In spite of promises of reform from McDonald’s UK boss Alistair Macrow, allegations of harassment and abuse continue to emerge from employees across the country.
A year after McDonald’s pledged to overhaul its workplace culture, workers have reported incidents ranging from inappropriate behaviour by managers to a toxic work environment.
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Matt, a 19-year-old former employee from the Midlands, described his experience as “traumatising.” “I saw managers touching other staff and being racist to colleagues. Some workers were scared to come to work, fearing something horrible might happen,” he told the BBC.
Matt, who left his job in May, said the promised cultural changes failed to materialise.
In southwest Scotland, Alan, another employee, recounted enduring persistent homophobic abuse from his co-workers. “It’s not just comments—it’s degrading and humiliating slurs,” he said. Alan reported the harassment to senior management, only to be dismissed with the explanation that it was “just banter.”
Legal action and new allegations
More than 700 current and former employees are pursuing legal action against McDonald’s, accusing the company of failing to protect them.
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By GlobalDataClaire, a former employee from the Midlands, revealed that at 17, she was asked by a shift manager in his 30s for sex in exchange for extra shifts. “I felt trapped. I needed the hours but couldn’t accept such behaviour,” she said.
The BBC’s investigation also uncovered claims of harassment at other locations. In the East of England, a 20-year-old employee reported receiving explicit images from her manager before resigning last August.
The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) reported 300 harassment cases since the BBC’s initial investigation. The watchdog is now revisiting its legally binding agreement with McDonald’s, aiming to strengthen safeguards.
McDonald’s response under fire
McDonald’s asserts that it has taken substantial steps to address these issues. “We’ve introduced a dedicated investigations unit and multiple channels for employees to report concerns confidentially,” a spokesperson said.
The company also highlighted a recent survey showing that 92% of employees feel comfortable raising issues and believe management will act.
However, critics argue these measures have not been effective. Former store manager Elliott said inspections by external auditors were manipulated to present a false picture. “They coached selected employees on how to answer questions. It was all staged,” he alleged.
Liam Byrne, chair of the Business Select Committee, expressed frustration over the lack of tangible progress. “When Mr Macrow appeared before us, he pledged to root out harassment. It’s clear the situation remains dire,” he said.
As the UK boss faces questioning from MPs this week, employees and campaigners hope for more robust actions to create a genuinely safe workplace.
Whether McDonald’s can regain trust will depend on the outcomes of ongoing legal battles and its ability to implement meaningful change.
