Russell O’Grady is everything you want from an employee – he’s dependable, hard-working, enthusiastic, and above all loyal – so his bosses at McDonald’s have been lucky to have kept him on for the past 30 years.
Russell, who lives with Down syndrome, began working for Maccas in their North Parramatta store in 1986.
From his humble beginnings packing party boxes for the fast food chain the now 48-year-old works at Northmead McDonald’s where he is charged with keeping the dining room and patio areas tidy.
Russell got the job three decades through career agency Jobsupport – an organisation which helps people with intellectual disabilities get work that is fulfilling for both employer and employee.
Russell O’Grady when her first started at McDonald’s in the ’80s. PHOTO: Supplied.
Russell works 10 hours per week – he was working 15 hours per week but recently negotiated a drop in hours to accommodate some of his age related-health issues, but his sister-in-law, Kate O’Grady, who also works with Jobsupport, says he still enjoys the gig after all these years.
“Talking with the customers would have to be the most favourite aspect of his job,” Kate tells The Weekly.
“Russell is an incredibly social person and can hardly walk down the street without people stopping to chat with him or buy him a beer at the club.”
Kate actually met her husband Lindsey, Russell’s brother, 10 years ago when she was Russell’s support officer organising his 20th work anniversary. Kate says that having a brother with special needs herself was actually the special bond that drew her to her husband from the start.
“I also have a brother with Down syndrome so Lindsey and I had a lot in common and both feel head over heels in love,” Kate says about meeting her husband who flew to Sydney just for the party. “Three months later he moved to Sydney and a year later we were married.”
Russell with sister-in-law Kate O’Grady and younger brother Lindsey O’Grady at his 30th work anniversary celebrations. PHOTO: Supplied.
While Kate is no longer Russell’s particular case officer she’s still at the company and says Jobsupport has been there every step of the way to assist Russell with understanding any new changes at McDonald’s, as well as training new staff on how to work best with someone with special needs so they can flourish.
“Being in his role for 30 years Russell has seen many changes from new procedures, uniforms, menus and staffing to name a few,” says Kate.
Now 48-year-old Russell works at Northmead McDonald’s but Phil Jones, who was his first store manager in Parramatta 1987, has previously recalled when his former colleague first started and commended the then teen for having the courage to come in and have a go.
“Twenty one years there was no one like Russell working in McDonald’s – very few employers took that move – but all I could see was a guy who just wanted to achieve something,” said Phil.
After a long career under the golden arches Russell has certainly achieved a lot. The dedicated employee plans to hang up his Maccas hat for good in two years, when he’s 50.
When Russell O’Grady’s celebrated 20-years working at McDonald’s
