To think I shouldn't be sneered at for working at McDonald's?

[Dinkleberg]

Regular poster but NC for this. I have a degree. I did have a full time job related to my degree but unfortunately was made redundant whilst on mat leave in October last year (and wasn't entitled to redundancy pay as I'd been there less than 2 years). So when my mat pay ended last month I needed to find a job fairly swiftly! Unfortunately I couldn't find a job related to my degree and bills were piling up, so I applied for anything I could find, and McDonald's came up.

I got the job and am really enjoying it, its it's a 10 minute walk away, the hours fit in perfectly around my children and DHs hours (I do evenings and weekends) and of course it helps pay the bills and put food on the table! I'm starting my Masters in October and again the flexibility the job offers is good.

But recently I had a catch up/conversation with a friend who I hadn't seen for a few months. We talked about what we were doing now etc and when I mentioned I was working at McDonald's she seemed baffled and embarrassed for me? Said "But you have a degree so why are you working there?". When I said it was to pay the bills until I could complete my Masters, and that the hours were perfect for me in terms of childcare ect she was like "But surely anything is better than bloody McDonald's?"

Is working at McDonald's really something to be embarrassed about?? A job is a job surely? And said friend eats at McDonald's so surely she realises someone has to prepare and serve her food? I should say a lot of my colleagues are students.

I left the conversation feeling quite deflated 😞 I know I shouldn't care what others think but I do! Sometimes too much.

YANBU - she's being horrible and you shouldn't be sneered at
YABU - she has a point

I wonder how much the American Beauty MacJob movie scene contributed to the continued sneering at MacDonalds employees?

They do seem to be great company to work for and their global success is off the scale.

As a successful, intelligent employee, perhaps you can be part of the re-education by extolling employers who offer flexible work that genuinely creates a healthy work/life balance?

Good for you, too many whinge 'There are no jobs out there' you have shown that is nonsense by rolling your sleeves up, and getting on with earning a wage.

I'm a complete stranger but I'm proud of you, you are brilliant and your 'friend' is an unmitigated snob.

Good for you op! As pp have pointed out McDonalds is considered a good employer and you sound happy - lots of people don’t enjoy their work but it seems to be working for you.

You have absolutely nothing to be embarrassed about: you are working hard to support your family in a job that gives you flexibility.
Your friend on the other hand should be highly ashamed of her crass attitude.
Good luck with the MA 🍀

When l used to interview people a lot in my last job role, I would take someone who had worked at McDonald’s rather than someone who had never worked. They clearly had something about them and weren’t lazy

Nothing wrong with working at McDonalds. The hours work for you, it’s near your house and a meal is thrown in

Try not to let her get to you. Back after the 1st lockdown when I had been furloughed I had to go back on reduced hours as not enough work. So o got a job shelf stacking in Tesco in the run up to Christmas, another lady working there was in a similar situation. We both coincidently now both work in the same office building - her as a solicitor and me as an account manager.

work is work and and the end of the day anyone can find themselves redundant at any point and I think those of us who find any job to tide us over will present as a much better option than those who refuse to do so and sit around moaning about having no job.

Also I work in a large organisation and have a few times heard comments insinuating that the cleaners/catering team are the 'bottom' of the rung employee wise.

Always gets my goat.

I'd much rather the head honchos had a day off than all the cleaners/caterers!!

Who cares what you do
The important thing is your working and that's the be all and end all
I'd shovel poo for 8 hours a day if I had too
There's nothing wrong with McDonald's
Shame on your so called friend for sneering and making you feel deflated
Well done you for finding work that fits around your home life and that you enjoy

McDonalds is known for being a great company to work for. It's a job. I'd never disrespect anyone for where they work, it's better than sitting on your arse complaining. Any of us could find ourselves in a similar position. There are worse places to work. I'd have no problem with taking a job there.

There is no shame in an honest days work!

Reminds me of a time I was with a parent who told their child “work hard blah blah or you’ll end up cleaning toilets” and I laughed and said ‘like me!”.

I work nights in care and as part of that cleaning/washing/kitchen prep/care work I clean 10 bathrooms each night.

I love my job. In my eyes it is varied, generally pleasant, nice people, rewarding and 9 times out of 10 (or more) I don’t have to give it a thought when I’m not there. Lovely.

My job suits my personality. I’m caring and conscientious but a worrier and a high stress job would wring me out and leave nothing for my family. I also didn’t want to work a stressful job and give most of my money away to childcare (my shifts fit around my husbands days so I do get to sleep). My job being nights also means either myself or my husband can always be available if the kids are off school sick for example.

I have a degree and a MSc but I grew up thinking going to uni was just what I had to do. I’m trying to not make that mistake with my kids and I’ll support them to chase their dreams whatever they are and also have a back up plan. When I worked in a newsagent for a while my son (around age six) loved coming in for sweets while I worked and was sure he wanted to own a sweet shop. I won’t be part of drip feeding him a snobby attitude to certain forms of work.

I wonder if there would be far fewer vacancies in retail/hospitality and care and fewer people long term unemployed if we could all respect everyone doing an honest days graft.

Your friend is very unreasonable and impractical… they are an ethical employer, and if you are starting a masters course soon, most jobs will be off limits because employers won’t recruit someone for just a few months.

I'd much rather the head honchos had a day off than all the cleaners/caterers!!

You'd damn soon notice if the cleaners had a day off. Head honchos, not so much.

Your mum raised you right. A job is a job and the fact you’re enjoying it and it has good benefits is the cherry on top. More people should have this mindset.
Your friend is being a snob.

What an awful snob she is! My friend's son is working at McD's while he finishes his A levels and is earning really well for a 16 yo with really flexible shifts. It's given him lots more independence and money to buy the things he wants. He loves it! Take no notice of her. Honestly some people really are lacking.

A few years ago there was a popular insult with teens- your mother works in McDonald's.
I tore my niece and nephew off a strip for using it.
Working anywhere is admirable. I've worked in hospitality and it's hard.
I would never sneer.

There are some jobs that very few people would aspire to do. Nobody in secondary school is hoping that one day they can work in a fast food restaurant, or stack shelves, or empty bins, or clean public toilets.

Obviously, those jobs need doing and some people end up doing them. Some people, like you op, only do them through lack of alternatives, and find out that they can actually be pretty good in terms of salary, hours, nice colleagues etc.

But for people with no experience of them themselves, they remain the jobs that nobody wants to do, that nobody aspires to do, but end up doing when other things don't work out as planned.

So I guess your friend was shocked that your qualifications haven't given you other options. But she was crass and insensitive to say it.

There are many many jobs you could say similar about, including a lot of high salary professional ones. You don't see the same 'snobbery' about them though.

There are probably few jobs that don't contribute to a negative aspect of society in some way, however small,

Your friend sounds terribly judgemental and snobby. As you said it fits in with your family hours and provides much needed flexibility whilst you are pursuing further education, a lot of jobs don't offer that.

You're doing what you need to to support your family and there's no shame in that.

Good for you OP. Your friend is out of order and a snob. All work is worthy of respect.
I know a young person who doesn't work at all. They literally won't or can't do anything. I have very little respect for this despite all the reasons and excuses. I would be delighted if they got a job in McDonald's.

Your friend is a snob

Sure she has eaten there esp if has kids

So fine to eat there but who does she think is cooking , cleaning , serving etx the food

Totals double standards !!!

Well done for finding a job - making sure bills are paid and being an adult about it

Well over 100 replies and every single one agreeing , a mn rarity !
I will add to that figure , @Dinkleberg you friend is a snobb , does she think that the team that prepared her food are 'below' her ? I would definitely put her in her place if this was the case.
Years ago I remember someone I knew saying a similar thing about bin men , that they must be stupid , / unskilled / lazy / smelly
I couldn't let it rest so I asked them rapid fire questions, how often did they have to go to the tip to get rid of their rubbish , did their car smell of rotten food , nappies and dog / cat poo ( 1 new born , 1 2yrd old , 2 big dogs ad a cat must produce a lot of poo ! ) did they get a poll tax reduction because they didn't use the service.
They were non-plussed 'of course we get the bin men to empty our bins , why wouldn't we ? '

I had to explain the irony 🤔

I am a cleaner and proud of it , without the thousands of us all cleaning this country world be is a right state !

@Dinkleberg Working to provide for your family, regardless of the job role, should be commended in my opinion OP!

I actually have a degree and masters and am currently working as a retail shop manager. DH works away from home for weeks at a time. This job allows me to work a 10 min walk from home, fit my hours around childcare and family life, and a I love my colleagues and customers 🤷🏻‍♀️
Is it the high flying career that I maybe once dreamed of? No. But my priority now is my family and I’m happy with where we are 😊

I'd be a little surprised if a friend in the same situation started working at McDonald's but actually good for you finding something quickly that works well for your needs. They pay over minimum wage too don't they? A job is a job and if you're happy your friend should be happy for you

The teachers at my dc's state school used to say work hard or you'll end up working in McDonalds - made me totally furious.

I worked in McDonald's for a summer as a student. It was bloody awful

But when DS reaches 16, I will be strongly encouraging him to apply there, and Burger King, Tesco, KFC... it's fast, busy, no time to be bored, and for younger people it teaches you a lot in a short time about dealing with other people (colleagues and customers) and about hygiene/cleaning up! It provides transferable skills and demonstrates a good work ethic. The pay/conditions are decent so it's pure snobbery to sneer at it. Would Starbucks etc be more to her liking? Perhaps a nice little cafe is acceptable but a fast food joint is not? That's pure snobbery...