inside business

McDonald’s CEO: why can’t firms trust employees to act like grown-ups?

After the fast-food giant’s boss was sacked over a relationship with an employee, James Moore looks at whether company rules on romance are appropriate

Monday 04 November 2019 19:22 GMT
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Steve Easterbrook’s relationship was consensual. That’s by no means true of all workplace affairs
Steve Easterbrook’s relationship was consensual. That’s by no means true of all workplace affairs

When it comes to McDonald’s firing its CEO Steve Easterbrook over what’s been described as a “consensual relationship” with a subordinate, I get the nagging feeling that the full story is yet to come out. And at some point it probably will.

British-born Easterbrook, who worked his way up through the company like many of the McDonald’s top brass, led a remarkable turnaround having taken charge when the golden arches were at a low ebb,

He oversaw a shake-up of the menus and of the restaurants, improved the quality of ingredients, expanded delivery and mobile payment options. Wall Street liked the taste of what he cooked up and the shares doubled.

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