McDonald pioneers inclusive job market through foreign hiring

McDonald’s staff members take a picture in front of one of the company’s restaurants. [MCDONALD'S KOREA]

McDonald's Korea announced its plan to increase the employment of foreign workers as part of the company's comprehensive effort to create a more inclusive society.

By providing specific guidelines on recruiting foreign workers depending on the worker’s visa type, McDonald’s overhauled its recruitment system.

The guidelines cover considerations for McDonald's recruitment teams when interviewing foreign applicants and post-recruitment procedures aimed at helping foreign crew members acclimate to the workplace.

McDonald's welcomes foreign applicants with various types of visas, including study visas, marriage immigration visas and visas for overseas Koreans.

At present, workers from around 20 different countries have become crew members at the company, through various application channels such as the official website and local foreign support centers.

The corporation intends to further expand its foreign workforce by partnering with local foreigner support centers and international student support centers at universities in different regions.

Lee Setsuka, a Japanese crew member working at the Gimpo Gurae DT branch in Gyeonggi, highlighted the flexible working hours as one aspect he appreciates most about working in the global company.

“It's great that I can adjust my working hours freely when I occasionally visit my hometown,” she added.

Being a part of a global brand also provides a sense of security to foreign workers, while individuals with prior experience at McDonald's in their home countries can quickly familiarize themselves with the work system.

Although language might be a barrier at first, Korean workers also expressed their contentment working alongside the foreign staff.

“I've worked with various foreign employees, including international students and naturalized citizens. Instead of feeling significant differences in the way we work, working together often leads to new experiences and perspectives shared among colleagues,” Lee Hyun-hee, the manager of the Hanti Station branch, said.

The company also aims to continue creating a work environment that respects and embraces cultural diversity.

Workers from Islamic backgrounds are allowed to observe regular prayer times as much as the situation permits and can wear a matching Hijab with their uniform.

McDonald's, with around 400 stores and 19,000 employees nationwide, promised to continuously expand foreign recruitment, enhancing the corporate culture of diversity, inclusivity and social responsibility.

Currently, more than 50 percent of McDonald's employees are women, 200 are crew members with disabilities and around 600 are senior crew members.

BY KIM SU-HYEON [kim.suhyeon4@joongang.co.kr]