A mind-blowing 1 out of 8 Americans, including the author of this article, has worked at a McDonald’s location at one point in their lives.
To mark this occasion, the Chicago-based burger giant is having a “homecoming” of sorts, complete with a limited-edition letterman jacket.
McDonald’s this week announced a new “1 in 8” initiative, featuring unique programming, events, and mentorships with notable alums who’ve worked at the company at one time or another. The company released a jacket designed by Kendall Hurns, founder of the lifestyle brand Robotic Minds Concept and himself a McDonald’s alum.
“Formally bringing this group together will give past and present crew members alike the chance to continue growing, building their networks and celebrating the special community they represent,” Tiffanie Boyd, SVP and chief people officer at McDonald’s, said in a statement.
Restaurants account for about one in ten U.S. workers. The industry hires people with low skills, which make it popular for young people. The National Restaurant Association calls it “America’s first job.” Some 1 in 3 Americans have worked at a restaurant at one time or another.
McDonald’s, which operates some 13,500 U.S. restaurants, employs a lot of people. Perhaps close to 700,000 people work inside one of the chain’s domestic restaurants. Globally, more than 2 million people work at a McDonald’s restaurant.
The company’s latest creative campaign will feature a cast made up entirely of restaurant crew members, featuring stories of people from local restaurants in television spots, social media and digital.
McDonald’s this week honored some of its notable alums with a “Homecoming” celebration in New York City on Wednesday. The event featured author and Peleton instructor Cody Rigsby, Michelin-star restaurant chef Harold Villarosa, TV host Alejandra Espinoza, Hurns and Paul Hendel, who started as a crew member at 16 and now owns 31 McDonald’s locations.
“It’s no secret that McDonald’s is my day one,” Rigsby said in a statement. “It’s a full-circle moment for me to be able to share my journey to inspire others.”
McDonald’s said it plans to make a donation for every jacket sold “to help exceptional crew members achieve their aspirations through once-in-a-lifetime experiences.” The jackets will go on sale Monday at 10 a.m. at www.McDonalds1in8.com. There, employees will be able to post their experiences of working at a McDonald’s location.
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