(qlmbusinessnews.com . Fri 14th Mar, 2025) London, UK —
“Legal Threats Loom Over McDonald's UK Franchises Amid Widespread Sexual Harassment Claims”
The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has issued a stern warning to all 1,400 McDonald's outlets across the United Kingdom, cautioning that franchise owners could face legal repercussions if they fail to implement measures safeguarding staff against sexual harassment. This action follows an investigative report that unveiled allegations of a pervasive culture of sexual misconduct within the fast-food chain.
In January, McDonald's employees disclosed ongoing experiences of sexual harassment, despite assurances from the company's chief executive over a year prior to address and rectify workplace behaviour. A McDonald's spokesperson reaffirmed the company's dedication to ensuring a safe working environment, stating, “We are committed to doing everything we can to ensure a safe working environment for all employees,” and expressed confidence in the effectiveness of their current plans.
A current McDonald's employee from a franchise in southwest Scotland, referred to as Alan, shared his perspective on the EHRC's intervention. Alan, 19, previously reported enduring “degrading and humiliating” verbal abuse and homophobic slurs from colleagues. He expressed hope that the EHRC's involvement would lead to “concrete change” for employees like him, noting that conditions have remained largely unchanged, leaving him eager to “get away” from the toxic environment.
The EHRC's letter, seen by reporters, described the allegations as “troubling” and highlighted the recurrence of such incidents. Given that the majority of McDonald's restaurants operate as franchises—where individual operators are licensed to run outlets and employ staff—the EHRC emphasised that these establishments are not covered by the legally binding agreement made with McDonald's in February 2023 to prevent sexual harassment. Nonetheless, all businesses in Britain are obligated to comply with the Equality Act.
John Kirkpatrick, chief executive of the EHRC, addressed the franchisees, stating, “It is your duty to ensure that any anti-discrimination and harassment measures you currently have in place are effective, and to take any necessary steps to protect your workers.”
The letter outlined “reasonable steps” that restaurants should undertake to prevent sexual harassment, including conducting regular risk assessments, safeguarding younger and more vulnerable workers, and ensuring complaints are handled sensitively and effectively through established procedures. The EHRC cautioned that non-compliance with legal duties could result in enforcement action, which may involve formal investigations and, in cases of repeated refusal to comply, court proceedings leading to unlimited fines.
Liam Byrne, chair of the Business and Trade Select Committee, criticised the EHRC's timing, questioning why the regulator is “only now writing to McDonald's restaurants about their new duty under the law, to prevent sexual harassment from taking place, when it came into effect nearly six months ago.” He expressed concern that the regulator had been aware of numerous harassment allegations for several years and called for reassurance that they are addressing the problem proactively.
In response, Mr Kirkpatrick stated, “We think that generally the best way to get improvement is to work with willing management teams to effect real change,” but affirmed that the EHRC is prepared to impose actions on businesses if necessary.
The initial investigation into McDonald's working conditions began over two years ago, following the company's agreement with the EHRC. In July 2023, reports emerged of workers, some as young as 17, experiencing routine groping and harassment. At that time, McDonald's issued an apology and established a new unit to address complaints. Since then, over 160 individuals have come forward with allegations, and the EHRC has received 300 reported incidents of harassment.
Additional claims include a 19-year-old worker reporting inappropriate touching by managers, a worker in the West Midlands alleging sexual harassment by managers and customers, a 16-year-old employee facing bullying and verbal abuse by managers, and a 20-year-old who received unsolicited explicit images from a male manager.
Earlier this year, it was reported that the EHRC plans to intervene further, strengthening existing measures and introducing new steps to improve workplace safety and culture within McDonald's UK.
Alistair Macrow, CEO of McDonald's UK, has been summoned twice to Parliament to address these issues. In January, he revealed that 29 employees had been dismissed over sexual harassment allegations in the past year. The company has implemented measures such as enhanced training programmes, improved onboarding practices, and a new digital platform for employees to report concerns. A McDonald's spokesperson stated, “We are confident that the plan we have in place is working and making a difference to the near 170,000 people currently employed by McDonald's and our franchisees across McDonald's in the UK & Ireland today.” They also noted that a recent anonymous employee survey indicated that 94% of staff are aware of the channels available to voice their concerns.
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