Harassment and discrimination –
More than 700 employees file suit against McDonald’s in the UK
Young employees of the American group joined the collective complaint for cases of discrimination linked to disability, but also homophobia and racism.
Published today at 2:48 p.m.
The fast food chain has 168,000 employees in the country, the majority of whom are very young.
AFP/Tolga AKMEN
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More than 700 McDonald’s employees have joined the collective complaint for harassment launched against the American group in the United Kingdom, the firm which represents them said on Tuesday, a year and a half after a resounding investigation by the “BBC” which had uncovered these practices.
These people “described experiences of discrimination”, particularly linked to disability, but also of homophobia, racism and harassment, writes the law firm Leigh Day in a press release, according to which more than 450 restaurants in the United Kingdom are currently in question.
The fast food chain has 168,000 employees in the country, the majority of whom are very young, even teenagers, with precarious contracts.
Revealing investigation by the “BBC”
This collective complaint, which can be joined by employees aged under 20 at the time of the alleged events, was launched following a “BBC” investigation in July 2023, revealing testimonies.
The managing director of McDonald’s in the United Kingdom and Ireland, Alistair Macrow, then presented the group’s apologies for “clear failings” in the protection of employees.
He also indicated that the company was the subject of “one or two” accusations of sexual harassment per week from employees in the United Kingdom.
Mr. Macrow is due to be heard in the afternoon by British MPs in the context of a future law reforming labor law.
Bullying and harassment
“I had to deal with homophobic comments from managers and team members,” says a 19-year-old employee, quoted in the Leigh Day press release. “My manager told me that if I couldn’t handle it, I should just quit my job.”
The BBC cited on Tuesday the case of an employee who was victim of bullying because he suffered from a mental disability and an eye condition. He had to quit his job.
“Any incidents of misconduct and harassment are unacceptable and are subject to prompt and thorough investigation and action,” a McDonald’s spokesperson assured Tuesday.
Online device
The company emphasizes in particular that it has set up an online system allowing “employees from all of the company’s establishments to express themselves on harassment problems in complete confidentiality”.
The fast-food giant had already been targeted by accusations in 2019, when the Bakery and Food Workers Union (BFAWU) claimed that more than 1,000 employees claimed to be victims of sexual harassment and mistreatment on their workplace.
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