A worker at McDonald’s has expressed concerns about the company’s workplace culture, stating that there is still progress needed in cleaning it up. The employee, known as Matty, mentioned that discussions about personal matters, including sex life, were common among managers and colleagues. However, Matty acknowledged some recent improvements, describing the environment as more normalized. Having been with McDonald’s since the age of 16, starting as a student, Matty advised potential recruits to carefully consider joining the company.
Another anonymous worker also shared their perspective, indicating that the workplace environment had not shown significant improvement before they left for a new job earlier this year. When asked if conditions had gotten better, the response was negative.
The insights from these employees coincide with the announcement that McDonald’s has reached additional agreements with the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) in the UK to safeguard its staff from sexual misconduct. The EHRC had previously entered a legal agreement with McDonald’s in 2023 to address concerns about the handling of staff complaints regarding sexual harassment in UK restaurants. This agreement, originally set to end in 2025, has been extended and reinforced for an additional year.
In response to these developments, more than 750 individuals who worked at McDonald’s while under the age of 19 have engaged the law firm Leigh Day to take legal action on their behalf earlier this year. Allegations encompassed discriminatory practices, homophobia, racism, ableism, and harassment across over 450 McDonald’s establishments by February.
Kiran Daurka, an employment law partner at Leigh Day, highlighted the EHRC’s actions as indicative of ongoing issues at McDonald’s. She emphasized the need for the company to take responsibility and implement substantial changes to protect its young workforce effectively.
Baroness Kishwer Falkner, EHRC’s chairwoman, stated that the commission had revised the action plan with McDonald’s to address serious allegations and ensure a safer working environment. The updated agreement outlines specific measures tailored to McDonald’s operations, aiming to establish zero tolerance for harassment and clear procedures for reporting and resolving complaints.
Under the new agreement, McDonald’s is required to collaborate with external experts on a safeguarding plan for vulnerable employees, investigate complaints against managers externally, engage an external auditor for the complaints handling unit, and expand training programs for managers and franchisees to cover social media and grooming practices.
With over 170,000 employees in 1,450 restaurants, McDonald’s is among the largest employers in the UK, with an average workforce age of 20. The legal actions follow a BBC report in 2023 that exposed issues of sexual assault, harassment, racism, and bullying within McDonald’s, prompting the company to engage consultants from PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) to conduct audits.
A McDonald’s spokesperson highlighted the company’s efforts over the past three years to enhance workplace safety through various initiatives. They welcomed the formalization of these measures within the latest EHRC agreement, expressing confidence in the effectiveness of the implemented measures in improving the working environment for their employees and franchisees.
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