McDonalds CEO has “serious questions to answer” over “predatory” use of zero-hours contracts

Commenting today on new claims by the BBC of sexual harassment at McDonalds, with one zero-hours contract worker allegedly being asked for sex in return for extra shifts, TUC General Secretary Paul Nowak said:

“No-one should ever find themselves in the position of being asked to exchange sex for shifts. It’s abhorrent – the McDonalds CEO has serious questions to answer.

This investigation has exposed how sexual harassment and insecure work can go hand in hand.

Zero-hours contracts create a huge imbalance of power in the workplace that leaves workers vulnerable to predatory bosses.

If staff say no to their manager they face losing all of their work.

This is why cracking down on exploitative working practices like zero-hours contracts and giving people stronger protections at work is so important.

McDonald’s is one of the largest employers in the UK. It should be setting the standard on workforce conditions – not leading a race to the bottom.”

Alistair Macrow, the UK boss of McDonald’s, was summoned to answer MPs’ questions in front of the Business and Trade select committee for a second time on Tuesday, including over the use of zero-hours contracts and claims of sexual abuse at the fast food firm.

According to the BBC investigation 89% of McDonalds workers in the UK are on zero-hours contracts. The BBC spoke to 50 workers across the country who say they were not given the choice to switch to minimum guaranteed hours, despite McDonald’s claiming that workers are free to make the switch.

Recent TUC polling of zero-hours contract workers revealed that more than 8 in 10 (84%) wanted regular hours of work.

The BBC report on McDonald’s and zero-hours contracts is here.