88-Year-Old McDonald’s Worker Not Ready To Retire Because Sitting At Home Is Boring

At the end of the workday, your slippered feet up on the ottoman, fuzzy bathrobe in place and TV remote in hand, you might think — “I’ll do this all the time, once I retire.” Not so for one of McDonald’s oldest workers, who at 88 says he’s not ready to retire from the fast food world and instead, will “carry on until I drop.”

While The Sun’s story has the headline that Bill is the very oldest McDonald’s worker out there, the truth is McDonald’s says it doesn’t keep a database of staff ages. But, a spokesman said — “Bill is probably one of the oldest working for us in the world.”

So what keeps Bill going, six hours a day, two days a week, greeting customers and wiping tables as a customer care manager in North Wales, U.K.? A loathing of becoming idle. This, after 35 years as a steel worker, ten or so years at an aircraft manufacturer and 15 years as a cab driver.

“Sitting at home can get boring. I’m not a drinker and my wife won’t let me touch the garden as she does all that,” he explains. The days he’s not working are already a source of the yawns, he adds.

“After four days off at home I look forward to coming to work because I like talking to people and meeting people — that’s why I loved the taxi work.”

His boss is a fan, as are the younger set of employees he calls family. Warm fuzzies, abounding!

“Bill is the face of the business. He looks after all of the punters and is very popular. I think they like an older face. He’s also an excellent worker.”

I’m guessing these are not people who punt balls as in the game of American football (slang, I got it), but it’s a funny thing to imagine.

*After reading this post, Consumerist reader Brad wrote in to tell us about Edith, “90 years young” and working at a Toronto McDonald’s. We salute you as well, Edith!

Previously in tireless workers we totally admire: Longest-Serving Macy’s Employee Retires After 73-Year-Career 

Bill, 88, is world’s oldest McDonald’s worker [The Sun]

Want more consumer news? Visit our parent organization, Consumer Reports, for the latest on scams, recalls, and other consumer issues.