Government mediator to review unions’ sexual harassment claims against McDonald’s

A group of trade unions has claimed McDonald’s has broken international labour standards by failing to properly deal with sexual harassment in its UK restaurants.

Five trade unions and one campaign organisation have formally complained to the UK government’s National Contact Point (NCP), which deals with complaints regarding international business standards.

The complainants argue that failing to stop sexual harassment at UK McDonald’s restaurants breaks international Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) guidelines.

The group of unions – including the Trades Union Congress and the Bakers, Food and Allied Workers Union – alleged that there is "further evidence of persistent, deeply rooted gender-based discrimination in the respondent’s restaurants, in violation of the OECD guidelines".

The NCP has agreed that the complaint is serious enough to be investigated further and will now offer mediation between McDonald’s and the trade unions.

A McDonald’s spokesperson said: "We are aware of the NCP’s initial assessment and continue to engage constructively with the OECD process. We are reviewing the information and considering next steps.”

In November, the fast-food giant extended a legal agreement with the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) to protect its staff from abuse following an investigation by the BBC.

The original agreement between McDonald’s and the equality regulator was signed in February 2023. Since then hundreds of employees have said they continue to face sexual assault, harassment, racism and bullying. Some 300 also reported incidents of harassment to the EHRC.

Meanwhile, last month, McDonald’s detailed how it has worked to seek advice and guidance from external experts to challenge the business to help “drive progress and lasting change”.

Read more from chief people officer at McDonald’s UK & Ireland, James Thorne.

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