A McDonald’s employee has expressed concerns about the company’s workplace culture, stating that there is still room for improvement. The employee, referred to as Matty for anonymity, mentioned that discussions about personal matters, including sex life, were common among managers and others at the fast-food chain. However, Matty acknowledged recent positive changes, describing the environment as more normalized. Having been with McDonald’s since starting as a student at 16, Matty advised potential employees to carefully consider joining the company.
Another former worker, who opted to stay unnamed, noted little improvement in the workplace before leaving for another job earlier this year, indicating that the situation was not significantly better.
This feedback coincides with McDonald’s announcement of additional measures agreed upon with the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) in the UK to prevent sexual abuse within the company. The EHRC had initially established a legal agreement with McDonald’s in 2023 to address concerns about the handling of staff complaints related to sexual harassment in UK branches. The agreement, originally set to conclude in 2025, has been reinforced and extended by at least one year.
Earlier this year, over 750 individuals who were under 19 while employed at McDonald’s sought legal action through law firm Leigh Day, citing instances of discrimination, homophobia, racism, ableism, and harassment in more than 450 McDonald’s outlets by February.
Kiran Daurka, an employment law partner at Leigh Day, raised concerns over the ongoing issues at McDonald’s despite the 2023 agreement with EHRC. Daurka emphasized the need for McDonald’s to take responsibility and implement meaningful changes to protect its young workforce.
Baroness Kishwer Falkner, chairwoman of the EHRC, praised McDonald’s for taking significant steps toward creating a safer work environment and addressing harassment issues. The company is now required to collaborate with external experts to develop a safeguarding plan for vulnerable workers, investigate complaints against managers externally, hire an external auditor for the new complaints handling unit, and expand training for managers and franchisees on social media and grooming.
As one of the largest employers in the UK, McDonald’s employs over 170,000 individuals across 1,450 restaurants, with an average employee age of 20. The company faced scrutiny following a 2023 BBC report detailing cases of sexual assault, harassment, racism, and bullying in the workplace, leading to an audit by consultants from PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC).
A McDonald’s spokesperson highlighted the company’s ongoing efforts to ensure a safe working environment by implementing various initiatives alongside franchisees. The spokesperson expressed confidence in the effectiveness of these measures, which are now formalized within the latest EHRC agreement.