Stories

Wed, 22 Apr 2026

Wed, 22 Apr 2026 McDonald's boss on abuse claims: 'I don't want to talk about the past'

A BBC investigation in 2023 heard from more than 100 McDonald's workers in the UK claiming they faced sexual assault, harassment, racism, and bullying

* McDonald's UK and Ireland boss Lauren Schultz said she "doesn't want to talk about the past" when asked about allegations of abuse at the company.
* A BBC investigation in 2023 found over 100 workers alleging a toxic culture of sexual assault, harassment, racism, and bullying.
* Last year, staff reported ongoing issues with sexual abuse and harassment, despite new measures being put in place to protect employees.
* Schultz acknowledged that what happened was "unacceptable" but said the company has "drawn a line under it".
* A former McDonald's employee criticized Schultz for not addressing the past, saying it's crucial to understanding how to prevent similar issues in the future.
* Schultz announced a new paid work placement program for 2,500 young people, aimed at tackling rising youth unemployment.
* The program will offer five-day placements to 16-25 year olds, with a target of offering quarter of the placements to those classified as Neet (not in education, employment or training).
* Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden praised the move as "a really important step" for helping young people get work experience.