For many young workers, a job is just one part of a much bigger picture. They may be balancing college, building a career and nurturing creative passions on the side all at the same time.
For some McDonald’s Philippines crew members, those interests are now becoming part of their work journey through Crew-ators, an employee creator program designed to help them develop their skills and pursue their passions beyond the restaurant floor.
The program returned this August 12 with crew members from Cebu forming its newest batch. Over six months, the participants will receive training, mentorship, creator tools and incentives as they create content and represent McDonald’s as official employee ambassadors.
More than simply producing social media content, Crew-ators gives participants an opportunity to explore what they can do beyond their usual roles.
“Our people are more than the roles they perform every day. They’re students, artists, athletes, creators, and individuals with unique aspirations,” said Ben Marasigan, vice president for Human Capital Group at McDonald’s Philippines.
He said the company aims to provide opportunities for employees to discover their potential, build confidence and develop skills that can benefit them both professionally and personally.
Before stepping in front of the camera, the new Crew-ators received guidance from content creators David Jones Cua of Bisaya Conyo Girl and TikTok creator Christian Antolin. They also received tools to help them apply what they learned throughout the program.
The Cebu group will spend the next six months sharing their interests, everyday experiences and life at McDonald’s from their own perspectives and creative styles.
The program builds on a pilot launched in 2023 and is part of the company’s broader effort to give employees different avenues for personal and professional development.
For McDonald’s Philippines, education remains another major priority among its workforce. Working students account for about 70 percent of its more than 75,000 employees, with flexible schedules allowing many to continue their studies while working.
The company said around 4,000 crew members graduate from college every year.
Learning also extends beyond the classroom. Employees across different levels have access to training and development programs, with McDonald’s investing P84 million in employee upskilling in 2024 alone.
These programs reflect the different ways employees define growth. For some, it means earning a degree. For others, it can mean learning a new skill, gaining confidence or discovering that a personal interest could become a career opportunity.
With Crew-ators expanding beyond its pilot stage, McDonald’s is giving more crew members a chance to explore those possibilities.
For the latest batch in Cebu, the next six months will be less about simply doing a job and more about discovering what else they can create from the skills, interests and experiences they already have.