A new investigation published by the BBC shows that employees, some as young as 17, are almost routinely groped and harassed during working hours at the burger chain.
The review began in February after McDonald’s signed an agreement in which it took legal responsibility to protect its employees from sexual abuse.
At the time, McDonald’s already claimed to have a clear working method to counteract the problem – but now the opposite has been revealed.
Of the more than 100 accusations by employees, 31 concern sexual abuse, 78 sexual harassment, 18 racism and six homophobia.
McDonalds: “Apologies”
After hearing the testimonies of their employees, McDonald’s has apologized for what they call “shortcomings” – and believes that all their employees have the right to a safe, respectful and inclusive workplace.
But at the same time, several of the abuses are said to have been committed by managers within the organization and when internal reports have been made, they should just be put on a pile.
McDonald’s in the UK has one of the country’s youngest staff groups. Three quarters are between 16 and 25 years old.
The testimonies: Gonorrhea and strangulation
• A currently employed 17-year-old says that her 20-year-old colleague called her a racist word, asked to show her his penis and said he wanted to make a “black and white” baby with her.
• A former employee says her boss grabbed her by the throat and squeezed her bottom when she was 17 years old. A manager also allegedly sent her sexual images.
• Male employees allegedly made bets with each other about who would be the first to have sex with the new women who were hired.
• A gonorrhea outbreak is said to have occurred at a chain of restaurants in Ireland, where the policy on sexual relations between employees was allegedly routinely violated.
“Went to work terrified”
20-year-old Emily says that the new employees had to expect to be subjected to harassment.
– That is the expectation, if you work at McDonalds, you will be harassed, she says.
Shelby, who was 16 when she started working at McDonalds, says that she was terrified on the way into her workplace – and that her male colleagues used the cramped spaces to grope female colleagues.
– They pawed at the stomach, hips and bottom. Every shift I worked there was at least one comment made, or someone caressing one, a hand caressing me. Or worse things, like someone grabbing my butt or my hip.
The union has now launched an investigation linked to the BBC revelation and McDonald’s UK headquarters will conduct an internal investigation.
“We will investigate all allegations presented to us and any evidence that our code of conduct has been breached will be dealt with as strongly as legally possible,” said Alistair Macrow, head of McDonald’s UK and Ireland.