McDonald's layoffs, on the record
Every job cut, severance charge and restructuring McDonald's reported in its annual reports, 2023 to 2025, quoted from the filings. Headcount went from Over 150,000 to Over 150,000.
Headcount, as reported
| Annual report | Employees | As of |
|---|---|---|
| 10-K for 2024 | Over 150,000 | — |
| 10-K for 2025 | Over 150,000 | — |
Job cuts, severance and restructuring
Our summaryThe company recorded restructuring costs under its Accelerating the Organization initiative, an internal effort to modernize ways of working, as part of its Accelerating the Arches strategy.
Word for word“Pre-tax charges of $290 million, or $0.30 per share related to the Company's Accelerating the Arches growth strategy, including restructuring costs associated with its internal effort to modernize ways of working ( Accelerating the Organization)” 10-K for 2023
Our summaryThe company stated that restructuring costs under Accelerating the Organization consist mainly of employee termination benefits, contract termination costs and professional services, and it expects to keep incurring them through 2027.
Word for word“Of the $ 249.7 million of restructuring costs incurred for the year ended December 31, 2023, $ 62.4 million was recorded in the U.S., $ 65.6 million was recorded in the International Operated Markets segment and $ 121.7 million was recorded in the International Developmental Licensed Markets & Corporate segment, the majority of which was recorded at Corporate.” 10-K for 2023
Our summaryThe company reported restructuring costs for 2023 related to employee termination benefits, with restructuring costs expected in 2024 to be similar to 2023 and mainly professional service fees.
Word for word“Restructuring costs in 2024 are expected to be similar to what was incurred in 2023, and are expected to primarily consist of professional service fees.” 10-K for 2023
Our summaryThe company recorded accelerated restaurant closing charges tied to its Accelerating the Arches strategy.
Word for word“The Company incurred $40 million of accelerated restaurant closing charges, representing expenses associated with the Lease Right of Use Asset and fixed asset write-offs” 10-K for 2023
Our summaryMcDonald's recorded restructuring charges under its Accelerating the Organization initiative, which it said brought total restructuring charges to date to $471 million.
Word for word“The Company incurred $ 221 million of restructuring charges related to Accelerating the Organization for the year ended December 31, 2024, which brings total restructuring charges to $ 471 million since the initiative commenced.” 10-K for 2024
Our summaryRestructuring charges for Accelerating the Organization in 2024 were primarily for employee termination benefits, contract termination costs and professional services, with the accrued balance tracked in a table.
Word for word“For the current year, restructuring charges primarily consisted of professional services costs.” 10-K for 2024
Our summaryThe company said it expects further restructuring charges under the initiative in 2025, which will continue through an anticipated completion in 2027.
Word for word“The Company currently expects to incur approximately $ 300 million of restructuring charges in 2025, primarily related to professional services costs.” 10-K for 2024
Our summaryThe company recorded 2023 pre-tax charges for its Accelerating the Arches strategy, including restructuring charges associated with Accelerating the Organization.
Word for word“Pre-tax charges of $290 million, or $0.30 per share, related to the Company's Accelerating the Arches growth strategy, including restructuring charges associated with Accelerating the Organization” 10-K for 2024
Our summaryThe company incurred restructuring charges in 2025 under its Accelerating the Organization initiative, which is meant to modernize ways of working.
Word for word“The Company incurred $ 226 mi llion, $ 221 million, and $ 250 mi llion of restructuring charges related to Accelerating the Organization in the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024, and 2023, respectively.” 10-K for 2025
Our summaryThe company expects to incur about $250 million of additional restructuring charges in 2026, mostly for professional services, with the initiative expected to finish during 2027.
Word for word“The Company currently expects to incur approximately $ 250 million of restructuring charges in 2026, primarily related to professional services costs.” 10-K for 2025
| Fiscal year ended | Restructuring charges | Restructuring costs incurred | Cash paid for restructuring |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-12-31 | $290 million | $250 million | $172 million |
| 2024-12-31 | $221 million | $221 million | $237 million |
| 2025-12-31 | $229 million | $226 million | $219 million |
McDonald's has filed no restructuring notice (Form 8-K, Item 2.05) since 2016. Companies file one only for a cut they judge material, so many announced layoffs never appear as one. This page shows what the company reported to the SEC, not news reports or state layoff notices.
Read from McDonald's’s annual reports (10-K for 2025, 10-K for 2024, 10-K for 2023) and the financial data it files with the SEC, as of 2026-02-24. Every quotation is word for word from the filing linked beside it; how these pages are built and checked. The full record is in its company data sheet.