McDonald’s Rules That All Customers And Employees Must Follow
McDonald's is an American institution that has been around for decades at this point. What is the secret to its success? Well, behind the scenes of every service counter and drive-thru is a strict set of rules that keeps the restaurant moving like a well-oiled machine.
Take a look at some of the rules employees – and even customers – must follow at the world's most famous fast food restaurant.
No Walking Or Biking In The Drive-Thru
If you've ever wondered if customers can simply walk up to the drive-thru window and order, the answer is a resounding no. For the safety of customers and staff, only customers in motor vehicles are allowed to use the drive-thru, although some McDonald's restaurants in urban areas do have walk-up windows for pedestrians.
Breakfast Is Only Served Until 11 A.M.
If you slept through your alarm and were hoping to score a late breakfast at McDonald's, I have bad news for you: breakfast has a hard cut-off of 11 a.m. For a short time, McDonald's did test an all-day breakfast menu, but customer response was lackluster. All-day breakfast also complicated kitchen operations because it required some grills to be prepped for breakfast and others to be ready for lunch and dinner. Ultimately, the trial ended in 2020.
Employees Must Follow Rules About Tattoos And Piercings
For a long time, McDonald's has had strict policies about employee appearances, including tattoos and piercings. When it comes to tattoos, some locations allow employees to display them as long as they are not offensive, while others may require employees to cover them up with a long-sleeved shirt.
Piercings fall under local health department guidelines and are restricted in most restaurant industries because of the risk of them falling into food. As a result, McDonald's employees must remove facial piercings before their shift or cover them with a band-aid.
There Are Strict Grooming Standards For Employees
Besides their appearance and proper uniform, McDonald's employees must follow strict grooming standards. Most of these would follow basic hygiene guidelines, like wearing deodorant and taking regular showers.
One rule that is surprising is that employees must be clean-shaven; if that is not an option, then the employee must wear a beard net during their shift.
A Strict No Tipping Policy
McDonald's employees are forbidden from accepting tips from customers. In fact, McDonald's is likely one of the last places on the planet where customers won't be prompted to leave a tip. If any employees do get a cash tip, they are encouraged to put it in the Ronald McDonald House Charities box located at most cash registers and drive-thru windows.
Every Food Item Can Only Sit For A Certain Amount Of Time
In a McDonald's kitchen, timers are going off all the time to alert staff that an item is about to expire. These timers ensure that customers are always served a fresh meal and give them peace of mind knowing that their food wasn't sitting out for a long time.
Fries can sit for seven minutes before they are discarded, and burgers can sit for 15 minutes. It's up to the employees to monitor store busyness and keep up with demand to reduce food waste.
Customized Orders Are Allowed – But It Will Cost You
Technically, any item on the menu can be customized to an extent, but be prepared to pay for it. The general rule of thumb is that if a topping already comes on an item, you can ask for more without being charged (like extra pickles on a burger). If you want to add a new topping, like lettuce and tomatoes, to a regular cheeseburger, then there will likely be a small charge for each topping. So, go nuts with the custom creations, but don't complain when it costs you extra.
Sauce It Up (For A Price)
Like custom toppings, dipping sauces are also subject to a charge. If you order chicken nuggets, dipping sauces are included for free. With any other menu item, though, you'll have to pay extra to get Sweet and Sour, BBQ, or Honey Mustard with your order.
Employees Only Have Minutes To Complete A Customer's Order
McDonald's has built a reputation for its fast service over the years and aims to complete each customer's order in minutes. Ideally, drive-thru customers should get their food within 1-3 minutes after their order is taken, and dine-in customers should get their food within 3-5 minutes. For custom orders, expect to wait up to nine minutes for your food.
Once You Activate The Drive-Thru, Employees Can Hear Everything
Have you ever gone to the drive-thru and an employee says they will be with you in a moment? While you're waiting for the employee to return and begin taking your order, they can hear everything you're saying or doing in your car on their headset. Remember to turn down your radio and keep private conversations to yourself until after you've placed your order and moved away from the speaker box.
There Are Cameras Everywhere
Most McDonald's restaurants have an extensive camera system in place. Many of these cameras are for safety and security purposes. Others are to keep an eye on employees to minimize downtime and ensure all policies are followed. Finally, drive-thru crew members use cameras to track the line-up of cars and adjust service based on the flow of traffic.
Employees Are Forbidden From Playing Monopoly And Other Games
Monopoly and other game-based promotions are fun ways to engage customers. These games often have some big-ticket items as prizes, and as a result, all McDonald's employees and their families are ineligible to participate. The risk is too high for employees to cheat by collecting game stubs and tokens during their shift, so the corporation made a blanket rule that banned employees from collecting prizes.
In The Event Of A Robbery, Let Thieves Take What They Want
This policy is found across a lot of retail and restaurant locations, but McDonald's has included it in their employee training for a long time. During onboarding, new employees are told that in the event of a robbery, they should stay calm, comply with the robber's request, and open the cash register. This is a company-wide policy to ensure the safety of staff and customers during a theft.
Bathrooms Are Checked And Cleaned Every 30 Minutes
Besides its food and service, McDonald's prides itself on the cleanliness of its restaurants. All employees go through a rigorous training process that teaches them the proper way to clean the restaurant's tables, chairs, floors, and bathrooms. Bathrooms must be checked and cleaned by an employee every 30 minutes, and during peak hours, they are checked every 15 minutes. This system works because many people regard McDonald's restrooms as some of the best public restrooms available when you're in a pinch.
Surprise Check-Ins Are Not Uncommon
The reason why McDonald's employees seem keen to follow all company policies to a T is that they know a surprise check-in could happen at any moment. Many locations participate in "mystery shopper" programs where a third party poses as a customer and rates the restaurant on its food quality, cleanliness, and speed of service.
Besides mystery shoppers, visits from the franchise owners, regional managers, and corporate workers also keep employees on their toes. Messing up in front of any of these people wouldn't just be embarrassing – it could also be the end of your career at McDonald's.
Fries Without Salt Must Be Made Fresh
If you want fries without salt, this custom request must be made fresh by employees since fries are usually prepared salted. In order to make them, the fries are cooked normally, but then placed in a designated "no-salt" area at the fry station before employees put them in a fry box for the customer. Since these fries are made to order, expect to wait a little longer for them to be ready.
Burgers Must Be Assembled In A Specific Order
In the kitchen, everything related to food preparation has been perfected and become something of an exact science. This includes the order that toppings are put on a burger. The idea is that placing toppings in the same sequence allows for more efficient production and guarantees that the sandwich will taste the same every time. As well, cheese is always placed directly on the burger or between two burger patties so that it melts, creating the delicious taste customers love.
Employee Discounts Can't Be Shared
McDonald's employees are entitled to a significant discount on the restaurant's food, and it's considered one of the best perks of working there. However, the employee discount is only for employees. They aren't allowed to share their employee card with friends or family members and can only order a single meal with the discount for each transaction.
Employees Must Work Holidays
When you think about it, McDonald's is open pretty much every single day of the year. It doesn't matter if it's the Fourth of July, Thanksgiving, or New Year's Day – you can likely find a McDonald's close to you that's open even when every other store and restaurant is closed. There are some locations that will close on Christmas Day, but others will remain open all throughout the holidays. Employees can ask for certain holidays off, but it's not always guaranteed.
Employees Must Take Their Break In The Breakroom
McDonald's is strict about following all labor laws and practices. As a result, employee breaks are mandated according to local laws, and managers can get in major trouble if employees aren't taking their allotted breaks. Break time is the only time when McDonald's staff are permitted to eat during their shift. However, all food must be consumed in the break room and not in the main dining room. This is to ensure that employees maintain a professional appearance at all times.
Employees Cannot Prepare Their Own Meals
Like customers, employees can customize their orders however they want. However, they are not allowed to prepare their own meals. They must order at the counter like any other customer and allow the employees on shift to make their food. This is done to eliminate the chances of theft and maintain the operational flow in the kitchen.
No Nail Polish Or Long Nails Allowed
Another grooming and hygiene rule McDonald's is strict about is its policy regarding nail polish and enhanced nails. Nail polish is banned because it could contaminate food by flaking off into people's orders during preparation. Long, artificial nails are also banned because they can trap bacteria easily or could be a safety issue when working with deep fryers and hot grills. All employees must have short, clean nails and wash their hands every 30 minutes during their shift.
Phones Must Be Away While Working
During their shifts, employees are not allowed to check their phones at all, unless they are on their break. Getting caught with your phone could lead to a write-up or termination. In the case of an emergency, friends and family needing to get in touch with a McDonald's employee should call the restaurant directly.
No Shirt, No Shoes, No Service Is Still The Standard
The classic "No Shirt, No Shoes, No Service" slogan still applies to customers wanting to dine in at McDonald's, and in many cases, managers aren't afraid to turn people away who won't follow the rules. After all, it is still a restaurant, so people need to have some decency and wear their shirts and shoes in the dining room.
Sorry, No Pets Allowed
Unless you have a certified service animal with you, all other pets are banned from McDonald's dining rooms and restaurant interiors. Again, this is to maintain the hygiene of the dining room since dogs aren't always known for their high grooming standards. Dogs are, however, allowed in outdoor seating areas (at the manager's discretion) and the drive-thru. Staff love seeing furry friends accompany their owners on a drive-thru run.
No Free Food For Customers – Ever
No matter how much you ask, beg, or plead, McDonald's employees cannot give away food to customers for free. Giving away food is considered theft and is grounds for instant termination. If you have an issue with your order and need it remade, usually, a manager will be happy to help and provide a replacement free of charge.
Being Ronald McDonald Is No Joke
Even though Ronald McDonald has been phased out of McDonald's advertising, the famous clown still occasionally makes in-person appearances at restaurants for special events. When someone is dressed up as Ronald, they are only allowed to respond to the name "Ronald" and must stay in character at all times. It's a big set of shoes to fill.
Absolutely No Flip-Flops For Employees
An important part of the McDonald's uniform is that all employees must wear non-slip safety shoes. Hot oil and grease spills are common in the kitchen area, and these shoes protect employees from serious injuries. As a result, all other shoes, including flip-flops, are banned for employees. If an employee forgets their safety shoes, they won't be permitted to clock in.
Technically, The 24-Hour Locations Do Close
If you have to work nights, a 24-hour McDonald's can be a haven to get a hot meal. Just know, though, that technically, even these locations close every day for a few hours. Usually between 3 a.m. and 5 a.m., the store has to shut down to do some daily maintenance tasks and prepare the grills to serve breakfast. During this time, it might be possible to get items like soft drinks, but some stores stop service altogether.
Every Portion Size Must Be Correct
Every item at McDonald's is supposed to follow a standardized weight and portion. This includes fries and milkshakes. If employees are caught overstuffing fry boxes or topping off milkshakes for customers, they could get in big trouble. Managers will even sometimes weigh fry boxes when employees are in training to check if they are following procedure.
Emily McWilliams
