'APPALLING ABUSE'
McDonald’s at centre of ‘sex for shifts’ scandal as 700 workers launch fresh harassment claims against fast food giant
Watch the video to see one worker describe her ordeal at McDonald's
MCDONALD'S is at the centre of a "sex for shifts" scandal after 700 workers launched fresh harassment claims against the fast food giant.
Managers are being accused of asking teenage staff members how many people they had slept with, inappropriately touching young employees during shifts and "preying on young female workers".
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Claire, who is using fake name, worked at a West Midlands branch until May 2023 when she was forced to quit due to uncomfortable behaviour.
She told the her shift manager would ask her for sex in return for extra shifts, which she refused.
'Claire', who was on a zero-hours contract, was 17 at the time while he was in his 30s.
She said: "You don't expect that to happen. It was totally inappropriate."
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'Claire' also claims when she tried to raise the issue, she was told to "suck it up".
A female worker, 20, also claims a male manager at her East of England branch sent her nude images. She had to leave her job in August last year.
Other allegations include the bullying of a current 16-year-old employee, who says they were sworn and shouted at, and a 19-year-old who was taunted for having a learning disability and an eye condition.
All of the fresh claims are in relation to events which took place after November 2023.
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It comes one year after the take-out boss Alistair Macrow promised to clean up behaviour across the chain restaurants.
Macrow first appeared in front of parliament's Business and Trade Committee in November 2023 where he told MPs they were working on improving conditions for staff after treatment concerns were uncovered.
But one current and two former workers from across the UK said promised restaurant audits were stage-managed by the branches.
And now, more than 700 current and ex-junior employees are taking legal action against McDonald's for "failing to protect them".
'Managers shipped branches to avoid discipline'
Elliott, who is also using a fake name, left his job in the South of England in February 2024.
He said if he had a sister or a daughter, "I wouldn't want them working in McDonald's".
And when Maccies boss Macrow addressed MPs over a year ago, Elliott said a manager was moved to his store to avoid being disciplined.
This manager was accused of sending sexually explicit messages to female colleagues who were 16-18 years old.
McDonald's outlets are run as franchises, so local managers have the choice about who to hire.
In parliament today, Macrow said of the latest allegations that people are "speaking up" - with 75 claims of sexual harassment being made to McDonald's directly.
He said 47 have been upheld with disciplinary action, and 29 individuals have been dismissed.
Macrow added: "Those allegations described are abhorrent, unacceptable and there is no place for them in McDonald's.
"There cannot be any room in our business for people who behave in that manner.
"The measures that are put in place mean that we are able to offer a secure, safe workplace where people are respected and feel included.
"I hear from our people that it is working."
Prior to fresh allegations and Macrow appearing in parliament, accusations were already rife.
Shelby, who began working in a Berkshire branch in 2022 aged 16, told of sexual harassment by colleagues being commonplace.
She said: "They'd grope stomach, waists, bums.
"Every shift I worked, there would be at least a comment being made or I'd be brushed, a hand brushed across me, or it would be a more severe thing like having my bum grabbed, hips grabbed."
She described how one fellow worker in his 50s came up behind her at the counter, grabbing and pulling her on to his groin.
She said: "I just froze - I felt disgusted."
A McDonald's spokesperson has now said: "Ensuring the 168,000 people that work in McDonald's restaurants are safe is the most important responsibility for both us and our franchisees, and we have undertaken extensive work over the last year to ensure we have industry-leading practices in place to support this priority.
"Any incident of misconduct and harassment is unacceptable and subject to rapid and thorough investigation and action."
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The company added: "Our relentless focus on eliminating all forms of harassment at McDonald's is led by a newly created team and informed by the experience and guidance of external experts.
"We are confident that we are taking significant and important steps to tackle the unacceptable behaviours facing every organisation."
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