learn What A "Meal" Is[/post_page_title]
The concept of what a "meal" at McDonald's is really isn't that complicated. If you haven't figured it out by now, maybe you shouldn't eat there anymore... Most items on the menu come as a "meal", which means it includes a side order (fried, salad, etc) and a drink.
[post_page_title]There Is No Secret Menu[/post_page_title]
We've all seen those suped-up burgers trending on social media, with the explicit instructions that you can order them using a secret McDonald's code... Despite the many websites and videos claiming there is - there isn't. The images you see of "super burgers", they are either made by bored employees or constructed from multiple burgers at the table by customers.
[post_page_title]Drive-Thru Workers Don't Sit Down[/post_page_title]
Standing at the drive-thru window may sound like an absolute dream shift to most of you, but for those who have to do it, it's a nightmare. When you're working ten hours on drive-thru, you have to stand in the same spot, whether there are cars coming through or not. It's agony on your back.
[post_page_title]The Beef Is Grade A[/post_page_title]
Many people love to blast McDonald's food as being cheap, low-grade cardboard! There are no two ways about this; the beef is quality. Sure, it may not be from your favorite cut of the cow, but it is of the highest quality. After all, when you're serving it to millions of people every day, it needs to be! So don't believe the horror stories.
[post_page_title]The Milkshake Machines Are Neglected[/post_page_title]
There's nothing better on a hot summer's day than a thick McDonald's shake. But sadly, many restaurants neglect the weekly machine clean because it's such a chore. Seriously, I've seen machine fill with gunk - just Google it! Best way to avoid this is to go to a McDonald's you can trust! (Often if they're really busy, or really quiet.)
[post_page_title]The McMuffin Eggs ARE Real Eggs[/post_page_title]
A lot of people I've spoken to refuse to eat the McMuffin because they hate the round "rubbery" eggs - which has always confused me. The eggs in McMuffins are 100% real, free-range eggs that are cracked in-store and cooked that morning with just a little bit of water and butter. There is absolutely nothing wrong with them.
[post_page_title]The Ice Cream Machine Really Is Broken[/post_page_title]
We've all been into McDonald's and asked for an ice cream, only to be told the machine is broken. Now, it may seem like laziness, but it's actually the truth. It's a temperamental and complicated piece of equipment, which means it does break down more than any other machine in the restaurant. So if the cashier says it's broken, it's broken.
[post_page_title]It Really Is Addictive[/post_page_title]
Most people associate addiction with illegal hard substances. However, research by the Scripps Research Institute in California discovered that the food from McDonald’s is actually just as addictive as hard substances. This is down to the dangerously high sugar content in the food. This, in turn, generates too much dopamine.
[post_page_title]We Judge People Who Bring Their Children[/post_page_title]
The fact is, we know McDonald's is bad for us, but as adults, we can make calculated choices in our diets, and are able to have a run if we eat too many burgers. However, kids only eat what their parents give them. So if a parent is feeding their kid fast food multiple times a week, we are going to judge, because it's just wrong.
[post_page_title]We Do Try To Recreate The Ads[/post_page_title]
We've all seen the ads that make burgers look huge and irresistible, and we all know too well that this is far from what we receive in the bag. However, every employee at one point or another has tried to replicate the image on the menu perfectly. But this takes precision and time, so we can only do it if it's really quiet. And most of the time, we fail.
