Tackling Sexual Harassment in the Workplace

Lessons from the McDonald’s case and why training matters

Recent reports have revealed that McDonald’s UK has faced dozens of sexual harassment allegations, leading to multiple dismissals and widespread media attention. The story has struck a chord across UK workplaces — reminding us that even well-established brands can fall short when it comes to protecting their people.

The truth is simple: policies alone aren’t enough. Creating a safe, respectful workplace requires awareness, clear expectations, and consistent behaviour from everyone — and that starts with effective training.

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Why training matters

Protecting employees:

Harassment can occur in any workplace, regardless of size or sector. Training empowers staff to recognise, report and challenge inappropriate behaviour, helping to prevent harm before it escalates.

Culture and trust:

The McDonald’s case illustrates that a ‘zero-tolerance policy’ means little if employees don’t believe it’s enforced. Regular, meaningful training signals that your organisation takes the issue seriously and expects the same from everyone.

Legal responsibility:

UK employers are legally required to take all reasonable steps to prevent harassment. Providing robust, well-documented training helps demonstrate that duty of care — and can protect your organisation if claims arise.

Business impact:

Beyond ethics and compliance, harassment affects morale, retention, productivity and brand reputation. Preventing it is both the right thing to do and sound business sense.

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How Knowledgefront can help

At Knowledgefront, we understand that not every organisation has the time or budget for a fully bespoke eLearning programme. Sometimes, a ready-made, but customisable solution — delivered quickly and cost-effectively — is exactly what’s needed.

That’s where Knowledgefront’s customisable content library comes in.Our growing collection of ready-made eLearning modules covers essential business and compliance topics — including Sexual Harassment in the Workplace. Each module is ready to use immediately, but can also be tailored to your organisation’s branding, tone, policies and procedures — giving you the perfect balance between off-the-shelf efficiency and bespoke relevance.

With Knowledgefront’s customisable content library, you can:

• Deploy training fast – launch in days, not months.

• Ensure compliance – align with UK legislation and best practice.

• Customise easily – adapt text, visuals and examples to reflect your brand and internal policies.

• Deliver flexibly – available as SCORM/xAPI packages for your LMS, or hosted on our CXcherry platform.

• Stay cost-effective – access high-quality eLearning at a fraction of bespoke development costs.

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The takeaway

The McDonald’s case should be a wake-up call for all organisations: no matter your size or industry, fostering a culture of respect and accountability is essential. The right training — accessible, relevant and engaging — is one of the most effective ways to make that happen.

With Knowledgefront’s customisable content library, you can act now — equipping your people with the understanding and confidence to prevent harassment and build a safer workplace for everyone.