An employee at McDonald’s has expressed concerns about the company’s workplace culture, suggesting that improvements are still needed. The employee, known as Matty for anonymity, mentioned instances where discussions about personal matters, specifically related to sex life, were openly held by managers and other staff members. However, Matty acknowledged that the situation has been getting better recently and described the environment as more normalized. Having been with McDonald’s since the age of 16, initially joining as a student, Matty advised potential employees to carefully consider their decision before joining the company.
Another former worker, who also preferred to remain unidentified, shared that they saw little improvement in the work environment before leaving for another job earlier in the year. When asked if conditions had gotten better, this individual responded negatively, indicating that the situation had not significantly changed.
These insights coincide with the announcement that McDonald’s has reached additional agreements with the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) in the UK to protect its employees from sexual harassment. The EHRC had previously entered a legal agreement with McDonald’s in 2023 to address concerns regarding the handling of staff complaints in UK restaurants. This agreement, originally set to conclude in 2025, has been reinforced and extended for at least another year.
Earlier in the year, over 750 individuals who were under 19 years old during their employment at McDonald’s enlisted the services of law firm Leigh Day to pursue legal action on their behalf. By February, more than 450 McDonald’s establishments were implicated in claims of discrimination, homophobia, racism, ableism, and harassment.
Kiran Daurka, an employment law partner at Leigh Day, expressed concerns about the ongoing issues at McDonald’s, pointing out that the EHRC’s decision to take action implies a lack of substantial progress. Daurka emphasized the need for McDonald’s to assume responsibility and implement meaningful changes to protect its young workforce.
Baroness Kishwer Falkner, chairwoman of the EHRC, highlighted the necessity of updating the action plan with specific measures tailored to McDonald’s operations following serious allegations. Falkner commended McDonald’s for the progress made so far and emphasized that the new legal agreement will enforce a zero-tolerance policy against harassment and provide clear channels for reporting and resolving complaints.
The strengthened measures under the new agreement require McDonald’s to collaborate with external experts on a safeguarding plan for vulnerable workers, conduct investigations of complaints against managers outside the restaurant, engage an external auditor to review the new complaints handling unit, and expand training for managers and franchisees to include social media and grooming awareness.
As one of the largest employers in the UK with over 170,000 employees across 1,450 restaurants, McDonald’s asserts that the average age of its workforce is 20. The company’s actions follow a BBC report in 2023 that exposed incidents of sexual assault, harassment, racism, and bullying within its establishments, prompting McDonald’s to engage consultants from PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) to assess its restaurants.
A spokesperson for McDonald’s highlighted the company’s efforts over the past three years to implement comprehensive initiatives aimed at ensuring a safe working environment. They welcomed the formalization of these measures in the latest EHRC agreement, emphasizing the positive impact these initiatives have had on their employees and franchisees.
McDonald’s continues to affirm its commitment to maintaining a safe workplace and is confident that the measures in place, developed in consultation with experts, are effective in fostering a secure environment for its workforce and franchisees throughout the UK.