5 Things You Need to Know About McDonald’s Inaugural Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Report

What’s the best way to create actual, meaningful change? At McDonald’s, we know that our work shines brightest when we identify ambitions, get real about how we’re tracking against them and continue to raise the bar – again and again. That’s the ethos behind McDonald’s first Global Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) Report, which paints a clearer picture of our DEI strategy and how it’s being brought to life.

One of McDonald’s core values is Inclusion, which means we open our doors to everyone and we accept and embrace the differences that make each of us unique. After all, we are at our best when we feel valued and know that our voice matters.

DEI has always been a big part of who we are as Brand, from inviting suppliers to join us on our DEI journey to supporting the next generation of leaders. But we recognize that there’s always more we can do to keep inclusion at the heart of our business – for our customers, crew, corporate employees, Franchisees and suppliers.

What Exactly Is a Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Report? 

We use our Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Report to share more about our strategy and goals and get transparent about the progress we’re making through data. It’s packed with real-life stories about how DEI comes to life across our business, for our employees, Franchisees, suppliers, communities, customers and beyond.

Now, let’s get into the good stuff. Our inaugural Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Report is packed with details that make us feel proud, but there are several key takeaways that get us really excited about McDonald’s progress toward a more equitable future:

1. We’re diversifying our leadership team. It’s important that our leaders represent the McDonald’s System, which is why we’re aiming to increase representation of underrepresented groups in leadership roles (Senior Director and above) located in the U.S. to 35% by the end of 2025. As of the end of 2021, we hit 30%. At the same time, we reached 41% women in leadership roles (Senior Director and above) globally, putting us on track to reach our goal of 45% by the end of 2025.

2. We’re putting our money where our mouth is. Our reach is vast, which is why we’re prioritizing spending with diverse-owned businesses and continue to help support diverse-owned media companies, production houses and content creators. At the end of 2021, 25% of annual U.S. Systemwide spend was with diverse-owned suppliers, totaling over $4 billion. Additionally, 7.7% of our systemwide U.S. advertising spend was with diverse-owned media companies, production houses, and content creators – putting us on track to achieve our original investment ambition of 10% by the end of 2024. We know there’s more work to be done in this space and we’re confident we can have an even greater impact, which is why we’re raising our diverse-owned media investment ambition from 10% to 15% by the end of 2024. 

3. We’re closing the pay gap. We believe in equal pay for equal work, which is why we closed the gender pay gaps identified in our 2021 equal pay analysis for staff and Company-owned restaurant employees globally in Company-owned and operated markets. This ongoing work allows us to continue hiring incredible candidates to make our arches shine even brighter.

4. We’re fostering brighter futures in the communities we serve. McDonald’s is more than just a job – we aim to develop and encourage our talent through new opportunities. Last year, we announced a global effort to attract and recruit more Franchisees from all backgrounds. Within the restaurants, we offer ongoing support through Archways to Opportunity, which has increased access to education for more than 72,000 people as of year-end 2021. Since its inception, over $165 million has been awarded in high school and college tuition assistance. 

5. We’re asking others to join us. We know that the scope of the McDonald’s System is powerful, which is why in 2021 we launched the Mutal Commitment to Diversity Equity & Inclusion, a pledge inviting participants to commit to greater action and intentionality around the behaviors, mindsets and strategies that help advance DEI. As of June 2022, 362 suppliers pledged to join us.

What’s next? 

McDonald’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Report is just one stepping stone on the path of living up to our DEI goals. It allows us to offer a window into our ambitions, our challenges and our progress – and it helps us hold ourselves accountable along the way.

The year ahead offers plenty of opportunities for McDonald’s to continue growing. We’re doubling down on our goal to represent the diverse communities in which we operate, deepen cultures of inclusion and belonging and continue dismantling barriers to economic opportunity. We hope you’ll follow our journey, get in on the conversation and continue to hold us accountable along the way.  

Ready to dig into McDonald’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Report? There’s plenty more to explore here.