McDonald's has pledged to protect its UK staff from sexual harassment by committing to introducing a series of new measures including anti-harassment training.
The fast food chain has made a legally binding agreement with the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) after concerns were raised over how sexual harassment complaints by UK staff have been handled. While the number of current complaints by UK McDonald's workers is not known, the Bakers, Food and Allied Workers Union (BFAWU) claimed in 2019 that more than 1,000 cases had been reported.
The new measures from McDonald's include communicating a "zero tolerance" approach to sexual harassment, providing anti-harassment training for employees, and improving its policies around responding to complaints. The fast food giant previously said it would require workers worldwide to take part in anti-harassment training in 2021, after it emerged that at least 50 employees globally had filed charges against McDonald's alleging physical and verbal harassment within the previous five years.
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The pledge does not include chains in Ireland or overseas, such as in the US, where allegations have been made by workers that the company has failed to deal with issues of sexual harassment in the workplace over several years. In 2018, employees in several US cities staged a strike to protest against McDonald's alleged failure to prevent sexual harassment at work.
Alistair Macrow, chief executive of McDonald’s in UK and Ireland, said: "As one of the UK’s leading employers, the safety and wellbeing of our people is our absolute priority. It is hugely important to me that everyone in our organisation feels safe, respected and included at all times – this is core to the values of our business."
Adding that harassment and abuse "have no place in our society or at McDonald's", the CEO went on: "We already have a strong track record in this area and I now welcome the opportunity to work with the EHRC to further strengthen this."
The BFAWU has previously raised concerns over the "toxic culture" in restaurants, saying that at least 1,000 women working in the food industry have been harassed by managers and supervisors. EHRC chairwoman Baroness Kishwer Falkner said: "There should be zero tolerance of sexual harassment in every organisation.
"It can devastate people’s lives and create a toxic working environment for all. We are determined to crack down on workplace cultures of sexual harassment, whether in restaurants or hotels, sports clubs or offices.
"We are pleased that McDonald’s has signed this agreement to signal their intent to make their restaurants safe places to work. The improvements they put in place can set an example for others to follow, whether in the hospitality industry or elsewhere."
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