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McDonald’s legally pledges to protect staff after string of sexual harassment complaints

The fast food chain has signed a legal agreement with the equality watchdog.

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant - 8th February 2023

McDonald’s has pledged to better protect staff at its UK restaurants after a string of sexual harassment complaints.

The fast food chain has this week signed a legal agreement with the equality watchdog that commits it to a number of measures to better protect workers in the UK after the Bakers, Food and Allied Workers Union (BFAWU) claimed back in 2019 that more than 1,000 sexual harassment complaints had been logged.

The union alleged that there was a “toxic culture” at UK McDonald’s branches in the wake of strikes at restaurants in several US cities on the same issue back in 2018, and the company’s failure to sufficiently deal with the matter.

The legal agreement with the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) includes communicating to staff a “zero tolerance” approach to sexual harassment.

McDonald’s pledges to better protect staff at its UK restaurants after a string of sexual harassment complaints / Credit: McDonald’s

On top of this, the agreement – which applies to all UK franchised restaurants, but excludes Ireland and the US – also requires McDonald’s to provide anti-harassment training to its staff, and to improve policies to better respond to any complaints made.

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The chain’s UK chief executive Alistair Macrow stressed that harassment and abuse “have no place in our society or at McDonald’s”.

Addressing the new legal commitment, Mr Macrow said: “As one of the UK’s leading employers, the safety and wellbeing of our people is our absolute priority [and] it is hugely important to me that everyone in our organisation feels safe, respected and included at all times – this is core to the values of our business.

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“We already have a strong track record in this area, and I now welcome the opportunity to work with the EHRC to further strengthen this.”

A union representing workers claimed in 2019 that more than 1,000 sexual harassment complaints had been logged / Credit: McDonald’s

Ian Hodson, national president of the BFAWU, added: “It’s shameful that one of the richest corporations on the planet doesn’t take sexual harassment seriously until we raise it [but] I pay tribute to all our members who have spoken out on this issue and encourage McDonald’s to work with us in ending sexual harassment.”

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EHRC chairwoman Baroness Kishwer Falkner said that by McDonald’s signing the agreement, she hopes the chain can “set an example for others to follow, whether in the hospitality industry or elsewhere.”

Featured Image – McDonald’s UK (via Twitter)

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Manchester locals appealing for more information over a month after from finding family member’s body

Danny Jones Danny Jones GMP appeal after body of Chorlton man found dead in bedroom

A Greater Manchester family are still calling for more information now over a month on from the discovery of a man’s body at his Chorlton home.

William Riddell, 49, was found dead in the bedroom of a property on Astbury Avenue at approximately 11:35pm on Sunday, 10 November after being found by his stepdaughter, Sarah Hayden.

Details surrounding his passing are still scarce but a 47-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of murder but has since been released on bail “pending further enquiries”, leaving Sarah and the rest of her family still none the wiser as to the exact nature of his death.

Preparing to spend their first Christmas without him, they have issued a desperate appeal for more information, urging anyone who might have information to come forward.

Riddell, more commonly known as Billy by those close to him, was described as a “good, caring man with a big heart” and a popular figure in the local area.

Speaking via Greater Manchester Police, Sarah, said: “I want to be Billy’s voice and get answers for him. Billy was a nice and lovely man and all the community knew who he was. He was well-liked and we gave him a good send-off at his funeral.

“I would just ask anyone who knew him or has any information to come forward and tell police. Even if you think it’s a little or small thing – please come forward. We just want to get to the bottom of what has happened.”

Detective Inspector Alex Wilkinson, who serves on GMP‘s Major Incident Team, added in an official statement: “The family of Billy deserve answers following his death and we are working hard to ensure they get exactly that.

“We have closely supported Sarah and the wider family over the last month, and we will continue to provide assistance wherever we can as they face their first Christmas without him.

“While a suspect has been bailed, we are still working flat-out to understand more about Billy’s life, the people he was close to, and events leading up to his death just over a month ago.”

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With that in mind, both GMP and Riddell’s family are asking anyone who might know anything or have information regarding people associated with Billy to come forward, reiterating that “even if you consider something to be small – your help could greatly benefit our investigation.”

You can contact police via 101 or by using the live chat function HERE, quoting log 3227 of 10/11/24.

Alternatively, you can contact the UK’s independent charity, Crimestoppers, anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online.

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — Greater Manchester Police

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Government aims to ‘turn the tide’ on homelessness with £1 billion funding boost

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

Nearly £1 billion of funding is being pumped into Council budgets to help “break the cycle of spiralling homelessness” in 2025.

As part of the Government‘s wider ‘Plan For Change’, and in a bid to help tackle, reduce, and prevent homelessness next year, it’s been announced that more resources will be be made available for workers on the frontline who provide essential services to get rough sleepers off the street and into secure housing.

This significant investment means Councils will now be “better equipped” to step in early and stop households from becoming homeless in the first place.

According to the Government’s plans, these funded measures will include mediation with landlords or families to prevent evictions, helping homeless people find new homes, and providing deposits to access private renting. 

The funding will also be used to address the growing use of B&Bs and nightly-let accommodation, and the streamlining of funding structures to make it easier for Councils to spend their cash.  

Areas across the UK can also choose to channel resources into services such as Housing First.

Housing First has been massively successful in Greater Manchester, and has helped house hundreds of our region’s rough sleepers since it was first piloted, being described as “life-changing” along the way.

More than £633 million of the funding will be allocated for the Homelessness Prevention Grant – which is a £192 million increase from this year – while £185.6 million will go to the Rough Sleeping Prevention and Recovery Grant, more than £37 million to the Rough Sleeping Accommodation Programme, and £5 million will be for the Emergency Accommodation Reduction Pilots.

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This new £1 billion funding boost comes after it was announced back in September that Section 21 ‘no fault’ evictions will be abolished in England next year as part of the landmark Renters’ Rights Bill.

It will also look to support the Government’s ambition to deliver the biggest increase in social and affordable housing in a generation – with an extra £500 million ploughed into the Affordable Homes Programme to build tens of thousands of affordable homes across the country.  

Featured Image – Gary Knight (via Flickr)

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