Allegations of Sexual Assault, Harassment, Racism, and Bullying Surface at UK McDonald’s Outlets

More than 100 current and former staff members of McDonald’s in the UK have come forward with allegations of sexual assault, harassment, racism, and bullying, according to an investigation by the BBC. The workers, many of whom are as young as 17, claim that the incidents are routine and that staff members are groped and harassed regularly. The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) said it was “concerned” by the findings and has launched a new email hotline. McDonald’s said it had “fallen short” and apologised, stating that all employees deserve to work in a safe and respectful environment. The fast-food chain had previously pledged to protect staff from sexual harassment in a legally binding agreement with the EHRC. However, the investigation revealed a different reality, with more than 100 allegations of sexual assault and harassment, as well as allegations of racism and homophobia. Staff members reported instances of racial slurs, explicit images being sent by managers, and inappropriate comments and actions. The workers claim that senior managers often failed to act on complaints, and some said that sexual relationships between managers and junior staff members were commonplace, despite being against company policy. McDonald’s, the UK’s largest private sector employer, expressed its deep apologies and is investigating the lack of action on these complaints. The chain has over 170,000 employees in the UK. The majority of these workers are aged between 16 and 25, and many have described feeling constantly judged based on their appearance. Some women reported being forced to wear uniforms that were too tight, and many alleged that attractive staff members were intentionally placed at the front counter. According to testimonies, workers at a number of different McDonald’s outlets across the UK were responsible for the harassment and abuse, and senior managers often overlooked complaints. The workers also claimed that when complaints were made about managers, they were relocated to other McDonald’s restaurants within the franchise, rather than being fired.