Missed shifts were costly to this McDonald's. An app has fixed the problem
A McDonald's franchise in Maryland is using a new employee support app called Escalate to help staff overcome logistical barriers like transportation. The app provides vouchers for rideshares, helping to reduce absenteeism and stabilize the workforce.
Why it matters
This highlights how technology-driven support systems can address the practical challenges faced by low-wage workers, potentially improving retention and economic stability.
MORNINGSIDE, Md. — At 10 a.m. on a Tuesday, the drive-through at a McDonald's just off the Capital Beltway is still busy with the late breakfast crowd.
Inside the window, Ebert Velasquez Ramos takes an order for a sausage, egg and cheese McGriddle, cheerfully asking the customer if they want to make it a meal.
The new high school graduate has been at this job for about a month. It's his first job ever — and so far, so good. The bosses like how personable he is. And he's been reporting for his shifts on time, every day, something he worried could be a challenge.
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