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8 strict McDonald’s rules that could get employees fired

8 strict McDonald’s rules that could get employees fired

According to McDonald’s corporate website, the fast food giant operates 42,000 restaurants in more than 100 countries—an astonishing number. No less astonishing is the number of network employees, numbering in the millions (about 2 millionto be precise).

One of the ways to successfully run the much-loved fast food chain McDonald’s is to sell food that tastes reliable at a reasonable price. Another way is to give these millions of employees pretty strict guidelines. Just like employees of other large chains, such as Chick-fil-AMcDonald’s fast food workers are subject to many specific and strict rules of conduct.

We did some research and discovered several strict rules that McDonald’s workers must follow to keep their jobs as part of the franchise. Some of them really made us wonder what exactly happened behind that counter or drive-thru window that made these additions to the employee rulebook necessary in the first place.

No giveaways, ever.

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With very limited exceptions, McDonald’s employees are strictly prohibited from giving away free food. No ice cream for the kid, no coffee for the cop, no freebies, period, unless you want to risk getting fired for actually stealing from a restaurant. It was a refreshing development when McDonald’s allowed food distribution to healthcare workers in the early days of the coronavirus pandemic.

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Sandwiches must be prepared in a specific order.

Burger and McDonald's employeeBurger and McDonald's employee
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McDonald’s sandwiches, such as the Big Mac or McDouble, carefully designed, everything from the type of ingredients to the order of assembly is checked and recorded. Mental threadany employee who does not follow the exact steps to assemble a McDonald’s menu item risks being fired..

Frequent hand washing is mandatory

Washing hands with soapWashing hands with soap
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You know those signs in restaurant (and other) restrooms that say, “Employees must wash their hands before returning to work,” right? Well, it really is a coercive policy. But it goes even beyond that, for Salon: At many McDonald’s locations, managers require every employee to wash their hands every 30 minutes or face disciplinary action or even termination.

Ronald McDonald is bound by many rules

Ronald McDonaldRonald McDonald
McDonald’s / Facebook

First, McDonald’s employees can only refer to the iconic clown mascot as Ronald McDonald (meaning no nicknames like “Ronnie!”). As for the man who plays the clown himself, the gentleman is bound by a number of strict rules, including agreeing to never reveal his true identity, to protect company secrets indefinitely, even after his time online ends, and to respond to clients using a set script , according to Reader’s digest. In addition to maintaining the worldwide network’s stellar reputation, Ronald McDonald has a special code of conduct that prevents the mascot from appearing in any place that does not correspond to his core personality, including the absence of nightclubs or bars.Business Insider reports.

I tried the entire McDonald’s burger menu and only one was juicy and tender.

Tips don’t go to the employees, but to Ronald

McDonald's charityMcDonald's charity
Courtesy of Wikipedia Commons

Tipping McDonald’s workers is infrequent, but even when they do, any donations must be immediately sent to the fund. Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) box at the reception. Employees are expected to comply with this rule because, as this is indicated on the corporate website“McDonald’s restaurants have a team atmosphere that is not about rewarding individuals.” In addition to its commitment to an equity-based business model, RMHC helps sick children around the world and their families, which is perhaps why the company would prefer extra change from a customer or generosity went to such a sweet cause.

Incorrect portion sizes can lead to problems

McDonald's employeesMcDonald's employees
Marcin Kadziolka / Shutterstock

According to a former McDonald’s employeeIf an employee fails to measure quantities of items such as French fries or milkshakes, he can be fired. With respect to milkshakes, the commenter pointed out that a very strict window of just plus or minus 0.25 ounces results in a shake being considered unacceptable, and a few unacceptable shakes (or over- or under-filled containers of fries) could do so.

Black trousers and shiny black shoes

McDonald's workersMcDonald's workers
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McDonald’s provides most of its employees with a uniform, including a shirt, hat (or visor), apron, and name badge. But when it comes to pants and shoes, the worker must bring his own, and they must meet very strict criteria. Pants must be black and cannot be jeans, sweatpants or leggings. Shoes must be non-slip, black and polishable, i.e. leather or artificial leather.

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Yes, you will have to work on Christmas.

McDonald'sMcDonald's
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And on other holidays too. According to the article about MiddleIf a McDonald’s employee works at an establishment that will be open on a particular holiday, he or she may have no real way to avoid a scheduled shift on that day, unless he or she can prove an extreme need for the exemption – in other words, by simply saying that you celebrate Christmas, you will not get rid of December 25th.

Jordan Summers-Marquier

Jordan Summers-Marquier was born and raised in San Jose, California, and now works as a writer in New York, New York. More about Jordan