McDonald's workers in the United Kingdom have reported ongoing sexual harassment despite promises from the company's chief executive to address and rectify such behavior. A BBC investigation revealed that over 160 employees have come forward with allegations of harassment more than a year after these assurances were made. The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) expressed concern over these "troubling" and "repeated incidents," highlighting the need for immediate action.
Alan, a 19-year-old McDonald's employee, shared his experience of enduring "degrading and humiliating" verbal abuse, including homophobic slurs, at his workplace. He described the atmosphere at McDonald's as a "culture of fear," where workers often felt intimidated. Another worker, aged 20, reported receiving inappropriate pictures from a male manager, while others recounted how managers would inappropriately touch staff members. The fear and anxiety among some employees were so severe that they dreaded going to work.
In response to the BBC's findings, the EHRC has taken decisive steps by writing to all 1,400 McDonald's branches in the UK. They reminded these branches of their legal obligations to prevent discrimination and harassment and warned them of potential enforcement actions if they failed to comply.
"It is your duty to ensure that any anti-discrimination and harassment measures you currently have in place are effective, and to take any necessary steps to protect your workers," stated John Kirkpatrick, chief executive of the EHRC.
Since the initial investigation, the EHRC has documented 300 reported incidents of harassment. They conducted an anonymous employee survey revealing that 94% of respondents were aware of channels through which they could voice their concerns. However, despite these measures, incidents of harassment persist.
"We think that generally the best way to get improvement is to work with willing management teams to effect real change," said John Kirkpatrick.
In light of these accusations, McDonald's has established a new unit dedicated to handling complaints and addressing employee grievances. A spokesperson for McDonald's confirmed that they have launched various initiatives aimed at improving workplace culture.
"These actions include everything from enhanced training programmes and onboarding practices, through to the launch of a new digital speak up channel designed with our and our franchisees' restaurant crew in mind," said a McDonald's spokesperson.
Despite these efforts, McDonald's has been summoned twice to Parliament to answer questions before Members of Parliament (MPs) since the initial investigation. This scrutiny underscores the serious nature of the allegations and the urgency for McDonald's to implement effective measures to safeguard its employees.
The majority of McDonald's restaurants in the UK operate as franchises, meaning individual operators manage the outlets and employ staff. This operational structure can complicate efforts to enforce uniform policies across all locations. Nevertheless, the EHRC holds a range of statutory enforcement powers, including the ability to launch formal investigations into non-compliant branches.
"We can impose actions on businesses. If we need to do that, then that is what we will do," John Kirkpatrick emphasized.
In January, McDonald's issued an apology for the allegations but continues to face mounting pressure to demonstrate tangible improvements in its workplace environment. The company remains confident that its current strategies are effective and beneficial for its workforce.
"We are confident that the plan we have in place is working and making a difference to the near 170,000 people currently employed by McDonald's and our franchisees across McDonald's in the UK & Ireland today," affirmed a McDonald's spokesperson.
The EHRC stresses the importance of public confidence in McDonald's ability to handle these issues effectively and promptly.
"It's now vital the public are reassured they're on top of the problem – and not behind the curve," said Liam Byrne, chair of the Business and Trade Select Committee.