Over 100 current and recent employees at various McDonald’s outlets in the UK have made allegations regarding a toxic culture that includes sexual assault, harassment, racism, and bullying.
These workers, some as young as 17 years old, endure routine instances of groping and harassment.
In response to the BBC’s findings, the UK equality watchdog expressed its “concerned” and announced the launch of a new email hotline.
McDonald’s acknowledged its failure to meet expectations and issued a sincere apology.
The company emphasized that every employee deserves to work in a workplace that is safe, respectful, and inclusive.
In February, following a legally binding agreement with the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) aimed at safeguarding employees from sexual harassment, the investigation into working conditions at McDonald’s.
At the time, McDonald’s insisted: “We already have a strong track record in this area.”
But our investigation has revealed a very different picture.
Over a five-month period, we reached out to McDonald’s workers to ask about their experiences of working there. Of the more than 100 allegations from employees we spoke to, 31 related to sexual assault, and 78 related to sexual harassment.
We also heard 18 allegations of racism, while six people made allegations of homophobia.
In addition, employees have shared accounts of managers engaging in sexual relationships with subordinate staff members, a direct violation of company policy.
Several young women have expressed their experiences of enduring constant scrutiny regarding their physical appearance.
One current employee shared her distressing encounter, stating that she was viewed as “fresh meat” by her male colleagues when she initially joined her branch in Nottingham. Other female workers disclosed that they were coerced by managers into wearing uniforms that were excessively tight for their comfort.
“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 Lucy, who’s 22 and worked in Norwich.
“It’s the expectation that if you work at McDonald’s, you will be harassed,” added Emily, who’s 20. Last year, she decided to leave her position at the Brighton branch due to the disturbing behavior of a male colleague in his 60s. This individual repeatedly and inappropriately stroked her hair in a sexually suggestive manner, causing her significant discomfort.
McDonald’s stands as one of the largest private-sector employers in the UK, with a workforce exceeding 170,000 individuals spread across 1,450 restaurants.
Notably, the company employs one of the youngest workforces in the country, with approximately three-quarters of its employees falling within the 16 to 25 age range. For many of these individuals, working at McDonald’s marks their first employment experience.
It is important to note that the majority of workers are not directly employed by McDonald’s itself. Instead, the company operates on a franchise system, wherein individual operators are granted licenses to manage specific outlets and hire staff accordingly.
At the young age of 16, Shelby commenced her employment at a McDonald’s restaurant in Berkshire last year.
Regrettably, she experienced a distressing situation where older male colleagues exploited the confined layout of the kitchen as a pretext to inappropriately touch junior female staff members. This behaviour created an uncomfortable and unacceptable work environment for Shelby and her co-workers.
“They’d grope stomach, waists, bums,” she said. “Every shift I worked, there would be at least a comment being made, or I’d be brushed, a hand brushed across me, or it would be a more severe thing, like having my bum grabbed, hips grabbed.”
There was one man in his 50s, in particular, that managers “warned” young staff members to stay away from, Shelby said.
During a specific incident last summer, Shelby recounted an alarming occurrence. As she stood at the front counter, a male colleague approached her from behind and forcibly pulled her towards him, pressing her against his groin. This inappropriate and intrusive act caused Shelby immense distress and violated her personal boundaries.
“I just froze,” she said. “I felt disgusted.”
Shelby courageously reported the incidents and shared her concerns about the troubling situation within the store with senior management. However, despite her efforts, no action was taken to address the issues she raised. Frustrated and disheartened, Shelby referred to the work environment as “toxic” in her resignation email, reflecting the severity of the situation.
Upon learning about Shelby’s distressing experiences, McDonald’s expressed profound remorse. The company acknowledged the gravity of the situation and stated its commitment to conducting an investigation to determine why the concerns she raised were not appropriately escalated or addressed at the time.