The controversy surrounding workplace harassment at McDonald’s UK keeps escalating, with employees reporting ongoing concerns, according to The Workers Union.
A year after McDonald’s UK CEO Alistair Macrow pledged to reform workplace culture, employees came forward with allegations of sexual harassment, bullying and unsafe conditions. As a result, the UK Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) intervened.
Workers reported incidents of racism, verbal abuse and bullying by managers. Managers allegedly offered intimacy for extra shifts and sent explicit photos to female employees. More than 700 current and former employees joined legal action against the company, claiming it failed to protect staff.
Following the BBC’s initial investigation, McDonald’s partnered with PricewaterhouseCoopers to audit its restaurants and assess staff welfare. However, some workers claimed the audits were staged, with specially selected staff ready to provide favourable reviews.
Meanwhile, a company spokesperson said it had made progress, citing survey results showing increased confidence among employees to voice their opinions. However, many felt the measures were insufficient.
Although McDonald’s claimed that employees could choose guaranteed working hours, the workers surveyed said they were either unaware of the option or did not have access to it.
Macrow will face MPs for the second time to deal with allegations of harassment and abuse at McDonald’s UK on Tuesday. However, Liam Byrne, chairman of the Business Select Committee, criticised the company’s apparent failure to eradicate the issue, calling the situation “appalling.”
There is a clear pattern of abuse here that suggests that McDonald’s has become a hotbed of harassment.
The revelations highlight the challenges of implementing change in franchise companies where local managers enjoy considerable control. While the company claims to address the issues, worker testimonies point to a large gap between corporate promises and reality.
