'Nobody Cares About Your Career' — McDonald's CEO Chris Kempczinski Says As He Warns Workers To Stop Expecting An 'Employment Deal' In Today's Market
- - 'Nobody Cares About Your Career' — McDonald's CEO Chris Kempczinski Says As He Warns Workers To Stop Expecting An 'Employment Deal' In Today's Market
Casey B. RennerJanuary 2, 2026 at 9:01 PM
0
A blunt message about career responsibility is challenging long-held expectations between workers and employers.
McDonald's (NYSE:MCD) CEO Chris Kempczinski recently shared a video on Instagram urging workers to rethink who is responsible for career progress and advancement, while warning that traditional "employment deals" no longer apply in today's labor market. He also acknowledged the advice might "hurt your feelings," framing it as practical guidance rather than criticism.
Don't Miss:
Missed Nvidia and Tesla? RAD Intel Could Be the Next AI Powerhouse — Just $0.85 a Share
An EA Co-Founder Shapes This VC Backed Marketplace—Now You Can Invest in Gaming's Next Big Platform
Nobody Else Owns Your Career
"Nobody cares about your career as much as you do," Kempczinski said, cautioning that expecting someone else to create opportunities can be misguided. He added that workers should take primary responsibility for their own career progress rather than relying on employers to do it for them.
He said that while opportunities can arise through others, progress depends on taking action personally rather than waiting for direction.
Career Paths Are Less Defined
Career progression has become less structured across many workplaces. Gallup's "American Job Quality Study," a study of more than 18,000 U.S. workers, published Oct. 15, found that one in four employees say they lack opportunities for career advancement.
Trending: GM-Backed EnergyX Is Solving the Lithium Supply Crisis — Invest Before They Scale Global Production
At the same time, forecasts indicate job growth could slow further in 2026 amid rising uncertainty. Tariff pressures and labor market caution were cited as contributing factors, according to Investopedia.
Collective Bargaining as the Modern ‘Employment Deal'
Kempczinski's message reflects a shift toward individual career ownership. Labor unions remain a key exception by securing the formal "employment deals" that are fading elsewhere. Through collective bargaining, workers replace individual uncertainty with negotiated contracts that guarantee wage transparency and job security.
For example, United Auto Workers union members ratified a five-year labor deal on Sept. 19 with GE Aerospace (NYSE:GE), covering employees at facilities in Ohio and Kentucky. The agreement followed a separate four-year contract ratified earlier by the IUE-CWA, meaning two union contracts now govern GE Aerospace workers.
See Also: This Jeff Bezos-backed startup will allow you to become a landlord in just 10 minutes, with minimum investments as low as $100.
The agreement followed a strike and included negotiated wage progression schedules and job protections tied to tenure, providing the type of structured advancement that is becoming rarer in the non-unionized sector.
Similarly, Boeing (NYSE:BA) defense workers in the St. Louis area ratified a separate five-year contract on Nov. 13, ending a strike that began in August. The agreement includes a $6,000 ratification bonus and wage increases totaling about 24% over the life of the contract, according to union materials.
Read Next: From Moxy Hotels to $12B in Real Estate — The Firm Behind NYC's Trendiest Properties Is Letting Individual Investors In.
Image: Shutterstock
"ACTIVE INVESTORS' SECRET WEAPON" Supercharge Your Stock Market Game with the #1 "news & everything else" trading tool: Benzinga Pro - Click here to start Your 14-Day Trial Now!
Get the latest stock analysis from Benzinga:
APPLE (AAPL): Free Stock Analysis Report
TESLA (TSLA): Free Stock Analysis Report
This article 'Nobody Cares About Your Career' — McDonald's CEO Chris Kempczinski Says As He Warns Workers To Stop Expecting An 'Employment Deal' In Today's Market originally appeared on Benzinga.com
© 2026 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
Source: “AOL Money”
