McDonald’s Is Giving Something Back to Everyone Who Has Ever Worked There

If you haven’t worked at McDonald’s, you probably know someone who has. And if you don’t personally know someone who was employed by the fast food chain, you’re definitely familiar with quite a few celebrities that could include it on their résumés. 

From Democratic presidential nominee and Vice President Kamala Harris (who says she worked the fry station) to Peloton instructor Cody Rigsby, the Golden Arches have touched the career paths of many. Now, McDonald’s is giving back to anyone who has been part of its team by launching a series of exclusive experiences for former employees, and it’s kicking everything off with a star-studded pop-up in Chicago.

McDonald’s reports that roughly 1 in 8 Americans have worked at one of its locations — a statistic the brand has doubled down on by creating a website where members of the “1 in 8” club (also known as the Crew) can more formally connect with and learn about each other.

The global fast food chain is working not only to create a community based on the large pool of people that have worked there but also to give back to its Crew. Those efforts are ramping up today with the launch of Employees Only, an initiative that will bring together McDonald’s ex-employees so they can take advantage of networking and mentorship opportunities and hear from notable alumni.

As you might expect, Employees Only is a reference to the doors you’ll see in McDonald’s — or likely any restaurant — that separates customers from everything behind the scenes, where everyone is working. The pop-up in Chicago on September 24th marks the first event that’s part of the Employees Only series, and of course, it’s set in the fast food chain’s hometown.

The program's launch will feature appearances from several high-profile “1 in 8ers” (as McDonald’s calls them), including a stand-up set from comedian and former SNL cast member Chris Redd, who will center his performance around his experience working under the Golden Arches. 2019 Food & Wine Best New Chef Kwame Onwuachi is showcasing his culinary talents with a cooking demonstration, where he’ll “put his signature Afro-Caribbean twist on McDonald’s barbecue and buffalo sauces.” As a wildly successful chef, the James Beard Award winner will also speak about the skills he learned in the McDonald’s Kitchen and how they helped propel his career.

Redd and Onwuachi will also join actress and television host Clarissa Molina for a “Fryside Chat” panel. The three alumni will answer questions from attendees, talk about their history at McDonald's, and elaborate on what it means to them to be part of the large community that is the 1 in 8. Besides hearing from their celebrity peers, other Crew members at the Chicago launch can get professional head-shots taken, tour a historic uniform exhibit, and snag some limited-edition swag. 

Most importantly, McDonald’s hopes that the event — and the rest of the Employees Only series — will echo the sense of community that the brand has witnessed among the Crew. Alma Anguiano, U.S. National Field People Officer at McDonald’s, says “we’ve heard from members of the 1 in 8 that they feel a sense of pride in being part of this exclusive club and the shared experience a job at McDonald’s brings”

As a lover of McDonald’s french fries and anything that involves connecting over a meal, I’m all in favor of uniting people with a shared history in the fast food workforce. Employees Only will continue to roll out nationwide over the next few months in San Diego, Washington D.C., and other locations.