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McDonald’s Hit With Proposed Class Action Alleging “Culture of Sexual Harassment”


Last Tuesday, McDonald’s was hit with a proposed class action lawsuit, alleging that the company and one of its Michigan franchises engaged in unlawful sexual harassment.

In the complaint, filed in a federal court in Michigan, a former employee complained that a co-worker assaulted her, groped her, and called her names in front of other co-workers.  Complaints to management apparently did not remedy the situation.  When the sexual harassment allegedly extended beyond a year, the victim was transferred to another location but her alleged attacker remained.

The lawsuit, which seeks more than $5 million in damages, seeks class action status.  Whether a class will be certified is unclear at this time, but with a growing number of sexual harassment claims having been asserted against McDonald’s as of late, it is possible this class will be certified (which would expand the scope of claimants and potential recovery.)  With that being said, the American Civil Liberties Union, Fight for $15, and Time’s Up Legal Defense Fund are all proving support to the complaint.

While the termination of McDonald’s CEO in recent weeks (for engaging in a consensual relationship with another employee) does not necessarily impact this proposed class action, it is another string of bad press for the company.


For a copy of the complaint:  https://www.aclu.org/legal-document/ries-v-mcdonalds-michigan-state-court-complaint

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