Hundreds of young workers sue McDonald’s UK alleging harassment

LONDON: More than 700 young workers are suing McDonald´s UK after widespread harassment claims were exposed in the media in 2023, law firm Leigh Day said on Tuesday.

Leigh Day is seeking compensation from the US fast-food giant on behalf of current and former staff who were aged under 20 when working at McDonald´s.

“Clients have described experiences of discrimination, homophobia, racism, ableism, and harassment,” the legal firm said in a press release, saying more than 450 restaurants were involved.

The fast-food chain is one of Britain´s largest employers with around 170,000 staff, many of whom are young workers, including teenagers.

“Those allegations described are abhorrent, unacceptable and there is no place for them in McDonald´s,” Alistair Macrow, chief executive of McDonald´s UK and Ireland, told British MPs on Tuesday when questioned about the claims during a hearing over the separate issue of employment rights.

He added that 29 workers have been dismissed over sexual harassment allegations in the past year.

Macrow told a parliamentary committee in November 2023 that he was “absolutely determined to root out any of these behaviours” and the firm opened a specialist unit to investigate the allegations.