The Korea Times close
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to President
  • Letter to the Editor
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
Entertainment
& Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
Sports
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
Video
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • Site Map
  • E-paper
  • Subscribe
  • Register
  • LogIn
search close
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • Site Map
  • E-paper
  • Subscribe
  • Register
  • LogIn
search close
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to President
  • Letter to the Editor
Thu, August 11, 2022 | 17:43
Guest Column
#MeToo visits McDonald's
Posted : 2019-06-02 16:57
Updated : 2019-06-02 16:57
Print Preview
Font Size Up
Font Size Down
Over the last two years, the world has heard much about sexual harassment in the entertainment industry. Dozens of actresses came forward to accuse movie producer Harvey Weinstein and a string of other powerful men of sexual misconduct.

The revelations then spread through other high-profile industries as well, including politics, tech and publishing.

But there was barely a peep about what low-wage workers were being forced to endure, even though working-class women (and sometimes men) experience sexual harassment at least as often and typically have fewer resources at hand to fight back.

We feared that public interest in rooting out sexual harassment and sexual assault would wane before the spotlight moved from the glitterati to ordinary working stiffs.

Late last month, however, there came a hopeful sign to the contrary, in the form of 25 actions filed on behalf of McDonald's restaurant workers.

As the #MeToo movement nears its two-year anniversary, it now seems that it may not only continue to move forward, but may also expand to address the concerns of women and men in low-wage jobs, starting with fast-food workers.

Great _ because the evidence indicates they really need some help. Factory workers, hotel workers, waitresses, home care workers _ especially those who are women of color or women who lack documentation _ are at particular risk.

They face greater power imbalances at work, weaker job security and more challenges in reporting mistreatment, and they more often lack the wherewithal to fight back.

Over the last decade, women in the food service and hospitality industries have reported more sexual harassment complaints to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission than those in any other industry.

That's why it was heartening, when McDonald's got its #MeToo call-out. Two dozen current or former employees from outlets in Los Angeles, Monterey Park and 18 other cities filed federal complaints about on-the-job sexual harassment, gender discrimination and retaliation.

The coordinated action was a joint effort by the Time's Up Legal Defense Fund, the American Civil Liberties Union and Fight for $15, a group seeking to raise the minimum wage.

Allegations that McDonald's employees have regularly had to endure propositions, lewd comments and even sexual assault _ followed, in many cases, by retaliation if they complained _ have been surfacing for years.

But the individual cases hadn't gotten much traction, nor had they forced the international burger empire to make significant changes to try to stop the abuse.

At least not until Fight for $15 reached out to the Time's Up Legal Defense Fund for help. Formed and funded by 300 leading women in the entertainment business early last year, the fund's mission is to give ordinary working women access to the same kind of broad publicity as movie stars and models.

Because public attention and public shaming about these issues, which have been so successfully kept in the shadows for years, can lead to change.

Shortly before the announcement about the federal complaints was made, McDonald's CEO Steve Easterbrook sent a letter to U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) saying that the company was planning to roll out sexual harassment training and set up a hotline to report incidents _ two of the remedies that last week's coordinated campaign is seeking.

Coincidence? Probably not, though it will take more attention to ensure McDonald's does right by its employees.


The above editorial appeared in the Los Angeles Times. It was distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.


 
LG
  • Korea urged to take preemptive steps to deal with climate change-induced disasters
  • What Seoul's worst rainfall in 115 years looked like
  • Musinsa's new store becomes hot spot in southern Seoul
  • Flood damage to vehicles during torrential rain to hit insurers
  • 'Children must play right now'
  • Bill Gates expected to meet with top business leaders in Korea
  • Seoul reiterates that '3 Nos' policy is not commitment to China
  • Han River sunset cruise: Seoul's new tourist focal point
  • [INTERVIEW] Polish arms deal may well lead to greater opportunities for Korea: expert
  • Samsung aims to attract more users with new foldable phones
  • Interactive News
  • With tough love,
  • 'Santa dogs' help rebuild burnt forests in Andong
  • 'Santa dogs' help rebuild burnt forests in Andong
  • A tale of natural wine
    • 'Good Doctor' director to debut Netflix's high-strung suspense series, 'A Model Family' 'Good Doctor' director to debut Netflix's high-strung suspense series, 'A Model Family'
    • Death of young webtoon artist sparks controversy over harsh working conditions Death of young webtoon artist sparks controversy over harsh working conditions
    • Musical 'Kinky Boots' tells people to love themselves as they are Musical 'Kinky Boots' tells people to love themselves as they are
    • Crime thriller 'Limit' is about mother's quest to save abducted son Crime thriller 'Limit' is about mother's quest to save abducted son
    • From P1Harmony to Zico, K-pop hotshots to perform in Abu Dhabi next month From P1Harmony to Zico, K-pop hotshots to perform in Abu Dhabi next month
    DARKROOM
    • Ice is melting, land is burning

      Ice is melting, land is burning

    • Tottenham 6-3 Team K League

      Tottenham 6-3 Team K League

    • Afghanistan earthquake killed more than 1,000

      Afghanistan earthquake killed more than 1,000

    • Divided America reacts to overturn of Roe vs. Wade

      Divided America reacts to overturn of Roe vs. Wade

    • Namaste: Yogis to celebrate International Yoga Day

      Namaste: Yogis to celebrate International Yoga Day

    The Korea Times
    CEO & Publisher : Oh Young-jin
    Digital News Email : webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr
    Tel : 02-724-2114
    Online newspaper registration No : 서울,아52844
    Date of registration : 2020.02.05
    Masthead : The Korea Times
    Copyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.
    • About Us
    • Introduction
    • History
    • Location
    • Media Kit
    • Contact Us
    • Products & Service
    • Subscribe
    • E-paper
    • Mobile Service
    • RSS Service
    • Content Sales
    • Policy
    • Privacy Statement
    • Terms of Service
    • 고충처리인
    • Youth Protection Policy
    • Code of Ethics
    • Copyright Policy
    • Family Site
    • Hankook Ilbo
    • Dongwha Group