Changes at "🎭 Scene 4 – McDonald’s “This Isn’t What I Signed Up For”"

Based on the original script by the young creators of “You’re Fried!”

The uniform is a little too big. The visor’s a little too tight. A young person stands behind the counter at McDonald’s. It’s their first week on the job.

The beep of fryers. The rhythm of orders shouted out.

“One Big Mac meal, no pickles!”
“Clock in now, you’re already late on your shift change.”
“Can someone clean the toilet? Now.”

They try to keep up. They’re quick, polite, and focused — just like they were told to be. But nothing feels quite right. The team leader barely says hello. Their manager mostly barks instructions. Breaks are short and unpredictable. Shifts are posted last-minute, making it hard to plan anything else — college, family, rest.

They'd hoped this job would help them get started, build confidence, learn new skills.
But each day feels more like survival training.

In the cramped staff room, another young worker sighs.

“You just get used to it. Don’t expect too much.”
“It’s just a McJob. You work, you go home, you crash.”

But shouldn’t there be more? Isn’t this where “real-world experience” was supposed to begin?

This scene reveals the reality of poor-quality youth employment: unstable schedules, little support, no clear progression — and a culture of low expectations. While these jobs are often framed as stepping stones, they too often become traps.

🔍 Who’s Missing From This Scene?

Who could walk into this fast-paced, under-pressure workplace and change the experience?

• A youth work mentor who checks in regularly, offering coaching and encouragement?

• A manager trained in youth development, not just shift optimisation?

• A union rep making sure workers know their rights and how to defend them?

• A peer organiser, helping young workers raise their collective voice?