McDonald's reverses commitment to diversity initiatives

In the United Kingdom, more than 700 current and former workers of McDonald's are pursuing legal action against the fast-food giant following claims of widespread harassment and discrimination. This legal action was announced by the law firm Leigh Day in January 2025, which states that the complainants were predominantly young employees under the age of 20 at the time they worked at McDonald's. This situation has arisen amidst increasing scrutiny over the company's labor practices, following a BBC investigation that revealed several incidents of harassment, racism, and discrimination faced by workers in numerous branches from as early as July 2023. The allegations encompass a range of serious misconduct, with claims of sexual harassment, homophobia, and racial discrimination becoming prominent following testimonies that surfaced from the affected employees. The investigation suggested that the environment within the company was hostile, leading to fears among employees about their job security and safety. The recent legal claims implicate more than 450 McDonald's locations across the UK and suggest that the company has not sufficiently addressed these continuing issues despite previous promises to improve workplace conditions. Alistair Macrow, the UK chief executive of McDonald's, has publicly stated that he is committed to eliminating harassment within the organization and has acknowledged that 29 employees were dismissed due to harassment claims in the past year. However, workers and unions have expressed skepticism, arguing that meaningful change has yet to take place. During recent parliamentary hearings, Macrow faced tough questions regarding whether McDonald's had become a