BY PHIL & DIANE KOURY

SPECIAL TO NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

OPINION

Whenever there are discussions and news stories about jobs, especially in regards to young people, what is lost in these discussions are the positive opportunities companies like McDonald’s offer young workers. As owners of three McDonald’s franchises, we thought it would be appropriate to outline why young part-time workers for McDonalds can learn vital skills and lessons they can use throughout life.

We opened our first McDonald’s restaurant in 1991 in Clinton, NJ. We both met while working for different McDonald’s locations. Diane worked for another franchise before coming to McDonald’s and I had actually started helping out at the McDonald’s my dad owned in Brooklyn when I was 11.

As we have witnessed first-hand as managers and now owners, opportunities are endless for young high school kids that want to work at a McDonald’s. For a 14-15 year-old high school kid working part-time 12-18 hours a week, there is a six month review and more importantly, the ability to move up.

Young people need to feel like they belong. McDonald’s provides them with a way to fit in. They are given responsibilities; informed of what’s expected of them; and provided with instruction that allow them to continue learning in every position they hold.

For these young part-time workers and those potentially looking for a career as a manager, a McDonald’s is without question a great place to not only earn money, but earn life experiences.

Managers can use it as a possible career path. They start as an everyday employee, running the grill or the drive thru, and then can find themselves in charge of 35-75 people. They learn how to keep inventory and manage profit and loss statements. They are also responsible for placing food and paper delivery orders to ensure that there is enough product inventory in the restaurant for customer service.

The communications and people skills, work ethic and chance to become part of a team help these young workers as they go on to adulthood and careers beyond McDonald’s. We have former teen employees that are now working in professions like psychology, law enforcement, teaching as well as numerous business owners and professionals. All of them had their McDonald’s tenure to serve as their foundation.

When we interview, we always make it a point to look to hire the right person. We want someone that feels connected with what we do and the processes we follow. This extends to everything that we do, from finished sandwich product quality control, the way we greet our guests and customers, the way the dining room is designed and even to the way we change garbage bags. We have a consistent image to uphold and customers rely on the consistency that McDonald’s provide.

Many of our employees stay on for years, because they embrace the processes and thrive on the opportunities that continue to develop for them within our organization.

At our McDonald’s locations, we’re hiring kids of former employees. It is amazing how McDonald’s workers come from all walks of life. We recently had a former worker, now living in Virginia bring their family in to see where he had worked. He was glad to see that the same standards that had inspired him as a teenager were still in place and that he got a chance to introduce his wife and 2 children to me. He said that it brought back memories that he still cherishes.

The youngest employee we have is 14 and our oldest was 97. She recently retired. Her name is Helen Prenchak and she worked in our Washington, NJ (Hampton) McDonalds two-three days per week greeting customers and keeping the dining room clean. Helen worked for us for close to 15 years. She graced our presence each week and helped foster the family atmosphere that we instilled at the McDonald’s we own.

We are proud of the fact that we have been able to offer the hundreds of employees that have worked at our three locations over the past 22 years the opportunity to learn skills that they could use throughout their adult lives. All of our young people deserve an opportunity. It’s all about allowing our young people the chance to experience their maximum potential.

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Phil & Diane Koury, PO Box 5276, Clinton, NJ 08801

Store Locations:

Clinton (185 Center Street)

Flemington (74 Reaville Ave)

Washington/Hampton (461 Rte 31)