Would You Like Fries With That Racism?
/McDonalds may be known for its golden arches and cheeseburgers, but employees of the fast-food giant allege it is better known to them for its creation and maintenance of a hostile and racially discriminatory work environment.
Employees of a Virginia franchise allege that they were called "ghetto" and "ratchet." They were similarly told by high ranking supervisors that their store had become "too dark" and that they "need[ed] to get the ghetto out of the store." Not surprisingly, several minority employees were abruptly terminated following these comments.
Nine employees of the Virginia franchise have filed suit, in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Virginia, seeking damages against both the franchisee and corporate McDonalds. Local civil rights organizations, including the NAACP, are supporting the lawsuit and working with the formerly terminated employees.