McDonald’s faces scrutiny over workplace harassment and zero-hours contracts
McDonald’s UK faces mounting allegations of sexual harassment, bullying, and discrimination, with over 700 employees pursuing legal action. Despite a legally binding EHRC agreement in 2023, the company has since received 300 additional reports of harassment.
Critics argue that McDonald’s reliance on zero-hours contracts—covering 89% of its UK workforce—creates power imbalances, discouraging staff from reporting abuse. The UK government’s Employment Rights Bill aims to curb exploitative contracts, potentially improving worker protections.
Meanwhile, McDonald’s struggles to restore public trust, as ongoing failures to ensure a safe workplace threaten its reputation and profits.
Google Calendar drops Black History Month, Pride, and cultural events
Google Calendar has removed Black History Month, Pride, and Women’s History Month from its listings, citing sustainability concerns. The company now only displays public holidays and national observances from timeanddate.com, requiring users to add cultural events manually.
This follows Google’s broader rollback of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives after Donald Trump’s second presidency began. The company also controversially renamed the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America for U.S. users.
Despite Calendar changes, Google Doodles will continue celebrating cultural moments.
Should AI be banned in job applications? Anthropic sparks a controversy
Anthropic has banned jobseekers from using AI during applications to assess genuine interest and non-AI communication skills. While AI use in hiring is rising—53% of UK jobseekers use it, with many exaggerating skills—hiring managers remain sceptical, with 80% disliking AI-generated applications.
Experts acknowledge AI’s role in efficiency but stress the need for human-centric skills. Critics warn that banning AI could pose fairness and legal issues. Instead of outright bans, companies are encouraged to find a middle ground, using AI to improve applications while ensuring authenticity and transparency in the hiring process.