Working At Mcdonald's Summary

In “Working at Mcdonald’s” Amitai Etzioni expresses that working getting your first job as a teen at Mcdonald's and other fast food chains because it is in fact “bad for your kids”(285). He goes on to explain that he believes that nothing can be gained from working in these types of environments. In reality there are multiple reasons why working in fast-food chains can be immensely beneficial. There are many skills you can take away and several lessons to be learned.
The first piece of evidence Etzioni brings to your attention is that the only possible skills you can gain from these types of jobs can not be used in later careers you may find yourself in. He says that teens work just to spend their money on “trite” things such as, “flimsy punk clothes, trinkets, and whatever else is the last fast-moving teen craze” (287). How can this be true when Etzioni doesn’t compare what these teens spend money on

compared to teens who work in a different type of job? A teen with a job in construction or one working a desk job in a library could find themselves purchasing things similar to a teen working in fast-food. Also teenagers will learn how to regulate spending and saving some of their earnings no matter where they end up working. Even if they go into having a job with mindset or learn it through trial and error most teens will understand how to handle their money. Etzioni also brings up the point that “the instant reward of money” is “more alluring than credits in calculus courses”(288). When I was working in my school's food court I seeked out certifications in order to move up in that very job. Even with it just being a job to get me through school I strived to get promotions leaving me with more certifications. Just as myself, most teens enjoy the reward of money but would look to school as a way to make more.
Etzioni states that fast-food chain are not an acceptable place to work because he believes that there would be a lack of a role model in their place of work. He explains this when he says, “there is no father or mother figure with which to identify, to emulate, to provide a role model and guidance”(287). Most teens of are ready to get a job are searching for independence, so why would they look for another parent figure? They want to earn their own keep without anyone else in the way; telling them what to do. Etzioni brings up that the fact that these jobs are dominated by teenagers therefore there is nobody there to be an actual role model. From my experience working in a restaurant some of the adults are the lazies workers while the teenagers are actually very hard workers. Why can’t they be your role model if you’re really looking for one?
One final example Etzioni gives for his case against fast-food chains is that the skills you gain a such jobs won’t mean anything for getting yourself further in life career wise.

He even goes on to say teens are “gobbled up in the world of low-skill jobs”(286). Even though you may never need the skill of knowing the proper way ingredients are put on a big mac the personal skills that can along can be very beneficial. Just that fact that you learned these “meaningless tasks” show you can follow direction for one. Also, many necessary skills needed for any job can be learn in such places through being around other people. Some of these include communication, listening, multitasking, and customer service skills. Through all of these you can also gain connections to other people who come through your job. For example, whenever my mother and I would go through any fast-food chains if she met someone with great customer service she would give them her card and tell to apply at the bank she works at. Without that fast-food job they would never of acquired this

opportunity.
Etzioni’s attempt to show that working in fast-food establishments-such as Mcdonalds-is actually more harmful for a teen rather than beneficial can be disproven on many of his points. Teenages working these jobs actually gain many life skills compared to those who don’t work at all. With my experience I believe you can see how untrue Etzioni had been in his essay.