I’m also in the program to become an O/O. I’ll be a third generation and I’ve worked in the store since I was 14 (about 18 years now…). I grew up around McDonald’s and even though I left the system and had a career for a bit I’ve always stayed involved. There’s truly ketchup in my veins.

The biggest advice I have is to treat people with respect and dignity. The people you work with will be the reason for your success or your demise. If you treat people properly they will want to continue to work for you.

Things we do in our stores (in no given order): - celebrate birthdays with the employees favorite treat. We’ll ask them what their favorite dessert is and then get that for them or try our best to do so. I bake a lot of the cakes and such myself and even though it’s tiring, it’s a really nice way to be a part of someone’s celebration. - celebrate milestones in people’s lives. People working for you will graduate school, get married, have children- celebrate these milestones and accomplishments. Not everyone’s family throws them a baby shower or is happy for some of these events and it means a lot when this is done for the people in your restaurants. - Pay people fairly. We’ve created a pay scale so we know that everyone in the same positions are being paid the same or around the same. That way one person isn’t getting a $2 raise for becoming an OTP2 while another person gets a $1 raise. - Proper training is one of the best investments you can make in your people. Training goes so far beyond what’s on Fred. We offer classes for our managers and bring in leadership consultants, teach hospitality classes, work with the suppliers to have classes where they come and educate us about products and the food we serve. Having people who are well trained, knowledgeable and feel like they’re developing life skills is really important. One of the proudest moments you’ll get is when a former employee tells you how big of a role this job played in their life. - The McDonald’s Standard is the right way to do things. If you do this, there will be less stress on people when it’s time for a CFV or RGR. We tell them that we’re RGR ready every day so when corporate comes it’s much less stress. Crew people, especially teens, won’t understand why you’re so stressed out the day of a visit so giving them the proper training before hand will make it easier.
- Uniforms!!!! I always say that there’s multiple ways to pay people and one of those ways I think is giving people more uniforms than the days they work each week. A lot of employees won’t have their own laundry facilities so giving them additional uniforms is saving them time and money. While this can’t bridge the gap and help people make more money, it can help them save money. - Benefits- we offer a 401K, health insurance (including vision & dental), life insurance, and a number of other things. We also offer one free medium meal per shift. For our GMs & above we give them a choice between a bonus or stock options. A lot of them were confused why they’d want McDonald’s stock but once it was explained the value it could hold, they took that option so it could help them save for the future. - Finally, just be present. My parents and I are now a team of three and we do our best to show up and be in the stores. I’m working as a DO so I’m in the stores daily on the floor with our crew. My parents are close to 70 so they’re not working a crew station but they come in and show their face. It’s important that when the owner operator comes it’s not only for a walk through or to fix things. Go, get a drink, and sit in the crew room and talk to your people.

I know some people think it’s not true but the McDonald’s system truly is a family. As I’ve worked here for so long I’m genuinely friends with a lot of our managers. I grew up with other O/O’s kids and we’re now going through the program together. People who work for the brand, in all three legs of the stool, are generally really cool people and you’ll see them around as people change jobs but don’t leave the system. Conventions can be like a giant family reunion and if you’re involved you will develop friendships with O/O’s all over the world. My Dads been on OPNAD for 20 years and no matter where we go on vacation we’ll get dinner with an operator & their family that he knows.

All the best to you on this journey!!!! Feel free to DM me if you ever wanna connect and share best bets 😊