McDonald’s worker claims manager gave low performance review to avoid raising her salary. But it backfires: ‘So entitled’

A video of a McDonald’s employee is getting people talking on X, with viewers debating whether an employee’s attitude toward their job should factor into their performance assessment. The employee recorded herself in a car complaining that her low performance score was an attempt by her manager to deny her the pay raise she believes she deserves.

The employee said her recent appraisal gave her a score of “2,” a rating traditionally reserved for employees who barely meet expectations. However, some viewers immediately picked up on what they believed was the “silent part” of her work situation.

In the video, the employee admitted that she pushes back whenever her manager gives her operational instructions. She specifically said she didn’t want to work the drive-thru because she simply didn’t want to be there. She argued that if she barely meets expectations, then her manager shouldn’t keep calling on her. “Why are you calling me up?” she asked. She then explained, “They always throw me at the window because I get the best times… but I didn’t wanna be at the window today… the back is so chill, nobody bothers you.”

She lost the room

The employee also pushed back against management over its attempts to stop her from using her phone while she was on duty, arguing that everyone else was on their phones too.

Service workers have a difficult job. There are constant conversations about wages not keeping up with the cost of living, debates over tipping in an increasingly automated world, and customers who struggle to behave themselves. Most people understand these challenges, so it takes a lot for the public to turn against a service worker expressing frustration about their job. Yet this McDonald’s employee seemingly managed to lose the room, with the majority of comments holding her accountable for her bad performance.

One user suggested keeping this off social media.

so obviously the first thing to do is make a video whining about it on social media for attention.
Everyone runs to make a video no matter what happens.

— Ernie McCracken (@Munson_Royy) August 12, 2026

Other users opined that this is just a case of entitlement and that the manager was right about having phones in the kitchen.

Hah! Some people just feel so entitled!

— @LynneK (@lynnek2005) August 12, 2026

For the record phone’s shouldn’t be allowed at all in the kitchen. They are very unsanitary

— Namenamename (@Namenamena2d4v) August 12, 2026

There were some nuanced opinions

However, the reaction wasn’t entirely one-sided. Beyond those who saw the video as a “self-own,” some users offered more nuanced perspectives on the employee’s experience.

One user suggested that the issue could simply be her personality. “Could be her personality,” they wrote. They then described their own experience working at McDonald’s, saying, “I worked for McD for 3 years when I was at the Uni. I was hired as a cook, but my friendly personality and very calm beautiful voice was always praised by my attitude and my pilot voice. Worked drive thru and cashier the entire time. Never flipped a burger.”

It's a consequence of poor leadership. If she works as she says, the manager should coach her rather than take an authoritative "do as you're told" stance with poor performance reviews. If you want your people to be stars and feel good about going to work, treat them that way.…

— Shawnee Gregorio (@ShawneeMG2) August 11, 2026

Another user blamed the manager, writing, “It’s a consequence of poor leadership. If she works as she says, the manager should coach her rather than take an authoritative ‘do as you’re told’ stance with poor performance reviews. If you want your people to be stars and feel good about going to work, treat them that way. Otherwise, you’ll constantly have a revolving door. It’s a shame, really.”

Could be her personality.
I worked for McD for 3 years when I was at the Uni. Hired as a cook, but my friendly personality and very calm beautiful voice; was always praised by my attitude and my pilot voice. Worked drive tru and cashier the entire time. Never flipped a burger.

— Warm Toilet Seat (@WarmT0iletSeat) August 12, 2026

Fast-food workers often use social media to air their workplace grievances, and truthfully, it’s always important to know the conditions of the places that make the food we eat, whether those conditions are good or bad.