McDonald’s global CEO says sexual harassment will not be tolerated after US staff harassment claims

The global fast food chain has responded after allegations by four women who are suing the company in the US over alleged workplace incidents.

McDonald’s US-based global chief executive officer says sexual harassment “will not be tolerated” at fast-food chains after a report surfaced of allegations made by female employees suing the company for workplace harassment.

CEO Chris Kempczinski sent a message to McDonald’s franchisees, suppliers and employees globally on Sunday alluding to several allegations brought forth in a segment on CBS Sunday Morning featuring four women who revealed allegations of sexual harassment at one of the country’s biggest fast-food chains.

“Let me say plainly: every single person working under the Arches must have a safe and respectful work environment. Sexual harassment in the workplace is an affront to everything we stand for as a system. It has no place in any McDonald’s restaurant, and it will not be tolerated,” Mr Kempczinski wrote.

The four women described inappropriate touching and sexual comments. One woman described a co-worker who used tongs to grab her breast in front of other workers. Despite complaints to supervisors, the workers’ complaints weren’t rectified, the report said.

Mr Kempczinski, in the letter titled Leaning into our Values, said the chain was ensuring that every allegation was “fully and thoroughly investigated”.

Discrimination charges or lawsuits against McDonald’s restaurant or independently owned franchises were brought on by Kimberly Lawson, Jamelia Fairley, Kat Barber and Emily Anibal who detailed their experience with harassment from male co-workers in the CBS special report.

Mr Kempczinski addressed the women who came forward with their stories on CBS stating, “I want to recognise these individuals and acknowledge their courage. Any person who steps forward to report concerns or issues deserves our utmost respect.”

A shock report has revealed three-quarters of nearly 800 female employees at McDonald’s restaurants and franchises in the US claim they have been harassed on the job. Picture: Gaye Gerard/NCA NewsWire

Three-quarters of nearly 800 women employees at US McDonald’s restaurants and franchises across the country said in a survey last year they were harassed on the job with the majority reporting they experienced consequences for reporting it, CBS WVLT8 reported.

McDonald’s reportedly disputed the survey findings. The fast food giant did not immediately return a FOX Business request for comment.

McDonald’s history with sexual harassment claims is long. In May, 2018, ten women who worked in McDonald’s restaurants across the country filed charges of discrimination with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, reporting a wide range of abuses by their supervisors.

And in September 2018, thousands of workers protested these practices in ten cities.

“Women have reported unwanted hugging, back rubs, spanking, and intentional ‘brushing up’ against them,” ACLU lawyer Gillian Thomas wrote in a blog post in January 2019. “Some said they were trapped in supply closets and pestered for dates. One woman alleged that a male manager she worked with threatened to expose his genitals to her.”

The fast-food chain is also being sued for racial discrimination after Black McDonald’s franchisee Herbert Washington, a former Major League Baseball star who owns 14 McDonald’s, alleged in a lawsuit last week that he was discriminated against by the McDonald’s Corporation for keeping his restaurant locations out of wealthy areas resulting in thousands of dollars in profit losses compared to white franchise owners.

This article originally appeared on Fox News and was reproduced with permission