Fast food giant McDonald’s has been rocked by fresh claims that young staff in the UK were subjected to sexual and other forms of harassment by restaurant managers
Former McDonald’s worker recalls being allegedly harassed by managers
More than 700 current and ex McDonald’s staff are suing the firm over allegations bosses sexually abused them as teenagers.
The burger giant has been hit by new claims just a year after UK chief Alistair Macrow apologised over sordid accusations.
The include allegations of “sex for shifts”. In the Commons today, McDonald’s was accused of becoming a “predators’ paradise”.
More than a year ago McDonald’s vowed to tackle claims of sex abuse and harassment, but shocking behaviour towards teenage staff allegedly continues.
It’s said that 700 current and former employers are now taking legal action against the burger giant – including accusations one manager offered a worker extra shifts for sex.
There are also discrimination, homophobia, and racism claims. And staff allege bosses asked youngsters how may people they had slept with or touched them inappropriately.
Around 90% are on zero-hour contracts and believe their position makes them vulnerable.
In November 2023, Mr Macrow issued an apology after similar claims were levelled at it and admitted he had received around 400 complaints.
But giving evidence to the Commons Business and Trade Committee today, he revealed just 75 allegations had been investigated, with only 29 staff dismissed.
Chairman Liam Byrne asked him: “Has McDonald’s become a predators’ paradise?” Mr Macrow, 54, insisted he put in a “programme of significant change” which “is working”.
But the BBC reported staff are still facing sexual abuse and torment – more than a year after it investigated the claims in July 2023.
One, Claire – not her real name – alleged a shift manager in his 30s asked her for sex in return for extra shifts when she was just 17 at a branch in the Midlands in 2023. She refused and told the programme: “You don’t expect that to happen. It was totally inappropriate.”
Another worker claimed she was touched by managers and customers sexually harassed her before quitting her job in the West Midlands at the end of 2023.
When she raised it, she was allegedly told to “suck it up”. A female worker, 20, also described how a male manager sent her topless pictures.
Another, Rachel got her first job at the chain aged 17. But she said: “It was soon clear the environment was really toxic.
“I saw older male staff making bets on who could sleep with the new starters and had older guys making comments about my body. On one occasion I bent down and the manager slapped me on the bottom.”
One staff member still working for McDonald’s said: “I’ve had to deal with homophobic abuse. My manager said if I can’t deal with it, I should just leave. I’ve been called names like ‘f**got’.” Law firm Leigh Day is acting for those taking legal action. It involves 450 of the 1,400 UK McDonald’s outlets.
Partner Paula Lee said: “Since the original BBC investigation, more than 700 young employees have contacted Leigh Day and joined the claim. These continue to grow.” Mr Macrow, said to have earned £900,000 in 2023, told the Commons there was “no place” in the firm for the “abhorrent and unacceptable” allegations.
He insisted the claims were “not widespread, they are isolated”.
But Mr Byrne told him: “It doesn’t sound like isolated incidents. It sounds like there is a pattern of abuse in what has become a hotbed for harassment”. Mr Macrow also came under fire for claiming bosses were the “first line of defence against bad behaviour”.
Mr Byrne replied: “Many of the allegations are about managers.” Labour MP Antonia Bance said zero hours contracts “open the door to favouritism, bullying and sexual harassment. She told Mr Macrow: “We have heard about sex for shifts in one of your restaurants, and if it has happened once, it will have happened more than once.”
McDonald’s said it did not recognise the claim a manager asked for sex in return for shifts. It added: “If provided with sufficient information we would ensure a full investigation is carried out. Any incident of misconduct and harassment is subject to rapid investigation and action. Our focus on eliminating all forms of harassment is led by a newly created team. Working at speed they have already rolled-out programmes to improve safeguarding and drive awareness.”
The new claims come after the Sunday Mirror revealed in February 2023 former worker Bobbie Moore, 20, claimed bosses failed to sack a colleague who groped her on CCTV.
