McDonald’s in the UK is set to implement significant changes following its legal agreement with the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC). Originally signed in 2023 to combat workplace harassment, this agreement has been extended for at least another year due to ongoing concerns surrounding employee safety and discrimination.
The EHRC alerted franchise owners that failure to comply with the new standards could result in legal action. The regulator expressed satisfaction with the actions McDonald’s has begun to take but emphasized the need for “stronger actions” to ensure a safer environment for employees.
In response to serious allegations of discrimination, harassment, and bullying, over 700 individuals aged 19 or younger have engaged the law firm Leigh Day to pursue legal claims against the fast-food giant. By February, more than 450 McDonald’s locations had been implicated in these claims, which included accusations of homophobia, racism, ableism, and harassment.
Strengthened Measures for Employee Protection
Baroness Kishwer Falkner, chairwoman of the EHRC, noted, “We originally signed a legal agreement with McDonald’s to prevent sexual harassment in 2023. After serious allegations were raised, we decided we needed to update the action plan with stronger actions that were more specific to the way McDonald’s operates.” She added that the new agreement aims for zero tolerance of harassment and establishes clear reporting mechanisms.
Under the updated agreement, McDonald’s will collaborate with external experts to develop and implement a new safeguarding plan designed to protect vulnerable workers. This initiative will be rolled out across all McDonald’s restaurants in the UK. Additionally, complaints against management will be investigated externally, and an independent auditor will be appointed to evaluate the company’s new complaints handling unit. The training for managers and franchisees will also be expanded to address social media issues and grooming.
McDonald’s is one of the largest employers in the UK, with more than 170,000 employees working across 1,450 restaurants. The average age of its workforce is 20. The recent legal claims are rooted in a separate report from the BBC in 2023, where workers disclosed experiences of sexual assault and harassment. Following these revelations, McDonald’s engaged consultants from PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) to audit its restaurants.
A representative from McDonald’s commented, “Over the last three years, alongside our franchisees, we have embedded an extensive set of robust and far-reaching initiatives, as part of our steadfast commitment to ensuring a safe working environment in McDonald’s restaurants.” The spokesperson welcomed the formalization of these measures within the latest EHRC agreement, asserting that it builds on the significant progress already achieved.
The renewed focus on employee safety and well-being at McDonald’s underscores the company’s commitment to addressing serious workplace issues and fostering an environment where all employees feel secure and valued.
