In line with its strategy to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace, McDonald’s Qatar, 100% fully owned and operated by Al Mana Restaurants & Food Company W.L.L. marked International Women’s Day by inaugurating the first official All Female Restaurant in Wadi Al Banat. The initiative was supported by a range of activities, and a dedicated campaign highlighted via their social media platforms (McDonald's Qatar) under the hashtag ‘We #EmbraceEquity.’

The all-female restaurant located in Wadi Al Banat comes in line with the leading quick-service restaurant's commitment towards providing an equitable workplace for all employees. The restaurant is supported by 28 highly capable female employees, which consist of managers, baristas, and crew members. The innovative brand introduced updated ground-breaking policies adhering to the importance of family, whereby they will be providing extended paid maternity leave for female employees and paid paternity leave for male employees.

Commenting on the cornerstone, Mr Mithqual Abu Nasser, General Manager of McDonald’s Qatar commented “Today, females play a vital role in our business, as they create a healthy and productive environment. Hence, it’s our duty to support and encourage them to achieve their true potential. As an organization, females represent 43% of our workforce, from a total of 2,100 employees from 26 diverse backgrounds, underlining our commitment towards empowering women. This year, we are proud on dedicating a 100% all-female branch. Additionally, we will continue to assess our policies and update them as we aim to push the boundaries and raise awareness about the significance of female leadership and equity in the workplace.”

To raise awareness about equity in the workplace, McDonald’s Qatar embarked on a social media campaign. They took a bold step in pushing the boundaries and archiving all their posts on their Instagram page, which raised the flag to their followers and build curiosity. They wanted to deliver a strong message that empowerment is at the heart and soul of what they do. Hence, they first educated their audience firsthand on three important terminologies: Women, Equity, and Commitment.

Later on, under one unified voice, they launched the International Women’s Day campaign using various females’ photos from leadership, mid-management, and crew members by turning their photos into collages signifying they are one unified team; in addition, they crafted a testimonial video whereby males and females alike vowed to continue supporting the elevation of the workplace. To solidify their efforts, they invited members of the public to use the social hashtag, ‘We #EmbraceEquity’ and join in the conversation.

To keep the momentum going, McDonald’s Qatar hosted an internal event for their Women Leadership Network. The event included the roadmap they have drawn for 2023 for various touchpoints and initiatives they have across the year planned to promote the excellence which women can provide in the workplace.

Source & cover image credit: Press Release

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Fareeha Imtiaz

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