Hard-Working Crew Deserves Respect

As a former McDonald’s crew person, I am disappointed by remarks in Steve Lopez’s column (“Putting Whip to Fast-Food Crews,” May 23). Lopez refers to our crew people with the terms “sweaty ... grunt,” “acne-faced hod carrier” and “laggards.” The insulting depiction is unfortunate and offensive to people like myself who are proud to wear a McDonald’s uniform. He asserts that our 30-second guarantee is building sales at the expense of our crew people. As with any promotion, our stores are busier. Our 30-second guarantee merely validates what our crew has done all along--provide customers with great food to help get them on their way.

McDonald’s trains one out of every 12 working Americans, many of whom have gone on to careers as doctors, teachers or business executives. And 50% of our corporate, division and regional staff, 70% of our restaurant managers and 33% of our owner/operators started as crew. This is a testament to the valuable experience McDonald’s provides anyone it employs.

Jeff Schwartz

Regional Vice President

McDonald’s, Woodland Hills