Fresh allegations of sexual harassment at McDonald’s, including claims that a manager sought “sex for shifts,” have renewed focus on the treatment of young workers in the UK.
A BBC investigation revealed a troubling culture within the fast-food chain, where younger employees, some still in their teens, reported harassment and discrimination. Over 700 junior employees have joined legal action against the company.
McDonald’s CEO Alistair Macrow addressed the Government’s Business and Trade Committee, pledging to investigate the claims and stating, “These cases are abhorrent, unacceptable, and there is no place for them in McDonald’s.”
This is far from the first time the fast food giant comes under scrutiny for allegations of sexual harassment, bullying, and racism. Following several incidents, McDonald’s signed a pledge with the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) to better protect its workers in February 2023 – only for new, disturbing cases to come to light within months.
Sexual Harassment in the Workplace
The allegations have drawn widespread condemnation. Ruth Sparkes, co-founder of the harassment reporting platform SaferSpace, said, “Sex for shifts is beyond shocking; it exploits the vulnerability of young workers on zero hours contracts and is a total breach of trust.”
Sparkes added that while McDonald’s is currently under scrutiny, the issues raised by the investigation have wider implications. Industries employing large numbers of young people have repeatedly come under fire for failing to protect workers from harassment.
To address the issue of sexual harassment in the workplace, the UK government has introduced the Worker Protection (Amendment of Equality Act 2010) Act. This legislation places a new duty on employers to actively prevent sexual harassment in the workplace. While Sparkes says the legislation is a step forward, she adds that enforcement mechanisms remain inadequate.
“A law on paper isn’t going to protect young workers if there are no mechanisms to enforce it,” she said. “Young workers should have transparent, accessible pathways to report harassment without fear of retaliation, and employers should demonstrate that they take these complaints seriously, with visible consequences.”
The Wider Problem
A 2020 survey by the UK Government Equalities Office found that workers aged 18 to 24 were the most likely to experience sexual harassment in the workplace. Recent data from the Office for National Statistics indicates that roughly one-third of workers in the hospitality industry are aged between 16 and 24.
Sparkes described the allegations as a “wake-up call” for employers, stressing the need for respect and safety for young workers.
“It’s not only about McDonald’s, or Harrods, or all the other high-profile employers who’ve been shown as lacking when it comes to sexual harassment,” she said. “It’s about making sure that no young person, in any workplace, college, or university, suffers abuse as part of their everyday life.”