The retention strategy behind the Golden Arches

Tuesday, 14 July 2026

Awards recognise success, but they rarely explain how it happened.

When McDonald's New Zealand was recently named one of HRD Australia & New Zealand's 5-Star Employers of Choice for 2026 – the first quick service restaurant brand in New Zealand to receive the recognition – there was one story the award couldn't tell on its own: the people behind it.

Those people include Restaurant Manager for Albany, Saman Mohammadizadeh, whose own career shows what can happen when a workplace invests in its employees.

Saman joined McDonald's in May 2020. Just two years later he became a Restaurant Manager. Earlier this year he travelled to Las Vegas after receiving the prestigious Ray Kroc Award, recognising the top one percent of restaurant managers across McDonald's worldwide.

For Saman, the Ray Kroc Award is recognition of something he values most: helping others grow.

'The most rewarding part is helping people grow and succeed,' he says. 'Seeing team members develop confidence, achieve their goals, and progress in their careers is incredibly fulfilling.'

Receiving the Ray Kroc Award, he says, reinforced his belief that 'success is built through teamwork, trust, and consistency.'

That idea is echoed across the business.

McDonald's New Zealand Human Resources Lead, Annerita Edy says great workplace culture isn't created by policies sitting in a handbook.

'People don't experience policies. They experience people,' she says.

It's a philosophy reflected in the everyday moments that shape someone's experience at work – managers taking the time to coach, leaders who listen, and teams where people feel respected, supported and encouraged to grow.

'We are a people business just as much as we are a restaurant business,' Edy says. 'We want McDonald's to be a place where people feel respected, supported and able to grow, whether they are starting their first job, building leadership skills, or developing a long-term career.'

As one of New Zealand's largest youth employers, McDonald's introduces thousands of people to the workforce every year. For some it's a first job while studying. Others value the flexibility around family commitments or other responsibilities. And for many, what begins as a part-time role becomes the start of a long-term career.

That progression is something Saman knows first-hand.

'McDonald's has helped me develop strong leadership, communication and problem-solving skills,' he says. 'It has also taught me the importance of resilience, teamwork, and leading by example.'

The investment in people appears to be paying off.

As part of the HRD assessment, McDonald's New Zealand achieved an overall employee satisfaction score of 86.92%. Employee turnover has fallen by 43%, engagement is at an all-time high and employee tenure continues to grow. Earlier this year, the company was also recognised by Human Resources New Zealand for excellence in its wellness programme.

For Edy, those results are simply a reflection of the people who create the workplace every day.

'We are a people business just as much as we are a restaurant business, and this recognition reflects the environment our teams create every day across the country,' she says.

Four years after joining McDonald's, Saman is now working towards becoming a Licensee, continuing the career journey that began in 2020.

'This award belongs to all of us,' he says. 'Thank you for your hard work, commitment and support. Your passion and dedication are what make our restaurant successful, and I am incredibly grateful to lead such an amazing team.'

To learn more about careers at McDonald's New Zealand, visit the McDonald's New Zealand website.