McDonald’s (underage) employees report abuse at work This comparison test proves it: The price differences between credit cards are large

In February 2023, McDonald’s UK signed a legally binding agreement with the Equality and Human Rights Commission, pledging to protect its employees from sexual assault. One of the UK’s largest non-governmental employers is proud to announce that it already has a very positive track record in this field. Research by the BBC now paints a very different picture of the fast food giant.

For its investigation, the BBC spoke to former and current McDonald’s employees – the more than 100 allegations they made carry weight. During five months, those affected told journalists 78 times about sexual harassment and 31 times about sexual abuse. In total, those affected reported racial abuse on 18 occasions and six people said they had experienced homophobia at work.

The following are some of the allegations made to the BBC by staff:

Many of the employees report that the sexual harassment often came from the managers of the locations concerned. And that the superiors repeatedly failed to respond and took action on the complaints. One employee stated that she was considered fresh meat by her male colleagues. Other women said they were forced to wear uniforms that were too tight. Anyway, the motto was “tits on the register – boys in the kitchen, girls on the counter”, so boys in the kitchen, girls at the counter.

Former employee Shelby was only 16 when she started working at McDonald’s. Older employees would have used the narrow kitchen as an excuse to immorally touch young employees. “Every shift I worked there was at least one lewd comment. Or a hand brushing me. Or I was even groped on the hips or buttocks.” After a particularly serious incident, the teenager contacted management – who did nothing .

17-year-old Chinyere also had similar experiences: she was sexually harassed by a much older employee and faced racism. When she turns to management they just tell her to ignore the man and go back to work. Only when her stepfather contacts McDonald’s and the police with a complaint is the employee fired. Chinyere believes that nothing would have been done without her stepfather’s intervention.

McDonald’s has responded to Chinyere’s case and apologized. Their experiences are “disgusting and unacceptable”. The fast food chain added that it acted within three days of the allegations becoming known and immediately fired the man. Faced with the many allegations against its restaurant employees and especially their management, McDonald’s says, “All employees deserve a workplace that is safe, respectful and inclusive.” The chain apologizes “with all my heart” and also promised to investigate all allegations made and take appropriate action against those involved.

That McDonald’s offers a problematic work environment is nothing new. Five years ago, several allegations were made public. At that time, a thousand complaints had been filed with the food industry union “Bakers, Food and Allied Workers Union”. Because the settlement often included a non-disclosure clause, these cases were reported relatively little publicly. And the United Kingdom is not alone in this: legal proceedings are also underway in the United States against the fast food chain over allegations of sexual harassment at work. (ann)