McDonald’s launches probe into ‘deeply concerning’ claims from workers that Covid safety rules are being ignored in some restaurants
- Employees claim there are no temperature checks or social distancing measures
- Allegations came from restaurants in Kent, Merseyside and Greater Manchester
- Fast food giant has now launched a probe following the claims by whistleblowers
McDonald’s has launched a probe into claims that Covid safety measures are being ignored in some of its branches.
Staff at a number of restaurants across Kent, Merseyside and Greater Manchester claim there are no temperature checks or social distancing and say colleagues are ‘hugging because they think it’s funny.’
The fast food giant is now carrying out an investigation following the accounts given by whistleblowers to Sky News.
Staff at a number of restaurants across Kent, Merseyside and Greater Manchester claim there are no temperature checks or social distancing measures (file photo)
One worker told Sky News that there were no social distancing measures in the restaurant, and said bosses were failing to ensure temperatures are checked at the start of every shift.
The anonymous worker added: ‘People hug and there is no sort of discipline by the managers for these people that are just breaching the rules.
‘In my store they (colleagues) hug because they think it’s funny, but it really isn’t. I’m scared to go to work because I live with two people who are clinically vulnerable.’
McDonald’s employees told Sky News that stores have been ‘repeatedly breaking their own health and safety rules’ throughout the current lockdown.
The fast food giant closed to walk-ins at the start of the first lockdown, before later reopening for drive-thru and deliveries.
McDonald’s last month reopened their restaurants for walk-in takeaways.
In February, the fast-food chain said it was introducing new safety measures for when it reopens including visors for employees, revised guidance and redevised courier flow in restaurants.
Melissa Evans, a customer experience leader at a McDonald’s in Wandsworth, south London, said: ‘They are risking lives by not ensuring that their workers are safe.
‘It’s not happening everywhere and a lot of workers are saying they feel unsafe and they are questioning whether we should stay open or not.’
Another worker at a restaurant in Liverpool told Sky she hadn’t had her temperature checked at work since July.
She also said staff were supposed to wash their hands every half an hour.
She added: ‘If I was to leave my station to go and wash my hands the manager would be like ‘where is she – she’s got orders on the screen’ but you are literally going to do something you are supposed to do when COVID is spreading like wildfire – it’s unsafe.’
Melissa Evans, a customer experience leader at a McDonald’s in Wandsworth, south London, said the fast food giant was ‘risking lives by not ensuring that their workers are safe’
A McDonald’s spokesperson told MailOnline: ‘We continue to work hard with our franchisees and third party safety experts to ensure robust safety measures are in place and being followed, to help protect our people and customers.
‘We have regularly reviewed and updated these procedures since the start of the pandemic.
‘We are deeply concerned to hear this feedback, and while we are confident this relates to a very small number of the 130,000 people we employ across the UK and Ireland, we strongly believe that every one of our employees should feel safe within the workplace.
‘We are investigating the issues raised as a matter of urgency, and strongly encourage any of our employees with concerns to raise these using the various channels we have in place.’