It seems like UK’s McDonald’s has become a hub of a toxic culture where sexual assault, harassment, racism, and bullying have become normal.
In exclusive news by BBC, the fast-food chain McDonald’s has been alleged of being harassed by more than 100 current and recent staff in the UK.
As per the report, workers, some as young as 17, are being groped and harassed almost routinely. McDonald’s after the BBC’s findings is now launching a new email hotline as the food chain had “fallen short” and it “deeply apologised”.
It added that all employees deserved to work in a safe, respectful, and inclusive workplace.
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The working conditions investigation against McDonald’s began in February 2023, after the company signed a legally binding agreement with the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) in which it pledged to protect its staff from sexual harassment.
At the time, McDonald’s insisted: “We already have a strong track record in this area.” However, the investigation revealed the other side of the story.
Over a five-month period, BBC reached out to McDonald’s workers to ask about their experiences of working there. Of the more than 100 allegations from employees we spoke to, 31 related to sexual assault, and 78 related to sexual harassment.
The news outlet also heard 18 allegations of racism, while six people made allegations of homophobia.
Multiple workers claimed that McDonald’s managers at the outlets across the UK were responsible for the harassment and assaults.
