Low-wage fast-food workers, sexual harassment and the #MeToo era: One woman's story

Since the #MeToo groundswell began five years ago — when women first accused the movie mogul Harvey Weinstein of serial sexual assault — many others have been speaking out and demanding justice over sexual harassment and misconduct, including many low-wage workers who often have little legal or social support.

Here & Now‘s Anthony Brooks speaks with Jamelia Fairley, who alleges that she was sexually harassed while working at a McDonald’s in Florida. Fairley is a plaintiff in a class-action suit against the restaurant chain. Eve Cervantes, the lead attorney in that lawsuit, also joins us.

A statement from McDonald’s:

“Discrimination and sexual harassment are abhorrent in any form and have no place in our society, and they are not acceptable in any McDonald’s-brand restaurant. That’s why we announced our Global Brand Standards last year, which apply to all company-owned and franchised restaurants worldwide. As part of these new Global Brand Standards, all restaurants must maintain policies and trainings aimed at preventing harassment, discrimination and retaliation and implement clear procedures for employees to report any concerns, effective January 1, 2022.”

This article was originally published on WBUR.org. [Copyright 2022 NPR]