{"id":16569,"date":"2019-08-29T08:45:02","date_gmt":"2019-08-29T12:45:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.benefitscanada.com\/news\/mcdonalds-educating-u-s-employees-about-harassment-bullying-134929"},"modified":"2019-08-29T08:45:02","modified_gmt":"2019-08-29T12:45:02","slug":"mcdonalds-educating-u-s-employees-about-harassment-bullying","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.lifeinsurance-orleans.ca\/index.php\/2019\/08\/29\/mcdonalds-educating-u-s-employees-about-harassment-bullying\/","title":{"rendered":"McDonald\u2019s educating U.S. employees about harassment, bullying"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Dee-Ann Durbin, The Associated Press<\/span> | August 29, 2019 <\/p>\n

McDonald\u2019s is introducing a new training program for its U.S. employees after dozens of workers complained about sexual harassment.<\/p>\n

The Chicago-based company said Wednesday that its franchisees have committed to provide the training \u2014 a combination of online work and in-person discussions \u2014 to 850,000 employees. Beginning in October, it will educate workers about harassment and bullying, tell them how to report it, teach them ways to diffuse situations with customers or co-workers and discuss what bystanders can do.<\/p>\n

\u201cTogether with our franchisees, we have a responsibility to take action on this issue and are committed to promoting positive change,\u201d said Chris Kempczinski, McDonald\u2019s U.S. president, in a statement.<\/p>\n

Read: <\/strong>Government releases results of workplace harassment, violence consultation<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

McDonald\u2019s said it could eventually offer the training globally, but will begin with its 14,000 U.S. restaurants. The company didn\u2019t say how much the training will cost or how much time it will take workers to complete it. Workers will be paid during the training.<\/p>\n

McDonald\u2019s isn\u2019t requiring franchisees \u2014 who are independent owners \u2014 to provide the training. But the National Franchisee Leadership Alliance, which represents franchisees, helped develop the training and is calling on all owners to provide it.<\/p>\n

\u201cPeople come to work at McDonald\u2019s because they want a chance to be part of a community and grow as individuals,\u201d said Dorothy Stingley, a franchise owner and president of the McDonald\u2019s Women Operators Network. \u201cOur job as employers is to make that possible while fostering an environment where those ambitions are never compromised by concerns of safety.\u201d<\/p>\n

Studies suggest harassment is rampant in the fast food industry. In one 2016 survey of 1,271 U.S. female fast food workers, 40 per cent said they faced sexual harassment on the job. Of those, 42 per cent said they were forced to accept it because they couldn\u2019t afford to lose their job and 20 per cent said employers retaliated in some way after they reported the harassment, including cutting their hours or giving them a less desirable schedule. The survey was conducted by the National Partnership for Women and Families, the Ms. Foundation for Women and Futures Without Violence.<\/p>\n

Read: How #MeToo movement is changing way employment law views harassment <\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

McDonald\u2019s, one of the world\u2019s largest fast food chains, has been a particular target of workers\u2019 ire. In May, the labour group Fight for $15 filed 25 sexual harassment charges against McDonald\u2019s with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. It was the third time in three years that Fight for $15 had filed harassment charges on behalf of McDonald\u2019s workers. In all, around 48 cases have been filed with the government and four have been filed in state courts.<\/p>\n

McDonald\u2019s responded last fall by introducing training for its U.S. franchisees and general managers. Almost all of those employees have completed that training, the company said.<\/p>\n

In January, McDonald\u2019s released an enhanced policy against discrimination, harassment and retaliation, and in June it began offering a free hotline for employees.<\/p>\n

Read: A workplace guide for the #MeToo era<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Read the full article at BenefitsCanada.com<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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