McDonald’s responds to workers’ sexual misconduct claims

A company statement said there is ‘no place for harassment and discrimination of any kind’ in its locations, but employees in nine cities have filed harassment complaints.

Ragan Insider Premium Content
Ragan Insider Content

The #MeToo movement is now affecting the largest fast-food chain in the world.

On Tuesday, 10 employees in nine cities—including Chicago, Detroit, Los Angeles, St. Louis and New Orleans—filed sexual misconduct complaints with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. The filings come just before McDonald’s annual meeting, which is set for Thursday.

Time’s Up Legal Defense Fund, which formed under the National Women’s Law Center as the #MeToo movement rose to prominence, is covering the workers’ legal fees.

Reuters reported:

The claimants, including a 15-year-old from St. Louis, said in a conference call with journalists that they were ignored, mocked or terminated for reporting the behavior. The accusations included claims that co-workers or supervisors sexually propositioned, groped or exposed themselves to the women.

“I felt I had no choice but to tolerate it,” Kimberley Lawson, 25, who makes $8.75 per hour at a McDonald’s in Kansas City, Missouri, said on a conference call with reporters.

To read the full story, log in.
Become a Ragan Insider member to read this article and all other archived content.
Sign up today

Already a member? Log in here.
Learn more about Ragan Insider.