More than 100 current and former employees of McDonald’s have come forward with disturbing allegations of sexual assault, harassment, racism, and bullying within the fast-food chain.
The revelations have shed light on a toxic work culture that has left workers, some as young as 17, subjected to routine groping and harassment.
The BBC’s investigation into working conditions at McDonald’s began in February after the company signed a legally binding agreement with the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) to protect its staff from sexual harassment.
Despite McDonald’s claim of having a strong track record in this area, the investigation has uncovered a starkly different reality.
Over a five-month period, the BBC reached out to McDonald’s workers who shared their experiences.
Out of the more than 100 allegations, 31 were related to sexual assault, while 78 were related to sexual harassment.
Additionally, there were 18 allegations of racism and six of homophobia.
The stories shared by the employees are deeply disturbing and include instances such as a 17-year-old worker in Cheshire being racially slur-worded and propositioned by a colleague two decades older than her, a 17-year-old employee in Plymouth being choked and sexually harassed by a senior manager, and a 16-year-old male worker in Hampshire being coerced into performing sexual acts in exchange for vapes by a manager.
These are just a few examples of the widespread misconduct reported.
Many of the allegations involve managers within McDonald’s outlets, with senior managers frequently failing to act upon complaints.
The BBC investigation also revealed instances of sexual relationships between managers and junior staff, a violation of company policy.
Young women particularly expressed feeling constantly judged based on their appearance, with some reporting being forced by managers to wear uniforms that were too tight.
Several workers mentioned the existence of a pervasive culture of harassment at McDonald’s, with female employees often referred to as fresh meat and expected to endure mistreatment. The company’s unofficial slogan, “tits on tills – boys in the kitchen, girls on the counter,” exemplifies the objectification and gender bias faced by female workers.
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McDonald’s Faces Disturbing Allegations of Harassment and Managerial Failures
McDonald’s, one of the largest private-sector employers, employs over 170,000 people across 1,450 restaurants.
The majority of its workforce is comprised of individuals aged between 16 and 25, many of whom are in their first job.
The company utilizes a franchise system, meaning that most workers are not directly employed by McDonald’s but by individual operators licensed to run the outlets.
However, this does not absolve the corporation of responsibility for the well-being and safety of its employees.
In response to the allegations, McDonald’s acknowledged that it had fallen short and issued a sincere apology.
The company emphasized its commitment to providing a safe, respectful, and inclusive workplace for all employees.
The equality watchdog expressed concern over the BBC’s findings and has initiated a new email hotline to address the issue.
It is imperative that comprehensive action is taken to address these deeply troubling allegations and ensure the well-being of McDonald’s employees across the country.
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