Equality watchdog says work 'ongoing' with McDonald's on sexual harassment prevention

The head of the equality watchdog has said work with McDonald's to ensure it is protecting its staff from sexual harassment is "still ongoing".

It comes after the firm's UK and Ireland boss, Lauren Schultz, said on Wednesday "we have drawn a line under it".

Equality and Human Rights Commission chair, Dr Mary-Ann Stephenson, told the BBC its legal agreement to continue monitoring McDonald's was extended in November "because of further issues that came to light".

In 2023, the BBC heard from more than 100 McDonald's UK workers claiming they faced a toxic culture of sexual assault, harassment, racism, and bullying.At the time McDonald's said it had "fallen short" and it "deeply apologised".

McDonald's signed the voluntary, legal agreement with the EHRC more than three years ago.

Stephenson was asked on the BBC's Today programme whether the watchdog had seen evidence that there had been significant improvement in the way staff were being treated.

She said she could not provide a ''running commentary'' on whether progress had been made because of the way the agreement works.

"We are still monitoring that programme with McDonald's and we will continue to do that,'' she said.

The EHRC is responsible for ensuring the law regarding sexual harassment is implemented. Ann-Stephenson said it was important that organisations whether "large or small" follow the law and they ''have a responsibility under the Equality Act to take proactive steps to prevent their staff from being harassed''.

More than 700 current and former junior staff are taking legal action against McDonald's. Law firm Leigh Day, which is representing the workers, says their clients accuse the company of failing to protect them.

Jessica Hunt, senior associate at Leigh Day, told BBC the extension by the equality regulator of its agreement with McDonald's "suggests that sexual harassment continues to be an ongoing issue in their restaurants".

"The new action plan requires McDonald's and its franchises to introduce new safeguarding policies to protect its vulnerable young workers," she said.

"The fact that the equality regulator has had to intervene further over recent months suggests that more still needs to be done by McDonald's and its franchisees to protect a young and vulnerable workforce. Serious allegations raised have yet to be resolved.''

The BBC's investigation in July 2023 heard from workers, some as young as 17, who said they had been groped and harassed at work almost routinely.

After the report, McDonald's apologised and set up a new unit to deal with complaints.

On Wednesday, Schulz, who replaced Alistair Macrow as chief executive of McDonald's UK and Ireland in September 2025, told the BBC "a ton of work" had taken place to improve things since then.

"What happened in recent years is unacceptable," she said. "A safe and respectful workplace is a non-negotiable in our restaurants."

Schulz addded: "We have zero tolerance for this behaviour and we have strong accountability measures in place."

But when asked what had gone wrong previously, and whether there had been a cultural problem at the firm, Schultz responded: "I can't speak to what went on before."

"I am here today to push us forward into the future and develop a culture."

She also did not respond to questions about McDonald's franchise model, which some have pointed to as part of the problem, saying: "I don't want to speak about the past. What I'm here [for] is to build the future."

One former McDonald's employee, who previously spoke up as part of the BBC's initial investigation, said she felt the company needed to talk about what had happened.

"I understand that she doesn't want to talk about the past. However, McDonald's has an infamous reputation for being a toxic workplace," she said.

"So, as much as they don't want to talk about the past, it is key to understanding that in order to be able to rewrite the narrative and draw the line, in my opinion."