A McDonald's worker in Edinburgh has posted an open letter on Facebook targeting those who job shame him.
Mike Waite, who works 50 hours a week at McDonald's, defended his decision to work for the food chain in an articulate and inspiring post.
His powerful response to those who have "judged" him and his colleagues has been shared more than 6,000 times and has over 42,000 likes.
Many people have commended him on speaking out, with one person hailing his letter as: "One of the best posts I've read on Facebook to date."
Waite explained that he works at Mcdonald's not because he has "no aspiration, motivation or intelligence".
"But for the opposite... because in a few months time, like a great number of people I work with, I will be going back into higher education," he said.
"McDonald's has this reputation which is quite unfounded in the recent age, every person I work with has a story and every person is working their ass off in what can be a very tough job for their own reasons... be it they are in school, uni, have family, have kids, saving...etc.
"The one thing McDonald's is is a job which is extremely (extremely) flexible, has opportunities for growth and can allow you to do what you want to do.
"There are people becoming pilots, lawyers, designers, architects, and people who are at a point in their life that they will do whatever it takes to look after their family."
Waite explained that he works with people who he aspires to be like, who have strengths in areas he wishes he had and who have overcome situations he never could.
He works with people who "have the determination to not fade away on handouts, but rather step up and work for their living unlike a huge number of people in this country".
He recalled how he had worked with "very rich folks in very high end jobs" in the past, but "few of them could match the resilience and work ethic" of the people he currently works with at McDonald's.
"McD's is not only letting me save up for university, but setting me up with flexible work [so] I can continue over the next years to come," he said.
"Not only that, but I intend on eventually progressing into the management side of things, something which ties in directly to my degree and will enhance my future job prospects.
"Damn right McDonald's will be on my CV, this job has pushed my limits in so many areas!"
He added that he recognised the job has downsides - such as lower wages - but added that every job has negative aspects.
He concluded: "Please just take your preconceptions and be rid of them because I work with some amazing people, and like many of them McDonald's is not a 'dead-end' of my working life but rather part of the beginning.
"Now, what drink would you like with that order?"
