All you have to do is go to a McDonald’s to see it: this is a company made of young people. Of every 10 employees, 9 are between the age of 18 and 25. McDonald’s is the largest employer of young men and women in Brazil, according to a survey conducted by Great Place to Work in 2011. And considering there are 86,000 employees throughout Latin America, over 77,000 of them are vibrant young men and women working at their best at our restaurants.
What is it that attracts so many young men
and women to McDonald’s? Why is it that young
employees are our main work force? For
Arcos Dorados, the company in charge
of McDonald’s Latin America operations,
the answers are crystal clear.
Let’s start with opportunities, commitment
and civic duty.
McDonald’s is attractive to young people because
it represents a doorway into the job market. The fact
that it does not require previous experience, and
provides formal employment, including all government
benefits, represents a major opportunity. A person’s
very first job is a source of pride and comfort, including
for family members, who see their children becoming
responsible and independent adults.
Another important aspect is the opportunity
for career development. Ask any of the company’s
executives who started out behind the counter what
they think about McDonald’s meritocratic system.
In fact, approximately 10,000 employees were
promoted in 2010, in Latin America. And let’s not
forget all the incentive and award programs. The most
prominent of such programs, the All Star, awards the
best employees with full college scholarships. Last
year, 296 employees earned the right to go to college
without having to pay anything.
Then there’s the commitment with education.
For Arcos Dorados, education always comes first.
That is why, in order to work at McDonald’s, employees
must be attending or have finished high school.
And the company encourages them to continue to
study all the way to college.
Arcos Dorados is one of the companies that most
invests in training. Only in Brazil, the host country
of McDonald’s University, US$ 23 million are dedicated
to professional development every year. McDonald’s
University is one of the first corporate universities
in the world, and a pioneer in the restaurant industry.
The University helps develop professionals and leaders
aligned with the company’s culture.
And the icing on the cake: social inclusion.
Yes, because giving people the chance to achieve
their first jobs, promoting citizenship and continued
education, cultural activities, environmental awareness,
community engagement – such as through McHappy
Day – teaching others to respect diversity and hiring
people with disabilities is the best form of inclusion
Arcos Dorados can provide to young men and women
who choose to work at McDonald’s.
We look for employees who are always in the pursuit
of excellence, a desire that shines like a magical sparkle
in their eyes. That is why we invest so much in the
youth: they will create that great and unforgettable
experience for you and your family.
