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"Every laborer is a father, his labor is his child." H.I.M.
"He who would be a leader must pay the price in self-discipline and moral restraints."
H.I.M.
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My Story at McDonald's
They what to see me smile?
The following is a testimonial of what I have experienced for the past five years working for the McDonald's corporation. I want to share my story because I have a suspicion that there are some of you out there who have had similar experiences.
In the fall of 1998, I saw an advertisement in the local paper, which captured my imagination. At that time I was living in Fairbanks Alaska. It was a lengthy and solicitous ad which promised a managerial career in the world's #1 fast food company, McDonald's. No fast food experience necessary, but other managerial experience helpful it read. My husband who was the first to see the ad was convinced, as I was that this might be a viable opportunity.
Right from the start I could see that I was not what you might call the typical candidate. A typical candidate was a teenager, in high school and normally McDonald's was his or her first job. The restaurant that I applied for was run by an owner/operator as opposed to corporate run. During my interview I was very clear that I intended to go through the entire managerial training program at an accelerated pace. I did not have the time to spend the average 10-15 years it normally took to work up the ladder to arrive at the General Managers level.
Why the rush? Well, because far from being a teenager, I was in fact a mother of two teenagers. McDonald's was not my first job, no it was not just a job, it was the means to develop a career in world class Service Industry. At the time I had had a variety of work experiences both in the U.S and abroad. Additionally, I was a candidate for a master's degree in social anthropology. Therefore, I wanted to use my broad life experience, maturity and education to launch a successful career with this world renown and solid company. Let me explain that training to be a manager, including holding the
General Manager position, was not a destination in itself. I wanted to exceed all that and become an expert in the food and service industry A.S.A.P. So fourteen months later when I became a General Manager, I thought things were going as planned. (The price tag to this wonder ride was no time for family, friends and self. Indeed no other life but McDonald's, every waking hour.)
In December 2000, a year after I became officially a General Manager, I made the next logical move. I moved to Anchorage Alaska, to manage the corporate run McDonald's Restaurant. Big sacrifices had to be made, this move was to cost me the G.M position (entered as a first assistant) and also 10k pay cut. It seemed to me that I would gain back my position in no time and I felt I could sacrifice the pay cut in the long run. However, the promise that I would be considered for the next G.M position available became a myth, as
I began to see my supervisors were not in a hurry to give me that chance. The more I worked the less positive impression I seemed to make. What am I to do now? Maybe the answer is to go to bigger waters, to real American, maybe they will see what I bring to the table, maybe there will be more appreciation for diversity. So I made a huge leap, moved thousands of miles down south to Middle America, to the state of Colorado. I transferred from the Pacific Northwest region to the Rocky Mountain Region.
I entered this new Market as a first assistant Manager in October 2001. I was placed in one of the eight stores in Fort Collins, Colorado. In April 2002, I was transferred to another Restaurant, and was assigned the General Manager position. There I began producing impressive numbers, considering the little preparation and guidance that was given to me. During the time when the whole market was down in sales, I did manage to rank 5th in the market. I was also able to hire and retain employees, develop managers and demonstrate my
ability to be a strong and effective leader.
While carrying out the work and responsibility of a General Manager, I was never acknowledged or recognized as such. I was never "officially" given the title of Restaurant manager, which now I believe was a tactic to make me feel deficient and insecure about my work. Similarly, my salary remained at the 1st assistant level, which does not accurately reflect the level of responsibility and accountability required of a G.M. I feel I have not been
compensated for the level of service I have rendered.
Six months later, On November 13, 2002, I was informed that my position has been withdrawn and another General Manager was placed in my position. I immediately requested for an explanation in writing, but did not receive one at all.
My commitment and dedication to this company speaks for itself, by the amount of time and effort I have expended. Not only have I run a McDonald's restaurant before, but also I am fully accredited, having graduated from Hamburger University in 2000. Many of the store managers have yet to reach this level of training, yet they are not put under this level of scrutiny and receive full support from the company.
The lack of support and overall disregard for my basic rights as a legitimate employee, one who has served this company with dedication, talent and hard work, strongly supports my contention that I have not received equal opportunity at the work place.
After a careful review of my total experience for the past two years with this company, I have reached the conclusion that the treatment I have received and continue to receive is one of blatant discrimination. Actions by McDonald's have been intent on dampening my potential of having a career in this field, by specifically labeling me as inferior to my co-workers. All this leads me to affirm that this is because I am a woman of color and
therefore more expendable than my white counter-parts. I am easily demo table, dismissible because, after all, I am only a first generation American immigrant from Africa. My national origin is Ethiopian and it is a relatively new group in this country, barely recognized and certainly not protected against the willful and unjust practice of corporate America.
So I will tell my story in the hope that you will be interested, when I ask you to join me in creating awareness and helping to speak up against discrimination in the work place.
(c)2004 HIM contents (summary of the HS web-biography) *
