DOZENS of Scottish workers have joined a group legal action against McDonald's for sexual abuse, harassment and bullying, The National can reveal.
Law firm Leigh Day is launching a group legal action on behalf of employees across the UK who have reportedly provided lawyers with evidence of “widespread harassment and potentially unsafe working practices”.
It comes after a raft of sexual abuse, racism and bullying claims from workers were revealed following a BBC investigation into the multinational fast food chain in July last year.
The National can now reveal that the suit includes 76 current or former employees representing 11 separate McDonald's outlets across Scotland.
In 2018, McDonald’s reported that there were 95 branches spread across the country, which would suggest that more than 10% across the nation are currently subject to sexual abuse, assault or harassment claims.
The National previously spoke with a former employee who was just 16 years old when he joined a branch in Greater Glasgow.
After bringing up a lack of staff – particularly on late shifts – on WhatsApp one night, he alleges in his legal claim that his manager came into the branch towards the end of his shift and assaulted him.
“It was 6am. I was making my way out of the store, she assaulted me by punching me in the face, kicking me in the private areas, as well as slapping and pushing me,” he added.
“The police were also called twice. I think somebody in the street called them and then I had to call because the manager actually got into a car, which she left at the branch overnight, and followed me home.”
The manager wasn’t arrested and didn’t receive any disciplinary action from McDonald’s after a short investigation, other than being moved to another branch 10 minutes away, the employee said.
Mandy Bhattal, a senior associate solicitor at Leigh Day, told The National: “Current and former employees working at McDonald’s and McDonald’s franchises, including in Scotland, are continuing to instruct us to bring claims complaining of their experiences of unsafe working practices, including instances of harassment.
“We and our clients hope that by bringing these claims, McDonald’s, and its franchises, will be held to account and implement positive changes leading to safer working conditions for younger staff.”
Alistair Macrow, chief executive of McDonald’s UK and Ireland (above), previously said that over 150 reports had already been investigated, resulting in disciplinary action in dozens of cases.
He stressed, however, that he does not see abuse and sexual harassment at the business as “an endemic cultural issue”.
A McDonald’s spokesperson told The National: “Every one of McDonald’s UK’s 177,000 employees across our franchised and MRL owned restaurants deserve to work in a safe, respectful and inclusive workplace.
"We remain committed and determined to root out any behaviour that falls below the high standards we demand at McDonald’s, and we continue to thoroughly investigate all allegations that are brought to our attention.
"We are unable to comment further on any ongoing legal cases.”
