400+ complaints | McDonald's facing up to two sexual harassment claims per week, CEO reveals

The boss of McDonald’s in the UK says the fast-food chain is cracking down on harassment in its restaurants following a major investigation into the conduct of its employees.

A BBC expose published in July 2023 revealed claims of a ‘toxic culture’ behind the counters at the fast-food giant, including shocking claims of teenaged girls being routinely groped and harassed, racial slurs and even an outbreak of a sexually transmitted infection at one branch, resulting from multiple sexual relationships between colleagues.

"It's the expectation that if you work at McDonald's, you will be harassed," a 20-year-old former employee told the national broadcaster. The ex-worker reportedly quit working for the company after a male colleague in his 60s kept stroking her hair in a sexually suggestive way.

Worryingly, it was also alleged that some managers ignored the concerns of several victims who spoke out.