In the United Kingdom, more than 700 employees have joined a collective harassment complaint launched in the country against the American group McDonald’s. This complaint comes a year and a half ago after a resounding BBC investigation into these practices.
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“ I had to endure homophobic comments from managers and team members. My manager told me that if I couldn’t handle it, I should just quit my job… »: testimony from a 19-year-old employee, cited by the law firm Leigh Day, which represents the 700 plaintiffs, employees or former employees of McDonald’s, who were under 20 years old at the material time.
They describe experiences of discrimination, particularly linked to disability, but also of homophobia, racism and harassment.
The American fast food chain has 168,000 employees in the country, the majority of whom are very young – sometimes teenagers, with precarious contracts. According to Leigh Day, more than 450 McDonald’s in the United Kingdom are involved, so far.
After the investigation of the BBC in July 2023which resulted in the filing of the collective complaint, the company’s managing director in the United Kingdom and Ireland had apologized on behalf of the group for ” clear shortcomings » in the protection of employees.
After these accusations, McDonald’s United Kingdom launched its own investigation, but according to the unions, the situation had not improved.
Also readSexual harassment, racism, homophobia: McDonald’s at the heart of the cyclone in the United Kingdom