McDonald's ​Employees Allege Culture Of Sexual Harassment

LOS ANGELES, CA — Four McDonald's employees lodged federal complaints against the fast-food chain, alleging they were subjected to relentless sexual harassment and retaliated against for reporting it. It's the latest in a nationwide effort to address alleged abuses at the nation's largest the fast-food chain.

The American Civil Liberties Union Foundation of Southern California Tuesday announced the filing of complaints with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission on behalf of the four workers. They contend they endured sexual propositions, repeated exposure to sexually explicit comments, and retaliations for filing complaints. The complaints are the latest actions in a multi-year campaign by McDonald's cooks and cashiers to press the company to address alleged harassment, according to the ACLU. Last year, workers walked out at McDonald's locations in Los Angeles and other major cities to protest sexual harassment.

One of the employees who lodged a complaint works at the McDonald's in Monterey Park. He said the harassment he endured was routine.

"The employees of McDonald's are what make it the most profitable fast-food chain in the world, and we deserve a safe and respectful workplace," cashier Emmanuel Flores said. "I suffered sexual harassment on a daily basis, and when I complained, my hours were cut."

The ACLU called McDonald's out as a leader in the industry.

According to the ACLU, workers at McDonald's are particularly vulnerable as they are mostly front line, non-managerial employees, who live at the economic margins, unable to risk losing a shift or a job by filing a complaint.

"McDonald's restaurants in Los Angeles tolerated, and in some cases encouraged, a workplace replete with sexual harassment, and then retaliated against workers who spoke up," ACLU SoCal senior staff attorney Minouche Kandel alleged. "McDonald's should lead in preventing and responding to sexual harassment, not tolerate harassment and punish workers who come forward to say #MeToo."

McDonald's, CEO Steve Easterbrook wrote said the company has been working to improve conditions for employees.

In a letter provided by McDonald's, CEO Steve Easterbrook wrote to "Top Chef" host Padma Lakshmi, who supports the workers' cause, that the company was training employees to deal with harassment, and starting a hotline for victims. He said the company was committed "to ensuring a harassment and bias-free workplace."

Easterbrook wrote that McDonald's has "enhanced our policy so that it more clearly informs employees of their rights, more clearly defines sexual harassment, discrimination and retaliation, and provides examples of what unacceptable behavior looks like."

The complaints are part of a nationwide filing of sexual harassment EEOC charges and lawsuits against McDonald's. The filings are supported by the Fight for $15 organization, the ACLU and the Time's Up Legal Defense Fund. The Southern California workers include employees in Monterey Park, Los Angeles, and the Antelope Valley.

According to Easterbrook's letter, McDonald's started working with the anti-abuse organization RAINN last year on how to prevent misconduct. The executive said 90 percent of McDonald's operators and general managers have completed the new training course, and training will be provided to other crew members on harassment, unconscious bias and workplace safety.

City News Service and Patch Staffer Paige Austin contributed to this report.