A labour organisation says the company hasn’t taken employee health and safety seriously, while the company says it is.
McDonald’s settled with the equality watchdog for its treatment of UK employee sexual harassment claims.
In 2019, a union representing some employees reported that more than one thousand complaints had been filed.
The Bakers, Food, and Allied Workers Union (BFAWU) have charged a “toxic atmosphere” at UK sites in the wake of restaurant strikes in many US cities in 2018 over the same issue.
The legally binding agreement with the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) binds the organization to a variety of worker protection measures in the United Kingdom.
They include conveying a “zero tolerance” policy towards sexual harassment, providing anti-harassment training, and enhancing complaint response protocols.
UK sexual harassment protection agreement
McDonald’s UK CEO Alistair Macrow said harassment and abuse “have no place in society or at McDonald’s.
As one of the largest UK employers, employee health and safety is our focus,” he replied.
“It’s crucial to our company’s values that everyone in our organisation feels safe, respected, and involved.
“We already have a solid track record in this area, and I welcome the chance to collaborate with the EHRC to develop it further.”
The business pledged to provide anti-harassment training to its global workers in 2021 after it was discovered that at least 50 employees had filed complaints against the chain in the preceding five years.
The national president of the BFAWU, Ian Hodson, stated: “It is disgraceful that one of the world’s wealthiest firms does not take sexual harassment seriously until we bring it up.
“I commend all of our members who have spoken out on this problem and urge McDonald’s to collaborate with us to eradicate sexual harassment.”
Baroness Kishwer Falkner, head of the EHRC, declared: “We are glad that McDonald’s has signed this agreement. Which demonstrates their commitment to making their restaurants safer places to work.
The enhancements they implemented can serve as a model for others, whether in the hotel business or elsewhere.
