McDonald’s is facing allegations of sexual harassment from female employees by their male coworkers and higher-ups. This is not the first time McDonald’s has been accused of these allegations. Over the past three years, the company has been accused of sexual harassment. The incidences are said to have taken place at both corporate and franchise stores in 20 different cities.
A group of women recently made complaints with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). Females as young as 16 years old are speaking out against their supervisors’ inappropriate behavior. The accusations include inappropriate touching, indecent exposure, attempted rape, and requests to engage in sexual activity. Some of the allegations also include retaliation for reporting the harassment. The women who filed complaints claim that the company has done nothing to keep female employees safe.
One in four women experience sexual harassment within their place of work. Females have been complaining about sexual harassment within the company for years. When they speak up about being groped or solicited for sex, their complaints are ignored, or they are punished for it. Allegations made through the EEOC must be investigated before a victim can sue. Some of the past allegations are still being investigated.
McDonald’s Reacts to Allegations
The CEO of McDonald’s stated that the company is committed to ensuring a harassment-free workplace. He went on to say that the company implemented sexual harassment training to managers and franchise owners a few months ago. According to the CEO, posters displaying the company’s anti-harassment policy have been sent to all restaurants.
McDonald’s has found itself in a labor dispute over whether they are a joint employer. Joint employment means that control of employee conduct and activity is shared between two or more businesses. If McDonald’s is a joint employer, it would make them partly liable for labor violations committed by individual McDonald’s franchises. The company argues that they are not responsible for the sexual harassment and misconduct that has taken place at individual franchises because they are not joint employers. Corporate lawyers have been fighting to prove that the company is not liable. However, employees disagree. Whether they are liable has yet to be decided.
Bucks County Sexual Harassment Lawyers at Sidney L. Gold & Associates, P.C. Represent Victims of Sexual Harassment in the Workplace
If you are a victim of sexual harassment in the workplace, contact a Bucks County sexual harassment lawyer at Sidney L. Gold & Associates, P.C. today. Our lawyers will help you through the process of filing a claim and will fight for your rights. For a free consultation, contact us online or call us at 215-569-1999 today. Located in Philadelphia and Pennsauken, New Jersey, we represent clients throughout South Jersey, including Cherry Hill, Mt. Holly, and Camden County.
