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McDonald's named in another sex harassment suit, this one seeking class action status

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November 13, 2019

A former Mason, Michigan McDonald's employee is hoping to form a class action suit against the Chicago-based brand in a suit filed this week in Michigan claiming that the massive quick-service chain fostered a "culture of sexual harassment," said a quote from the suit in an NPR report. 

The woman behind the suit, Jenna Ries, said the alleged abuse continued unabated, with incidents that ranged from having her hair pulled to, according to the suit, an incident where the male co-worker "placed his penis" in her hand while they worked next to each other in the McDonald's where she alleged the incidents occurred. In the suit, she also alleged that the co-worker regularly grabbed her breasts and rear, as well as propositioning her for sex. 

This week's suit is among more than 50 claims and harassment charges currently filed against the chain in courts and at the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, which also investigates complaints of this nature.

The suit seeks $5 million in damages and could eventually involved 50 women who have worked at the franchise in Michigan if the action is recognized by the courts and the litigants are permitted to form a class. 

Their accusations drew new focus last week when McDonald's fired its CEO, Steve Easterbrook,over a consensual relationship with an employee. He is not accused of sexual harassment, but the relationship violated company policy. Still, Easterbrook is receiving a multi-million-dollar exit package.

In her court filing Ries also pointed to last week's announcement that former CEO Steve Easterbrook after he admitted to having an affair with another employees against company policy. In her suit, Ries alleges that the chain "creates and permits a toxic work culture from the very top."

In a statement to NPR, McDonald's said it is "demonstrating its continued commitment" to the issue highlighted by the suit by adding a new anti-harassment training program for all corporate-owned stores, though the Mason location was a franchise. It also said the chain is "encouraged" by its progress in getting franchisees to also undergo the training.