McDonald's UK boss says chain faces weekly sex abuse claims

LONDON - McDonald's boss in Britain said the US fast-food giant faces "one to two" sexual harassment allegations from workers every week, as he vowed to tackle the issue recently exposed by the BBC.

Alistair Macrow, chief executive of McDonald's UK and Ireland, told a watchdog parliamentary committee that the chain's management also receives around five reports a week of bullying. 

He said that his employees' accounts of alleged harassment and racism were "truly horrific and hard to listen to". 

It follows the BBC reporting in July numerous allegations of sexual misconduct, racism and bullying by staff at McDonald's outlets in Britain.

The company says it has dismissed 18 employees and taken 75 disciplinary measures, after examining 157 reported cases, since the scandal emerged.

Some 249 cases remain to be investigated, it has said. 

Law firm Leigh Day recently launched group legal action against McDonald's after the BBC aired the accusations, which included employees' claims they were "groped and harassed almost routinely". 

McDonald's UK opened a specialist unit to investigate the allegations, which stemmed from the accounts of around 100 staff, according to the British broadcaster. 

Appearing before lawmakers in parliament, Macrow reiterated that he was "absolutely determined to root out any of these behaviours".

He pledged to identify individuals who are responsible for them and "make sure they are eradicated from our business".