This morning, Virginia-based McDonald's employees filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against the struggling burger chain. The charges? Racial discrimination, sexual harassment, and wrongful termination at one South Boston, Virginia-based franchise. Backed by the local NAACP and the group behind Fight for $15, it's the first lawsuit to hit the company since federal judges ruled that McDonald's is liable for its franchisee's actions.
One supervisor told black staff members that they were "too dark," and that it was necessary to replace employees to "get the ghetto out of the store."
The Civil Rights Act lawsuit filed today by former McDonald's employees claims that a McDonald's supervisor referred to black employees as "bitch," "ratchet," and "ghetto." Another supervisor referred to a Hispanic employee as a "dirty Mexican," and sent employees photographs of his genitals. Supervisors are also accused of making references to oral sex and "inappropriately touching" workers while on the job. Employees who complained were ultimately terminated, according to court documents. One supervisor told black staff members that they were "too dark," and that it was necessary to replace employees to "get the ghetto out of the store."
Workers allege that when they reached out to McDonald's corporate office "nothing" was done. McDonald's released a statement to Reuters morning, noting that it had yet to review the lawsuit: "McDonald's has a long-standing history of embracing the diversity ... and discrimination is completely inconsistent with our values."