McDonald’s, one of the world’s greatest food chain enterprises, has been rocked by a flood of sexual harassment claims at its UK locations. According to a BBC survey, most McDonald’s employees, including those as young as 16, are harassed and groped on a daily basis by their senior management. In response to the BBC investigation, McDonald’s apologized for “falling short” and “deeply apologized.”
McDonald’s harmful work environment
In February of this year, McDonald’s signed a legally binding agreement with the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) promising to protect its employees from sexual harassment of any type in the workplace. The deal triggered a BBC investigation into the company’s work culture, which showed the shocking state of circumstances. The BBC recorded at least 31 incidences of sexual assault and 78 occurrences of sexual harassment. The UK equality watchdog has taken note of the situation and established a new email helpline for victims.
Managers who allow sexual harassment to occur
According to the BBC, the majority of victims stated that the managers at their establishments would either engage in sexual actions with their subordinates or turn a blind eye in such circumstances. For instance, “A manager in Hampshire suggested a 16-year-old male worker perform sexual acts in exchange for vapes.”
On another occasion, an Indian-origin worker told the BBC that her crew members would frequently speak in “gibberish” to imitate her. They would even label a Pakistani junior employee as a terrorist. “There is a saying at McDonald’s, “tits on tills” – boys in the kitchen, girls on the counter. The idea is to put attractive people at the front,” said a 22-year-old worker Lucy. “It’s the expectation that if you work at McDonald’s, you will be harassed,” said another worker.
The UK’s youngest workforce is in jeopardy
McDonald’s is one of the greatest private-sector employers in the UK, employing over 170,000 people across the country. It also has the country’s youngest workforce, with the majority of junior employees aged 16 to 25. For the majority of them, this is their first employment. It is important to emphasize that McDonald’s does not directly employ these individuals, but rather indirectly through the franchise structure. Individual operators are licensed to operate under the McDonald’s label and are responsible for hiring employees.
