McDonald's issues 'sincerest apology' over alleged sexual assault case

Taipei, Jan. 2 (CNA) McDonald's issued an apology on Thursday to the family of a 17-year-old former employee who killed herself in November last year after allegedly being coerced into sex with a supervisor at the fast-food restaurant over a year-long period.

"In this incident, we failed to take preventative action before it happened, and the handling was not timely nor comprehensive enough," the fast food restaurant said in a media statement.

"McDonald's Taiwan once again expresses its sincerest apology to the victim and her family."

In its statement, the fast food company said it had "no motive or intention to guide" the investigation it conducted after the teenage employee made allegations against her supervisor in March 2024.

The company's statement came hours after the father of the deceased former McDonald's employee complained that the company had not yet said sorry to his family.

Speaking at a press event in Taiwan's Legislature organized by Nuan Nuan Sunshine Association, a support group for victims of sexual assault, the girl's father said that the company had called him on Dec. 26, offering to send a clinical psychologist to assist his family.

"My daughter is already dead, and only now does [McDonald's] ask if a clinical psychologist is needed?" the father told reporters.

He also expressed dismay over a house visit by a McDonald's HR worker and a branch manager on Dec. 16, after they "spoke for nearly an hour but didn't apologize or say 'sorry' even once."

Also speaking at the press event, Chen Cheng-lung (陳政隆), head of development at women's rights group the Awakening Foundation, said that "the competent authorities should establish proactive mechanisms for timely supervision" of sexual harassment or sexual assault allegations.

Lee Chia-ting (李佳庭) from the Yoshi Care Association, an NGO focused on supporting financially-disadvantaged groups, said McDonald's should have initiated psychological support measures when it received the sexual harassment complaint in March, not after the investigation had concluded or "even after the victim's passing."

On Dec. 25, Taipei City's Department of Labor ordered McDonald's to pay a fine of NT$1 million (US$30,535) for violating gender equality laws over its handling of the "sexual harassment complaint" made by the girl in March last year.

McDonald's said it dismissed the supervisor in May. The case was referred to prosecutors that month, Taipei police said.