McDonald’s hit by more sexual abuse allegations: Staff claim they have been offered extra shifts for sex and been ‘touched up’ by managers despite fast food chain’s pledge to clean up its act

with-font”>Fast-food chain McDonald’s has been hit by fresh allegations of sexual and homophobic abuse as staff members allege they have been ‘touched up’ by managers and offered extra shifts for sex.

the chain first faced bombshell claims of widespread sexual abuse and harassment at its stores in July 2023 and has since been reported more than 300 times for harassment to the UK’s equality watchdog.

Allegations have included racist abuse, sexual assault and harassment and bullying. 

The watchdog reportedly now intends to intervene again due to the volume of complaints. 

More current and former employees have since come forward, telling the BBC about further claims of sexual abuse and homophobic harassment. 

Employees as young as 17 have described a ‘toxic’ work environment with little to no protection from senior management and no response to complaints. 

The boss of McDonalds’ UK business Alistair Macrow is set to appear in front of MPs for the second time this afternoon as he answers questions from the Commons Business Committee on employment rights from 2.30pm.

He previously told MPs in November 2023: ‘I am absolutely determined to root out any of these behaviours, to identify individuals who are responsible for them and make sure they are eradicated from our business.

McDonald´s said the company is ‘determined to root out’ behaviour which falls below expected standards

that she was ‘groped’ by a manager and saw other young women also sexually harassed” class=”blkBorder img-share” style=”max-width:100%” loading=”lazy” />

Ilana Cole, 19, alleged that she was ‘groped’ by a manager and saw other young women also sexually harassed

The boss of McDonalds’ UK business Alistair Macrow (pictured) is set to appear in front of MPs for the second time this afternoon

‘When I became aware of them in the summertime, with the BBC reporting, I immediately took action to start to make a difference.’

But former and current employees who have been through the company processes since allegations first came to light have criticised its investigative procedures. 

One female employee from the Midlands who worked at McDonald’s until May 2023 has revealed how a senior manager, who was in his 30s, asked her for sex in exchange for shifts when she was just 17.

The worker, named Claire, was employed on a zero-hours contract and relied on picking up shifts to increase her hours and earn money.

She described feeling ‘dependent’ on her managers and said: ‘You don’t expect that to happen. It was totally inappropriate.’

Other employees as young as 16 reported being bullied and yelled at, with a 20-year-old woman telling how a manager sent her topless pictures.

Another woman, who quit her job at a West Midlands branch at the end of 2023, told the BBC managers inappropriately touched her and customers harassed her.

She claims that when she reported the abuse, she was told to ‘suck it up’.

Meanwhile Matt quit his Midlands job in 2024 after being bullied and said he witnessed racist behaviour by managers.

He said he was harassed for having a learning disability and an eye condition, and claimed other colleagues were ‘scared’ to go to work.

‘It was stuff you noticed, managers and staff being racist to other staff. Managers trying to touch other staff up,’ he said.

Scotland employee Alan, 19, added he had been subjected to ‘degrading’ homophobic abuse which involved colleagues using offensive homophobic slurs, both to his face and behind his back. 

He added he was told it was ‘just banter’ when he brought up his concerns, and it ‘seems like McDonald’s don’t care’. 

Liam Byrne, head of the Business Committee which will question Macrow today, said the situation was ‘appalling’

A McDonald’s spokesperson told MailOnline it has carried out ‘extensive work over the last year to ensure we have industry leading practices in place’ to keep staff safe

Other employees previously told MailOnline they had been groped, given sexual nicknames such as ‘McBike’ and were rated on their appearance at work on scoreboards.

It was revealed staff members would refer to employees with learning disabilities as ‘re****s’, young women were routinely groped and one store saw managers have a ‘scoreboard’ for ‘sexual conquests’. 

Ilana Cole, 19, told MailOnline she began working at the chain when she was 16 and was transferred from one branch in Berkshire to another. Upon starting her new role underwent an interview with a manager.

‘He started telling me about the differences between this branch and my last branch and said ‘Here we’re a lot busier, it’s like you’re getting raped up the a** everyday’,’ she told MailOnline.

‘I was completely shocked that he had just said that but being 16 and naïve, I continued to accept the job offer.’

When she started working at the restaurant, she claimed matters only got worse. She alleged that she was ‘groped’ by a manager and saw other young women also sexually harassed. She claimed managers discriminated against staff with disabilities and, in her opinion, treating some crew differently because of their nationality.

She said the manager ‘would get really close behind the younger girls almost pressed right against their back, constantly getting close to the girls and deliberately brushing his hand against their waist or bum, which he did to me too.’

At other points, she spoke to other unhappy staff members, including a man from Romania who she claimed only ever worked on the ‘fries station’ and ‘was completely covered in burns and scars that were never reported’. Ms Cole believes he was treated differently because of his nationality.

She added: ‘I never complained about the behaviour as all of the managers were best friends with each other, so a complaint wouldn’t get very far.’

Liam Byrne, chair of the Business Select Committee, told the BBC the situation was ‘appalling’.

‘There is a clear pattern of abuse here that suggests that McDonald’s has become a hotbed of harassment and it’s incredibly serious,’ he said.

‘And when the boss of McDonald’s came before us last year he promised that he would root out this problem and it’s quite clear that he’s failed.’

A McDonald’s spokesperson told MailOnline it has carried out ‘extensive work over the last year to ensure we have industry leading practices in place’ to keep staff safe.

They continued: ‘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. Working at speed they have already rolled-out company-wide programmes to improve safeguarding, drive awareness and enhance training. 

‘We have also recruited our first Head of Safeguarding and in addition to the four speak up channels already available, and have introduced a new, easy to use, digital speak-up channel, Red Flags.’

They added: ‘Additionally, the Investigations Handling Unit, led by its newly appointed Director and drawing on independent legal experts, is dedicated to rooting out any behaviour that falls below the high standards we demand of everyone at McDonald’s.

‘McDonald’s agreement with the EHRC was signed in early 2023, with the intention that it continues to evolve to ensure the robust measures we have in place are aligned with any updated guidance.

‘We are confident that we are taking significant and important steps to tackle the unacceptable behaviours facing every organisation.’