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Force management to take stronger action against sexual harassment.
Time

Chicago, IL – Sept. 18: McDonald's workers are joined by other activists as they march to the company's headquarters to protest sexual harassment in the chain's restaurants. fast food restaurant on September 18, 2018 in Chicago, Illinois. Similar actions took place all over the country and were touted as the very first national "strike" against sexual harassment in the fast food industry. According to a recent study, 40 per cent of fast food workers experience unwanted sexual behavior at work. (Photo by Scott Olson / Getty Images) ORG XMIT: 775229631 ORIGINAL FILE ID: 1035627064(Photo: Getty Images)

Hundreds of McDonald's employees, emboldened by the #MeToo movement, demonstrated Tuesday outside the company's headquarters in Chicago to draw attention to allegations of workplace sexual harassment.

According to Fight for $ 15, a labor rights group organized to help raise the minimum wage, workers organized the first day of a strike in 10 cities.

The organizers reported that hundreds of cooks and cashiers carried placards stating "#MeToo McDonald's".

In Chicago, protesters gathered in front of McDonald's headquarters chanting: "We're here, we're noisy, sexual harassment is not allowed" and "respect us, accept us, n". do not try to touch us, "NBC News reported.

The protesters called for more respect in the workplace, better training for managers and greater accountability.

"It's time to say" I'm not on the menu, "said a protester at the demonstration outside McDonald's headquarters, broadcast live on Facebook by Fight for $ 15.

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More: Are the stars at Emmys upbeat about #MeToo? Not exactly

Hundreds of McDonald's employees took part in the strike and 10 McDonald's employees laid charges against the company, according to Fight for $ 15. The support of the Legal Defense Fund Time & # 39; s Up allowed to pay their legal fees. In addition, 17 other complaints were filed almost two years ago, said the defense fund. The lawyers asked the EEOC to consolidate the 2016 and 2018 complaints into a single investigation.

"The Time & Up Legal Defense Fund supports legal complaints against McDonald's because sexual harassment puts workers in a hopeless situation – forcing them to choose between a salary and persistent abuses," he said. said Fatima Goss Graves Center, said in a statement. "It's time for McDonald's and their franchisees to eliminate sexual harassment at the workplace."

EEOC representatives did not respond to CNBC's request for comment.

McDonald's said it has "strong policies, procedures and training in place specifically designed to prevent sexual harassment," according to a statement.

The company also unveiled an initiative that will engage outside experts to collaborate with the company to help "change" these policies and procedures. Some of the experts would come from Seyfarth Shaw at Work, a labor law training company, and RAINN, an organization that fights against sexual violence.

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Actors, writers and producers are ringing on Emmys' red carpet about the last year of the #MeToo movement.
USA TODAY & # 39; HUI

Sexual harassment in the restaurant sector has recently emerged, with several well-known leaders and television personalities accused of misconduct.

According to the Culinary Institute of America, the majority of restaurant management positions are held by men, while women hold most of the lower-skilled and lower-paid positions. This difference in power can create an environment where sexual harassment is tolerated, ignored or even standardized. Employees can often feel uncomfortable talking about harassment or worrying about losing their job by filing complaints, catering industry leaders and human resources managers said at the time 39, a round table organized by the institute earlier this year.

According to a 2016 survey by Hart Research Associates, about 40% of women in the fast food sector reported having been sexually harassed at work. The most common forms of harassment were mockery, jokes, remarks or questions, unwanted fondling or touching, and questions about sexual interests or unwanted information about the sexual interests of others.

According to Hart Research, 45% of women in fast food restaurants mentioned health issues such as anxiety, depression and sleep problems due to workplace harassment.

The majority of respondents said they had tried to avoid their stalker with only 4 out of 10 reporting the problem to their employer.

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