McDonald’s UK arm is maintaining its diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies, despite its Chicago-based parent company scaling back such initiatives since Donald Trump returned to the White House.
While the fast-food giant’s US division scrapped targets for minority representation in senior roles, rebranded its diversity department, and abandoned DEI requirements for suppliers, the British business says its own pledges remain intact. These include ensuring 40 per cent of senior leadership roles are held by under-represented groups by 2030 and strengthening “social inclusion” across its supply chains.
The Bakers, Food and Allied Workers Union (BFAWU), which represents UK food workers, had urged McDonald’s to resist following America’s example. The union accused the US business of “regressive” actions in dismantling DEI commitments.
McDonald’s UK move mirrors a similar split at Deloitte, where the British arm insisted it was “committed to diversity goals” even as the US branch announced it would end specific DEI targets and regular diversity reporting.
The discussion around corporate diversity has grown increasingly polarised. Proponents believe it improves company performance by fostering a broader range of talent. Critics, however, accuse businesses of sacrificing meritocracy and point to political and legislative changes in the US. Earlier this year, a Supreme Court ruling tightened restrictions on affirmative action in American universities, prompting some employers to follow suit.
Walmart, John Deere and Harley-Davidson are among those in the US that have significantly wound down their DEI programmes. Mr Trump, who last year listed so-called “woke companies” he claimed he would target, has repeatedly challenged such corporate initiatives.
In Britain, McDonald’s has also faced allegations of bullying and sexual harassment in its outlets, while the global chain has weathered reputational damage in recent years following the sacking of former chief executive Steve Easterbrook in 2019 for an inappropriate relationship with an employee.
The Fawcett Society, a campaign group for women’s rights, warned that “what’s going on in the US is a warning shot across the bow of our economy”, adding that any retreat from DEI would undermine hard-won gains in the workplace.
But objections are not confined to the political right. In a speech this month, Health Secretary Wes Streeting said “some really daft things [are] being done in the name of equality, diversity and inclusion” in the NHS, describing them as “ideological hobby horses” that risk overshadowing genuine efforts to address inequality.
For now, McDonald’s UK is holding firm and has no plans to emulate its US parent’s approach. Whether that stance remains steadfast—amid mounting global pressure to abandon DEI policies—remains to be seen.
