BBC released a report in July 2023 highlighting that several senior managers, in one of the world’s largest food chain companies, i.e., McDonald’s at its outlets in the United Kingdom (UK), have been alleged of sexual harassment. An investigation was conducted by the BBC on the work environment and conditions of the food chain, and the report has revealed that most of the McDonald’s employee or staff including those as young as 16, are harassed by their senior managers almost daily. BBC reached out to McDonald’s workers / staff over a period of five months to collect data about their work experience. There were hundreds of allegations against the employers including but not limited to sexual assault, sexual harassment, and racism. According to the report, BBC reached out to McDonald’s workers over a period of five months. There were hundreds of allegations against the employers including but not limited to sexual harassment and racism. Specific instances of sexual harassment, sexual assault and racism have also been highlighted in the BBC Report.
A 17-year-old employee in Cheshire stated that a colleague who was 20 years older than her flashed her, called her a racial slur word and asked for sexual favours. A manager preyed on 16-year-old new female starters in a Cheshire restaurant and tried to make them forcibly accept the request of having sexual intercourse with him. There was an outbreak of gonorrhoea at a branch in Northern Ireland where sexual relationships between staff members were commonplace even though such relationships were completely against and prohibited by the company policy. When the staff raised concerns, they were asked by the senior managers to ignore the incidents and continue with their work.
One of the workers who worked in Norwich revealed in their statement that they have a popular saying at McDonald’s, i.e., “tits on tills – boys in the kitchen, girls on the counter”. The expression implies that attractive people need to be put out in the front, which in itself proves how the overall working culture is and to what extent the employees including both men and women are prey to stereotype and prejudiced working environment.
In a response to the BBC report, McDonald’s had issued a press released and apologised for its actions.
In addition to the protests and voices raised against McDonald’s, two employees in Florida have filed a $500m (£400m) class action lawsuit against the company, accusing it of “systemic sexual harassment”. Jamelia Fairley and Ashley Reddick are named on behalf of approximately 5,000 women from over 100 US McDonald’s outlets. To be specific, the suit pertains to McDonald’s restaurants near Orlando, Florida, and alleges the restaurants of extensive illegal harassment and inaction thereof to harassment.
While the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) announced in early June 2023 that for sexual harassment lawsuit filed on behalf of fast-food workers in California, Nevada and Arizona, McDonald’s franchise owner AMTCR will have to nearly $2 million to settle the dispute. All the abusive behaviour that date back from 2017 was reported to AMTCR, but it failed to take appropriate action. Rather it forced the employees to either adjust or quit their job.
According to EEOC, AMTCR violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, failing to forbid sexual harassment in the workplace. Along with the settlement, AMTCR also agreed to make changes to their company’s policies, educating or providing trainings regarding the knowhows of sexual harassment and discrimination based on sex. The company will also take actions against the complaints raised in the near future by setting up a tracking system along with conducting surveys which would denote the working conditions of employees. The EEOC stated any employee, employer or working member who has been sexually harassed can claim for compensation and damages from AMTCR Jan. 1, 2017, and Jan. 5, 2023, may be entitled to damages by filing a claim with the agency.
McDonald’s has signed with the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) to make a legally binding agreement to protect workers after receiving complaints from UK employees about sexual harassment. Consequently, McDonald’s has committed to establishing zero tolerance towards sexual harassment in their different franchises throughout UK, training and sensitizing its employees, and improving the work conditions of the employees by addressing any issue immediately if raised.
In mid-2023, McDonald’s shared an ad worldwide where a customer is seen buying a meal and female worker handing over the food to him. Both are shown making eye contact which might turn into a love relationship between them. It was one of the strategies used by the company to attract more customers. Since the release of the advertisement, it faced criticism and raised questions regarding the actual idea being used for making such an ad. People have pointed out that such ads highlight the work culture within the company and how female employees are treated as objects to enhance the company’s profits.
Sexual harassment at workplace is a common problem faced by women all around the world, irrespective of the designation or profession they opt for. There are still no such effective laws even after having a developed legal system in a particular country to address such a serious issue. Workplaces often fail to provide adequate security which results in increase of sexual harassment. Due to the fear of losing job and societal pressure, it leaves the aggrieved persons with no option other than to continue under the toxic work culture. But the scenario is changing now. More women are speaking up. The governments of various countries are finding ways and developing separate laws to protect women from sexual harassment as all employees deserve to work in a safe, respectful and inclusive workplace.
– Sohini Mitra from St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata