New allegations of harassment at McDonald’s have sparked outrage, with MPs questioning the safety of young workers in the fast-food chain
London: So, McDonald’s is in hot water again. They’re being called a “predator’s paradise” after some pretty serious harassment claims came out about how young workers are treated.
Alistair Macrow, the CEO, faced some tough questions from MPs during a committee meeting. They were looking into worker rights when these new allegations popped up, including some shocking claims about managers asking for “sex for shifts.”
Liam Byrne, the committee chair, didn’t hold back, asking Macrow if McDonald’s had really turned into a place where this kind of behavior is allowed. He pointed out that abuse tends to happen when there’s a power imbalance at work.
It’s not just talk, either. Around 700 current and former employees are taking legal action over these issues. Macrow tried to reassure everyone, saying they’ve made changes since his last appearance in late 2023, claiming they’re working hard to create a safe environment.
He mentioned that they’ve looked into 75 allegations, with 47 being upheld, and 29 people were let go. But Byrne pushed back, saying it sounds like there’s a pattern of abuse rather than isolated incidents.
Byrne also pointed out that many of the complaints involve managers, which is a big red flag. Most McDonald’s locations are run by franchisees, and a lot of their workers are young, many under 20, often on zero-hours contracts. This makes them vulnerable.
Another MP, Antonia Bance, chimed in, saying these zero-hours contracts can lead to favoritism and harassment. She argued that if “sex for shifts” happened once, it’s likely happened more. Macrow insisted that most workers prefer flexible hours, but it’s clear there are serious concerns about safety and fairness.
