An employee at McDonald’s has expressed concerns about the company’s workplace culture, stating that there is still room for improvement.
Referred to as Matty to protect his identity, the employee mentioned instances where managers and colleagues openly discussed their personal relationships at work. However, Matty acknowledged recent progress, noting a shift towards a more professional atmosphere. Having been with McDonald’s since the age of 16, he advised potential new hires to carefully consider their decision.
Another former employee, who preferred to stay unnamed, indicated minimal improvement in the work environment before leaving for a different job earlier this year, stating that the situation had not significantly changed.
These observations coincided with McDonald’s announcement of additional measures in collaboration with the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) to safeguard employees from sexual misconduct.
Initially, the EHRC had entered a legal agreement with McDonald’s in 2023 to address concerns regarding the handling of staff complaints related to sexual harassment in UK branches. This agreement, originally set to conclude in 2025, has now been reinforced and extended for at least another year.
In response to potential legal action, McDonald’s franchise owners were warned earlier this year by the EHRC to comply with the agreement terms. The EHRC emphasized the necessity for enhanced actions by McDonald’s and acknowledged the progress made by the company in addressing the issue.
Earlier in the year, over 750 individuals who had worked at McDonald’s while under the age of 19 engaged legal services to address issues of discrimination, harassment, and other misconduct in more than 450 McDonald’s restaurants.
Kiran Daurka, an employment law partner at Leigh Day, expressed concern over the ongoing situation, highlighting the EHRC’s intervention as indicative of unresolved issues within McDonald’s. Daurka stressed the need for McDonald’s to take proactive steps to ensure a safe environment for its young workforce.
Baroness Kishwer Falkner, EHRC chairwoman, outlined the decision to revise the action plan with McDonald’s after serious allegations emerged, aiming to tailor actions to the company’s operational practices.
The updated agreement mandates McDonald’s to collaborate with external experts on a safeguarding plan for vulnerable employees, enhance the investigation process for complaints against managers, engage an external auditor to oversee the complaints handling unit, and expand training for managers and franchisees on various topics.
McDonald’s, a major UK employer with over 170,000 employees across 1,450 restaurants, has identified an average employee age of 20.
The legal actions followed a BBC report in 2023, which highlighted cases of misconduct including sexual assault, harassment, and discrimination within McDonald’s workplaces. Subsequently, McDonald’s engaged consultants to assess its operational practices.
Responding to these developments, a
