Pennsylvania: Cashier working at McDonald’s for 45 years, retires at the age of 84

An 84-year-old McDonald’s cashier who has been with the firm for 45 years is finally retiring. Dot Sharp, 84, served her last customer–her granddaughter–from a McDonald’s drive-through window in Gibsonia, Pennsylvania, on Friday, according to Business Insider.
A representative for McDonald’s franchisee Tri County Management told the source that “the drive-thru line was wrapped around the building because so many of her regulars wanted to wish her well.” Ms Sharp was hired in September 1978, and as a single mother, she appreciated the flexibility of the schedule.

McDonald’s allowed her the flexibility to work as a single mother

A modest order of fries cost 35 cents at the time, and the chain’s trademark Big Mac cost only 90 cents, according to the New York Post. “I’m really sad about that because it’s not so much about the food, but the people,” Sharp told ABC station WTAE. “The people that I work with, they were great, they treated me great all these years, and we have the best customers in the world here.” Ms Sharp also stated that McDonald’s allowed her the flexibility to work as a single mother. Ms Sharp worked in the fast food business for 45 years, holding various jobs such as crew and manager, but for the final nine years, she worked at the drive-thru’s first window. According to Business Insider, her role included greeting customers, taking orders, and accepting payments. 

“That’s the actual function of her position – but it doesn’t capture the essence of who Dot is,” the spokesperson said. “Dot welcomes each customer with a sunny smile and cheerful greeting. She knows many customers by name and order.” On the last day of Dot’s employment at McDonald’s, “the drive-thru line was wrapped all the way around the building because so many of her regulars wanted to wish her well,” the spokesperson told the media outlet. “Our customers love her and so have generations of her fellow co-workers,” franchise owner Meghan Sweeney said in a press release. “She brought a sunny disposition to every shift and always made the customer her top priority.”