If you’re considering a job at McDonald’s or have recently joined as an employee, understanding the work schedule is very important. Whether you’re balancing college, another job, or family responsibilities, knowing the exact shift hours and work time can help you plan your day more effectively.
In this article, I’ll share details about different types of McDonalds shifts, how long they are, what the timings are, and if the company offers overtime pay.
McDonald’s Shift Hours, Work Time and Schedule
In the United States, there are many McDonald’s locations that open 24/7, which means you have a wide range of shift options to choose from. While this flexibility is a great benefit for employees but your actual shift times may also depend on several factors such as:
- Store Location: 24-hour locations like those in malls or airports often have different shift schedules as compared to other locations that close at night.
- Employee Type: Part-time employees typically have fewer working hours than full-time employees.
- Store Needs: Shifts can also vary based on the restaurant’s staff requirements and the availability of other team members.
- Business Ownership: Shift hours can differ significantly between corporately-owned and franchise-owned locations. Franchisees often set more customized schedules.
Let’s dive in and look at the common shift types.
Morning Shift
The shift starts very early and is ideal if you have any daytime family commitments. These morning shifts start between 5:00 AM or 7:00 AM, depending on when the restaurant opens, and run until 10:30 AM or 11:00 AM.
During this time, you’ll be responsible for serving breakfast, preparing food, and handling the early-morning customers. Some crew members also help in setting up workstations and ensuring everything is ready for the day ahead.
Afternoon Shift
This shift mainly covers the lunch period and usually have moderate crowd as compared to the evening hours. These afternoon shifts start between 11:00 AM or 1:00 PM and operate till 4:00 PM or 5:00 PM.
While it’s generally less busy but on weekends and holidays it can bring in a higher volume of customers. Around this time, you’ll be working at the cash register, processing orders, cleaning the lobby, and organizing condiments.
Evening Shift
This shift is especially popular among students & part-time workers and it’s also the busiest time of the day. These evening shifts start between 4:00 PM or 5:00 PM and run until 10:00 PM or midnight.
At this time, you’ll be fulfilling dinner orders, handling the drive-thru, preparing for closing, and restocking supplies. If you enjoy working in a team environment, this shift could be a great fit for you.
Overnight Shift
Not every McDonald’s store operates 24/7 but there are still many important locations that run for a full day. These overnight shifts start between 10:00 PM or 11:00 PM and continue until 6:00 AM or 7:00 AM.
If you’re scheduled for a night shift, your duties will be preparing for the breakfast shift, deep cleaning the kitchen & dining areas, and taking late-night orders. While these shifts are less hectic in terms of customer traffic but you’ll be performing intense cleaning tasks and also training new staff.
During this shift, experienced team members are also assigned to train new crew members. But if you’re too busy with your work and don’t have time to train them, then suggest this free simulator that helps in learning the POS system easily.
How Long are McDonald’s Shifts?
Typically, McDonald’s shifts last between 4 to 9 hours, but this can also vary depending on your employment status, if you’re a full-time or part-time employee. Let’s see in detail:
- Part-time employees often work 4 to 6 hours per shift, especially if they’re college students or have limited availability.
- Full-time employees usually work 6 to 8 hours per shift, and this may extend to 9 hours when breaks are included.
- Double shifts (two consecutive shifts): This shift ranges from 12 to 16 hours or sometimes up to 20 hours. Also, it’s not a regular shift and is often considered as overtime according to labor laws.
Does McDonald’s Pay Overtime?
Yes, McDonald’s does offer overtime pay but only when the FLSA standards are met. If you’re a non-exempt employee ( which all crew members are) and work more than 40 hours in a workweek, you’re eligible for overtime compensation.
Here are some key points of McDonald’s overtime policy:
- Overtime is paid at 1.5 times your regular hourly wages.
- Overtime must be approved in advance, so always confirm with your supervisor before working beyond scheduled work hours.
- Some states or franchisees have different overtime policies, so it’s a good idea to discuss them with your manager during the orientation and submit the required documents.
Final Words
Understanding McDonald’s shift hours and schedules can really help you manage your time and energy on the job. Whether you’re joining for part-time or full-time work, there’s always a shift that fits your availability.
The best part? Flexible shifts like morning, afternoon, evening, and overnight shift make this job a great opportunity for those who are looking for balance, stability, and growth in their career.
