Fresh allegations of harassment at McDonald’s UK prompt a class action lawsuit and parliamentary scrutiny of the company’s practices
London: McDonald’s is in hot water again with new harassment claims surfacing across its UK locations. Over 700 employees have banded together for a class action lawsuit, saying they’re still facing sexual harassment and abuse, even after the company promised to improve conditions last year.
Today, the UK boss of McDonald’s, Alistair Macrow, was called in front of MPs to answer tough questions about these allegations. Reports from the BBC highlight a 19-year-old worker who said managers would “touch up” staff, making many feel unsafe at work. Another employee from Scotland shared that he faced “degrading and humiliating” verbal abuse from colleagues.
The UK equality watchdog has received around 300 reports of harassment, prompting them to step in again. McDonald’s claims they’ve been working hard to create a safer environment for their workers, but many employees feel that nothing has really changed.
One worker from the West Midlands quit after alleging that managers inappropriately touched her and that customers harassed her. She said when she reported it, she was told to “suck it up.” A 16-year-old still working there said he was bullied and verbally abused by managers.
Another former employee, a 20-year-old woman, left her job after a male manager sent her topless photos. These incidents reportedly happened after November 2023, when Macrow first appeared before parliament to discuss the company’s treatment of staff.
Macrow had promised to improve working conditions, but some current and former employees claim that the promised audits were just for show. Now, more than 700 workers are taking legal action against McDonald’s, saying the company has failed to protect them.
A teenager who quit last year described the work environment as “toxic,” saying he was bullied for having a learning disability. He mentioned that some staff felt scared to go to work, fearing something terrible might happen.
Another 19-year-old worker reported facing homophobic slurs and said when he brought it up to a senior manager, he was dismissed as it being “just a bit of banter.” A woman from the Midlands shared a shocking experience where a shift manager asked her for sex in exchange for extra shifts when she was just 17.
Most McDonald’s employees are young, often in their first jobs, and many work on zero-hours contracts. While McDonald’s says workers can switch to guaranteed hours, many claim they weren’t given that option, leading to an imbalance of power.
Claire, a former worker, felt dependent on her managers for shifts, always asking for more hours to make ends meet. McDonald’s insists they’ve made efforts to ensure employees know about their options for guaranteed hours, but many still feel insecure.
MP Liam Byrne called the situation “appalling,” pointing out a clear pattern of abuse. He noted that when Macrow promised to address these issues last year, it’s evident that he hasn’t succeeded.
McDonald’s has brought in outside consultants to audit their restaurants, but some workers claim these inspections were manipulated. One employee said the audit gave their branch a perfect score, despite serious allegations against a manager.
After the BBC’s investigation, McDonald’s set up a new unit to handle complaints and has been working with the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) to improve conditions. The EHRC is now taking stronger action against the fast-food giant.
In a recent statement, the EHRC mentioned they’re updating their legal agreement with McDonald’s due to the serious allegations raised. They plan to enhance training and conduct worker surveys to ensure better practices.
McDonald’s has stated that ensuring the safety of its 168,000 employees is their top priority. They’ve implemented new programs to improve safeguarding and have introduced additional ways for employees to report issues confidentially.
Despite the challenges, McDonald’s claims that a recent anonymous survey showed a majority of their workers feel comfortable speaking up about issues. However, they acknowledge the need for constant vigilance to maintain high standards.
