Kitty Barr: My three years as a Macca’s crew member

A video circulating online of a customer spitting at staff at an Adelaide McDonald’s has brought back my memories of working at the chain – and how I got used to the abuse, writes Kitty Barr.

A shocking video showing a woman yelling abuse and spitting on staff at the McDonald’s on Hindley St has brought back memories of my time working at the chain as a teen.

Unfortunately, I didn’t end every shift thinking “I’m lovin’ it”.

It’s a typical first job and I was only 15 when I applied to be a Macca’s crew member just down the road at Rundle Mall.

A few hours after a short interview, I landed the job. I literally jumped for joy and a few online modules later I was ready for my first shift.

Little did my 15-year-old self realise that working in hospitality wasn’t anything like the computer games and shows I had watched as a kid.

I quickly got used to the customer anger and abuse.

So there I was, manning the registers, making the McFlurry’s and scooping the iconic golden fries into the bag for the happy customers … right?

Kitty Barr got her first job at Macca’s Hindley Street store as a 15-year-old. Picture: Facebook

Kitty pictured with a manager celebrating his last day. Picture: Facebook

Except, every shift was frantic, dirty and deflating with angry customers demanding food and managers who would sit in the office and wait for the rush to be over.

A memorable shift for me was the time someone was very unhappy with their Quarter Pounder and instead of just telling me so, threw it at me.

Another customer decided to share his unhappiness by getting right up in my face and yelling “I’m watching you” because his fries weren’t full enough.

And it wasn’t just the customers.

There were times when I was bribed with a meal instead of taking my 30 minute lunch break – which as a teen was a fantastic fair deal.

Then there was a Boxing Day shift when I was meant to clock on at 7.45am but was instead asked sit to out the back for hours as it wasn’t “as busy as they thought”.

Taking a snap on Boxing Day where the writer had to wait to start her shift. Picture: Kitty Barr

Looking back, the job was a good taste of reality in the workforce – the training was great and led to other hospo opportunities as I navigated school and my uni degree.

But does that really make up for all times I came home crying to my parents because I’d been yelled at by a customer over cold chips or told I was incompetent for forgetting someone’s sauce?

The perks of the job really were the free food at closing time that I’d share with my dad on those late night pick ups. I reckon we piled on the kilos on those drives home.

I stayed on as a Macca’s worker for three years, only quitting when I scored a retail job.

I was ecstatic to leave — no more abuse from customers or management, no more crappy wages, and goodbye to smelling like a deep fat fryer!

I wasn’t thanked for my service, I was simply deleted from the work group chat and got on with life.

Despite the nightmares, I’m still partial to a good late night feast at the golden arches, but I do feel for the poor souls who cop who knows what from impatient and unnecessarily angry customers.

I know of many others who stayed at McDonald’s for years, became managers, and genuinely enjoy their jobs, but for me I was glad to hang up my hat and escape.