Every McDonald’s branch in the UK has been warned that its owners could face legal consequences if they fail to protect employees from sexual harassment.
The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has written to all 1,400 branches, reminding them of their legal responsibilities to ensure safe working conditions. This follows a BBC investigation that revealed disturbing allegations of sexual abuse and harassment within the fast-food chain.
Despite promises by McDonald’s CEO over a year ago to address the issue, workers report ongoing sexual harassment at many locations. The BBC spoke to a McDonald’s employee who continues to face harassment. The 19-year-old, identified as Alan, has been subjected to degrading verbal abuse, including homophobic slurs, and feels trapped in the toxic work environment.
McDonald’s has expressed its commitment to providing a safe workplace for its employees, stating that it believes its current action plan is effective. However, the EHRC has intervened, noting that the claims in the BBC investigation are deeply concerning, and the harassment appears to be a recurring problem.
Most McDonald’s outlets in the UK are run by franchisees, meaning each operator is responsible for their staff. The EHRC’s letter pointed out that franchisees are not covered by the agreement McDonald’s made in February 2023 with the commission to address harassment.
However, all businesses in the UK, regardless of size, must follow the Equality Act, which mandates the prevention of discrimination and harassment. The EHRC’s chief executive, John Kirkpatrick, reminded the restaurants that they must implement effective anti-harassment measures or face legal consequences, including potential court action and unlimited fines.
The letter from the EHRC outlined several steps businesses can take to prevent harassment. These include conducting regular risk assessments, ensuring vulnerable workers are protected, and dealing with complaints promptly and effectively. Restaurants that fail to comply with their legal duties may face enforcement actions.
Liam Byrne, chair of the Business and Trade Select Committee, criticized the delay in the EHRC’s action, especially since the law requiring businesses to prevent sexual harassment had been in effect for months. He expressed concern that the regulator had known about numerous harassment incidents for years and questioned its lack of urgency.
In response, Kirkpatrick explained that the EHRC prefers to work with businesses to drive improvements but will take further action if necessary.
The BBC began investigating McDonald’s working conditions over two years ago. In July 2023, it published its first investigation, which revealed troubling claims from workers, including minors, who reported frequent sexual harassment, including groping. McDonald’s apologized and introduced a new unit to handle complaints.
Since then, over 160 people have contacted the BBC with similar claims, and the EHRC has recorded 300 incidents of harassment. Other allegations include managers making inappropriate advances and staff members being subjected to verbal abuse and homophobic slurs.
Recent developments have led to renewed action by the EHRC, which is working with McDonald’s to strengthen its existing measures and introduce new initiatives to combat harassment.
McDonald’s UK CEO Alistair Macrow has been called to Parliament twice since the investigation began to answer questions about the company’s handling of harassment claims. In January, McDonald’s reported that 29 employees had been dismissed due to sexual harassment.
A McDonald’s spokesperson said the company continues to evolve its plan to prevent harassment, including enhanced training programs, improved onboarding, and a new digital platform for employees to report issues. The company claims that these actions are improving the work environment for its nearly 170,000 employees across the UK and Ireland. According to a recent anonymous survey, 94% of employees are aware of how to report harassment.
The company remains confident that its plan is making a positive difference, but the EHRC’s ongoing oversight ensures that McDonald’s meets its legal obligations to provide a safe and respectful workplace.
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