Ryan FowlerMcDonald’s is once again under fire following fresh claims of harassment and abuse from its workers, despite pledges made by the company’s UK boss Alistair Macrow in late 2023.
According to a BBC investigation, incidents of misconduct persist across multiple branches, prompting renewed action from the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) and increased scrutiny from parliament.
The latest allegations include a range of troubling behaviours, such as inappropriate touching by managers, sexual harassment by customers, and verbal abuse from colleagues.
A 19-year-old former employee, Matt, told the BBC he left his Midlands branch in May 2024, describing a “toxic” work environment where managers engaged in inappropriate behaviour and staff faced bullying. He said: “Some of my colleagues were scared to go into work because they feared something horrible might happen.”
Despite assurances from McDonald’s leadership that significant steps had been taken to improve working conditions, workers claim the culture has remained largely unchanged.
In addition to harassment claims, some employees allege that internal audits meant to assess working conditions were manipulated by local managers. Elliott, a former store manager, alleged to the BBC that an audit at his branch in early 2024 was rigged by “hand-picking the best employees to meet with auditors” while ignoring serious incidents, including accusations of racist behaviour.
McDonald’s insists that it has taken comprehensive action, including introducing a dedicated investigations unit and enhancing reporting channels to support staff.
A spokesperson told the BBC: “Ensuring the 168,000 people that work in McDonald’s restaurants are safe is the most important responsibility for both us and our franchisees.” The company claims to have implemented industry-leading safeguarding measures and new digital platforms to allow employees to report issues confidentially.
However, speaking to the BBC Liam Byrne, chair of the Business and Trade Committee, described the situation as “appalling,” stating: “There is a clear pattern of abuse here that suggests that McDonald’s has become a hotbed of harassment, and it’s incredibly serious.” Macrow, who is due to appear before MPs again on Tuesday, faces tough questions about the ongoing allegations.
BBC reports that more than 700 current and former employees are pursuing legal action against McDonald’s, with over 450 branches implicated in the claims. The law firm Leigh Day is leading the case and alleges that McDonald’s failed to protect its workers from misconduct.
Further claims highlighted by the BBC include a 16-year-old worker in the West Midlands who says he was bullied and verbally abused by managers, and a former employee from the East of England who says a male manager sent her topless pictures before she left her job in August 2024.
In response to these developments, the EHRC announced that it is working with McDonald’s to strengthen their existing legal agreement, which was initially signed in 2023. According to the EHRC, this will involve updating measures such as mandatory staff training and workplace surveys. The watchdog told the BBC: “We are actively working with McDonald’s to ensure robust protections are in place for their employees.”
The fast-food giant maintains that it remains committed to eliminating harassment from its restaurants. A company spokesperson said: “We are confident that we are taking significant and important steps to tackle unacceptable behaviours. However, we know that we must remain constantly vigilant.”
