MCDONALD’S is at the center of a “sex for shifts” scandal after 700 workers launched new harassment claims against the fast food giant.
Managers were accused of questioning teenagers about how many people they had slept with, inappropriately touching young female employees during shifts and “falling on young female workers.”
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McDonald’s UK chief executive Alistair Macrow gives evidence before the Business and Trade Committee in the House of Commons in London on TuesdayCredit: PA
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Former McDonald’s teenager Shelby previously told how she was regularly bullied by colleagues
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McDonald’s boss says 29 people have been fired from fast food giantCredit: Getty
Claire, who uses a false name, worked at the West Midlands branch until May 2023 when she was forced to resign due to inappropriate behaviour.
She told the BBC that her shift manager would ask her for sex in exchange for extra shifts, which she refused.
‘Claire’, who was on a zero-hours contract, was 17 at the time, while he was in his 30s.
She said: “You don’t expect that to happen. It was completely inappropriate.”
‘Claire’ also claims when she tried to raise the issue, she was told to “suck it”.
The worker, 20, also claims a manager at her branch in East Anglia sent her nude pictures. In August last year, she had to leave her job.
Other allegations include bullying of a 16-year-old current employee, who says he was cursed and shouted at, and a 19-year-old who was taunted because of his learning disabilities and eye problems.
All new claims relate to events that occurred after November 2023.
It comes a year after takeaway boss Alistair Macrow vowed to clean up behavior at the restaurant chain.
Macrow first appeared before parliament’s Business and Trade Committee in November 2023, where he told MPs they were working to improve conditions for staff after treatment problems were revealed.
But one current and two former workers from across the UK said the branches had organized promised restaurant audits.
And now, more than 700 current and former junior employees are taking legal action against McDonald’s for “failing to protect them”.
‘Managers sent branch offices to avoid discipline’
Elliott, who also uses a false name, left his job in southern England in February 2024.
He said that if he had a sister or a daughter, “I wouldn’t want them working at McDonald’s.”
And when Maccies boss Macrow addressed MPs more than a year ago, Elliott said the manager had been moved to his store to avoid disciplinary action.
This manager was accused of sending sexually explicit messages to female colleagues who were 16-18 years old.
McDonald’s stores are run as franchises, so local managers have a choice of who to hire.
Macrow told parliament today the latest allegations are getting people to “speak up” – with 75 claims of sexual harassment made directly to McDonald’s.
He said 47 were confirmed with disciplinary measures and 29 people were fired.
Macrow added: “The allegations described are disgusting, unacceptable and have no place at McDonald’s.
“There can be no place in our business for people who behave like that.
“The measures put in place mean we are able to offer a safe, secure workplace where people are respected and feel included.” I hear from our people that it works.”
Before the new allegations and Macrow’s appearance in Parliament, the allegations were already numerous.
Shelby, who started working at the Berkshire branch in 2022 at the age of 16, said sexual harassment by co-workers is common.
She said: “They would feel the stomach, the waist, the butt.
“Every shift I worked, there would be at least a comment or they would brush me, brush my hand over me, or it would be something more serious like they grabbed my butt, my hips.”
She described how a co-worker in his 50s approached her from behind the counter, grabbed her and pulled her onto his groin.
She said: “I just froze – I felt disgusted.”
A McDonald’s spokesman now said: “Ensuring the safety of the 168,000 people who work in McDonald’s restaurants is a top responsibility for both us and our franchisees, and we have undertaken extensive work over the past year to ensure we have leading practices in industry a place to support this priority.
“Any incident of misconduct and harassment is unacceptable and is subject to prompt and thorough investigation and action.”
The company added: “Our relentless focus on eliminating all forms of harassment at McDonald’s is led by a newly formed team and informed by the experience and guidance of outside experts.
“We are confident that we are taking significant and important steps to tackle the unacceptable behavior that every organization faces.”
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More than 700 McDonald’s workers have taken legal action against the fast food giant over harassment claimsCredit: AP
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