More than 700 McDonald’s workers are taking part in a class-action lawsuit against the US group in the UK, the law firm representing them said today, a year and a half after a BBC investigation exposed the company’s practices.

These individuals describe incidents of discrimination related to disability, homophobia, racism and harassment, Leigh Day said in a statement, according to which the lawsuit currently covers more than 450 McDonald’s restaurants.

The chain employs more than 170,000 workers in the UK, the majority of whom are young or even teenagers, on temporary contracts.

The class action, which is open to workers under the age of 20 at the time of the events, was launched following a BBC investigation in July 2023, which included a series of testimonies.

At the time, McDonald’s UK and Ireland general manager Alistair Macro apologized on behalf of the group for “clear failings” to protect workers. He also revealed that the company faces “one or two” allegations a week of sexual harassment from employees in the UK.

Alistair Macro will testify in the afternoon before a law-making committee of Parliament in the context of the preparation of a law that will reform labor law.

“I had to deal with homophobic comments from management and team members,” said a 19-year-old employee at the time of the alleged incidents, according to Leigh Day’s statement. “My boss had told me I couldn’t deal with them and that I should just quit.”

The BBC cites in today’s report the case of a worker who was bullied because he suffered from a disability and an eye infection. He was forced to resign.

McDonald’s did not respond to an AFP request for comment.

In 2019, the chain was also the target of accusations when the Bakery and Food Workers union (BFAWU) alleged that more than 1,000 workers said they had been victims of sexual harassment and abuse in the workplace.