All McDonald's Outlets In The UK Warned Over Staff Sexual Harassment Risks: Report
All 1,400 McDonald’s branches in the UK have been warned that they may face legal action unless they take immediate and effective steps to prevent sexual harassment in the workplace.
This warning comes after a BBC investigation exposed widespread claims of sexual abuse and harassment at various McDonald’s locations in the UK.
The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) issued the notice, urging McDonald’s franchises to comply with their legal obligations under the Equality Act.
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If they fail to do so, they risk facing enforcement measures, including fines or even formal investigations. This intervention follows a previous investigation from January, which revealed that many workers at McDonald’s were still experiencing harassment despite promises from the company’s CEO to improve conditions, the report said.
The BBC’s investigation also revealed troubling reports from McDonald’s workers, including young employees, who shared stories of sexual harassment, ranging from groping to inappropriate comments.
One employee, a 19-year-old, spoke to BBC about being subjected to degrading verbal abuse and homophobic slurs at a McDonald’s franchise in southwest Scotland.
Although the person continues to work at the restaurant, he described little improvement in the situation and expressed hope that the EHRC’s involvement would result in real change.
McDonald’s spokesperson emphasised that it has implemented various measures, including enhanced training programs and a new “speak-up” channel, to address the issue.
However, the EHRC stressed that franchisees are also responsible for upholding the legal requirements of the Equality Act, regardless of the corporate action plan in place.
In the report, the BBC said that the EHRC’s letter to McDonald’s stressed that each restaurant must assess and address risks of harassment, take steps to protect vulnerable workers, and implement clear and sensitive procedures for handling complaints.
If a franchise fails to meet these legal obligations, it could face serious consequences, including unlimited fines.
The BBC’s investigation uncovered several more concerning claims that an employee in the Midlands said that managers had been “touching up” staff members, prompting him to quit.
According to BBC, A female worker from the West Midlands reported inappropriate touching by managers and harassment from customers, which was dismissed when she raised the issue.
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A 16-year-old employee said he was bullied and verbally abused by managers. Another 20-year-old worker revealed that a male manager had sent her topless pictures, leading her to leave her job.
The report stated that the EHRC holds legal powers, including the ability to launch formal investigations and take companies to court if they repeatedly fail to comply with the law. If McDonald’s or its franchisees continue to neglect their responsibilities, they could face unlimited fines.
The BBC’s investigation into working conditions at McDonald’s started over two years ago, and the company has faced increasing public pressure ever since.
The 2023 probe revealed widespread harassment claims, with over 160 individuals coming forward to share their experiences. The EHRC has also received 300 reports of harassment from employees, signaling the scale of the problem.
Alistair Macrow, the CEO of McDonald’s UK, has been summoned to Parliament on two separate occasions to answer questions about the company’s handling of harassment allegations. In January, Macrow disclosed that 29 employees had been dismissed over sexual harassment claims in the past year.
