McDonald’s told to shut UK franchises amid assault allegations

McDonald’s is “deeply sorry” for abuses brought to light by a BBC investigation that unearthed more than 100 allegations of sexual assault, harassment, racism and homophobia since February.

Some of those complaints were from teenagers in the U.K., where the fast food giant operates 1,450 eateries and employs 170,000 workers. Most of those restaurants are franchised, meaning workers are managed by individual owners rather than the corporation itself.

A McDonald’s spokesperson in the U.K. told the BBC its operations are to act “in accordance with U.K. law in a manner that creates a safe, respectful, inclusive workplace and includes regular training and monitoring on prevention of harassment, discrimination and workplace violence.”

Its agreement with franchisees “contains termination provisions should they not comply with these standards.”

One 16-year-old McDonald’s employee in southeast England told the BBC that older male colleagues routinely manhandled younger female staffers in the tight kitchen space where she worked.

“They’d grope stomach, waists, bums,” Shelby said. She claimed such behavior occurred every shift she worked.

A 20-year-old woman told the BBC she left her gig under the Golden Arches in Brighton because a male colleague in his 60s continually stroked her hair in a sexual manner that made her grimace.

Darren Jones, who chairs the U.K.’s House of Commons Business and Trade Select Committee, called the mistreatment of McDonald’s workers “some of the most appalling” he’s witnessed and called on the company to exercise its rights to cut ties with franchises acting irresponsibly.

When the BBC began its investigation five months ago, McDonald’s defended its “strong track record” of providing a healthy work environment. But now, operators in the U.K. acknowledge they fell short in protecting workers and “deeply apologized” for the mistreatment of employees.

The CEO of McDonald’s U.K. & Ireland told the BBC more than 2,000 managers completed awareness training and most eateries implemented new measures to ensure “a safe and respectful workplace.”