McDonald’s South Africa Recognised as a Top Employer for 2026
McDonald’s South Africa Recognised as a Top Employer for 2026
19 January 2026, Johannesburg, South Africa - McDonald's South Africa is pleased to announce its certification as a Top Employer for 2025 by the Top Employers Institute. This recognition acknowledges the company's ongoing commitment to prioritizing its people and fostering a workplace environment in which all employees can thrive.
This marks the third consecutive year that McDonald’s South Africa has received this accolade, coinciding with three decades of the company’s presence in the country.
The recognition underscores the strength of McDonald's South Africa's human resources practices, particularly in the areas of employee development, leadership excellence, and cultivating a values-driven corporate culture. The certification was awarded following an independent and rigorous assessment across six key HR domains: Steer, Shape, Attract, Develop, Engage, and Unite.
A significant proportion of the workforce comprises youth and women, highlighting the organization’s role in promoting youth employment, skills development, and gender inclusion.
Receiving the Top Employer status enhances the company's external reputation as an employer of choice aligned with its values. Internally, it bolsters employee pride by demonstrating the organization’s dedication to growth, development, and overall employee experience.
McDonald’s South Africa’s commitment to talent development is exemplified by its impressive 71% retention rate within its learnership program, as well as the existence of Hamburger University, the company’s dedicated training institution. Employees who did not remain with McDonald's after the learnerships pursued other career opportunities, which reflects the quality of development provided. Additionally, the CATHSSETA program engaged 1,400 learners, with notable outcomes: 476 learners were permanently absorbed into McDonald's South Africa, approximately 658 transitioned to careers elsewhere, and around 200 declined job offers to explore other options.
During the assessment, McDonald's South Africa's leadership approach, employee engagement initiatives, and talent acquisition strategies were evaluated. The results reaffirm the company's dedication to fostering a supportive, inclusive, and high-performance organizational culture rooted in people-centric leadership.
"Our vision of Accelerating the Arches and our mission to create feel-good moments for everyone - from employees and customers alike—continue to inform our daily operations.
Being recognized as a Top Employer strengthens our reputation as an employer of choice that upholds our values. It also reinforces a sense of pride within our organization by demonstrating our investment in employees' growth, development, and overall experience," stated Dr. Mamello Masia, Chief People Officer of McDonald's South Africa.
Beyond being a workplace, McDonald's South Africa positions itself as a platform for meaningful career growth, where individuals can begin, evolve, and succeed. From the kitchen to the boardroom, every role is valued, and every career path is supported. The organization exemplifies a business with heart—Made for You.
"This recognition serves as a powerful reminder of the culture we have cultivated—one that nurtures careers, empowers talent, and ensures that every member of our organization feels valued, supported, and inspired,” concluded Dr. Masia.