McDonald’s has agreed to tougher measures with the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) following years of allegations that young staff have faced widespread sexual harassment, bullying and abuse.
The move comes two years after a BBC investigation first exposed a toxic workplace culture across UK branches. Despite promises of reform, hundreds of new allegations have since emerged, prompting the watchdog to strengthen its legally binding agreement with the fast-food giant.
Under the updated plan, McDonald’s will introduce new sexual harassment training for managers, focusing on the grooming of young workers and the use of social media. The company will also appoint an external body to review how it handles complaints, and roll out a new safeguarding plan across UK restaurants — including those operated by franchisees.
The EHRC said the new steps were necessary after “serious allegations” continued to surface, suggesting not enough progress had been made since 2023.
However, not everyone is convinced. One former McDonald’s employee told the BBC that she believed the new measures amounted to little more than corporate box-ticking.
Legal action builds momentum
One leading UK law firm has confirmed it is pursuing legal action on behalf of hundreds of current and former McDonald’s staff, with more than 450 restaurants named in the claims.
Allegations include:
- Unwanted sexual advances from managers and colleagues
- Sexual assault in the workplace
- Demands for sexual favours in exchange for work shifts or better treatment
- Bullying, intimidation, and retaliation for speaking out
- Racial, homophobic, and ableist abuse
Many workers say that complaints were either ignored by management or, worse, led to the complainant being penalised – losing shifts, being demoted, or being pushed out of their jobs entirely.
While McDonald’s says it is committed to improvement, the EHRC’s decision to extend its intervention suggests that regulators remain unconvinced the company has gone far enough.
If you’ve experienced workplace harassment or discrimination at McDonald’s, you don’t have to stay silent. You may be entitled to take legal action.
Join the Claim connects consumers with SRA-regulated lawyers. Visit the claim page to check your eligibility if a claim is open with one of our trusted legal partners. If a group action has not yet been launched, you can register your interest and we’ll keep you informed if a partner firm decides to take a claim forward.
