McDonald’s staff quitting their jobs because new menus and technology make taking orders ‘too complicated’
Employees have said technology, a revamped menu, and the mobile app have led them to ditch their jobs at the fast food chain
MCDONALD'S staff are quitting their jobs in their droves as the new menu and technology is making their work too complicated, former employees have said.
The fast food chain has been updating its customer experience with new technology, a mobile app, a revamped menu and a kerb side pick up in the US, but according to, the updates could backfire.
McDonald’s employees have said they are handling more tasks without pay rises or sufficient staffing, leading to stressful working conditions and complicated procedures.
A 23-year-old former employee Dudley Dickerson said the mobile app was 'the last straw' for him.
He told Bloomberg: "They added a lot of complicated things. It makes it harder for the workers."
In Florida, Westley Williams said he switched to a job at a rival chain after being he felt he was being stretched too thinly at McDonald’s.
The 42-year-old said he quit because of the chaos caused by mobile-app orders, new items and six recently added self-order kiosks.
"It’s more stressful now," he said, adding that he didn’t get a pay rise for doing more work.
"When we mess up a little bit because we’re getting used to something new, we get yelled at."
Last year, McDonald’s said it employed 235,000 people, including corporate and restaurant workers, and each of these people generated US$97,000 in revenue, compared to about US$65,000 the year before.
While this could be a sign of increased efficiency, it can just as well be seen as stretching thin an inadequate number of employees.
“Quick-service restaurants are having a little more trouble with job openings and finding workers,” said Michael Harms, executive director of operations at People Report.
“It’s the pace of work, the pace of technology and the lower wage rate.”
The result of workers walking out of the jobs rather than dealing with new technology and menu options is customers will wait longer, and according to the broadcaster, drive-thru times at McDonald’s in the US slowed to 239 seconds last year, over 30 seconds slower than in 2016.
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But McDonald's denies it has had an increase in staff turnover, or that there is a correlation between new initiatives and technology and turnover.
Spokeswoman Terri Hickey told the broadcaster: "Together with our owner-operators, we are investing in all necessary training to ensure successful implementation of any changes in our restaurants."
"Just as 'Experience of the Future' modernises the restaurant experience for our customers, there is also a focus on improving the work experience for restaurant employees.”
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