• McDonald's is facing fresh scrutiny over sexual harassment claims in its UK restaurants.
• Hundreds of workers are taking legal action against the chain, a law firm said this week.
• McDonald's says ensuring staff are safe at work is its "most important responsibility."

Hundreds of McDonald's workers in the UK are taking legal action over claims of workplace bullying and harassment.

Law firm Leigh Day said this week that over 700 people who work at or have previously worked at 450 different McDonald's locations across the UK have joined the proceedings.

All the workers were 19 or under when working at McDonald's, Leigh Day says.

News of the legal action comes as the BBC published fresh claims of workplace harassment at the fast-food giant, around 18 months after a major investigation into the working culture at the Golden Arches.

The BBC investigation, published in July 2023, revealed that over 100 workers at a number of the Golden Arches locations had spoken of experiencing sexual assault, harassment, racism, or bullying. Since that investigation, 160 more people have approached the BBC with allegations, it reported on Tuesday.

The BBC's latest report on harassment and abuse at the fast-food behemoth comes over a year after its UK boss pledged to take action to improve working conditions.

Starting in February 2023, after the fast food chain signed an agreement with the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) promising to protect its staff from sexual harassment, the BBC spoke to staff about the working environment at McDonald's.

Of the over 100 allegations the BBC heard prior to publishing its initial 2023 investigation, 31 involved sexual assault, 78 involved sexual harassment, 18 were related to racism, and 6 were related to homophobia.

Alistair Macrow, the CEO of McDonald's UK and Ireland, told Members of Parliament in November 2023 that the company had received 407 complaints from employees since that July. He said it was taking steps to better protect staff.

Since the BBC's initial investigation in July 2023, 300 reports alleging harassment at the chain have been made to the EHRC.

"Ensuring the 168,000 people that work in McDonald's restaurants are safe is the most important responsibility for both us and our franchisees," McDonald's said in a statement sent to Business Insider.

"We have undertaken extensive work over the last year to ensure we have industry leading practices in place to support this priority. Any incident of misconduct and harassment is unacceptable and subject to rapid and thorough investigation and action."

Macrow, the UK McDonald's boss, said that 29 people have been fired over incidents involving sexual harassment in the past year.

The BBC heard that one woman said her shift manager, who was in his 30s, asked for sex in exchange for extra shifts when she was a 17-year-old employee. Another female staff member, who was 20 at the time, said her male manager sent her topless photos. A 19-year-old employee alleged he was bullied for having a learning disability and an eye condition, per the BBC.

McDonald's rolls back some DEI efforts

News of fresh claims of staff harassment in the UK comes in the same week that McDonald's announced plans to scale back its diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts.

McDonald's said in a statement on Monday that it will stop "setting aspirational representation goals," pause participating in external surveys, no longer require its supply chain to commit to its DEI pledge and change the name of its diversity team to the Global Inclusion Team.

A growing backlash against DEI strategies has seen companies such as Nissan, Walmart, and Harley-Davidson scale back or cut programs altogether.

Much of the criticism has come from high-profile figures like Elon Musk and conservative activist Robby Starbuck, who have labeled such initiatives as "woke."

• Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) have become a popular alternative to traditional homes and apartments.
• Three people who built and moved into ADUs shared with BI how they improved their lives.
• One person said moving into an ADU "was the best decision we ever made."

For newlyweds Aislyn and Ali Benjamin, purchasing a traditional home in Danville, California — a small city just over an hour's drive east of San Francisco — wasn't financially feasible.

It's easy to see why. Data from Realtor.com shows that the area's median home sale price is about $1.9 million as of December.

The Benjamins weren't keen on moving too far from Danville in search of a more affordable home, nor were they interested in renting long-term. So, they opted for another solution: building an accessory dwelling unit, or ADU, in their parent's backyard.

Today, they live in a 1,200-square-foot, three-bedroom, two-bathroom ADU in San Ramon, a city neighboring Danville. The home cost $500,000 to build, which the couple paid with their parents' help.

"This was the best decision we ever made," Ali Benjamin told Business Insider. "It allowed us to save so much money and live where we wanted."

ADUs are an affordable entry to homeownership

ADUs are compact housing units, typically 150 to 1,200 square feet, depending on location. On average, they cost between $100,000 and $300,000 to design and build, though additional expenses — such as site preparation, inspections, utility hookups, and permits — can drive up the total cost.

Thanks to their affordability and minimal land requirements, ADUs have become a popular alternative to traditional homes and apartments, particularly for first-time homeowners like the Benjamins, who navigated high home prices, mortgage rates, and a shortage of available homes.

To boost the supply of affordable housing, several states, including California, New York, and Vermont, have supported ADU construction by offering grant programs to help homeowners finance the building process.

In California, where most backyard homes are built, the state's Accessory Dwelling Unit Grant Program has provided grants of up to $40,000 to qualified homeowners — it's been instrumental in driving the growth of ADUs across the Golden State.

According to an April report from the Urban Institute, ADUs accounted for just 8% of permits and 5% of completions in California in 2018. By 2022, however, they represented 18% of total permits and production.

A couple built an ADU to give their adult son more independence

People build ADUs for various reasons, including generating income by renting out the ADU or their main home. Others build ADUs to create comfortable, semi-independent living spaces for aging parents or adult children who may need assistance or support.

Take Todd Kuchta, a 58-year-old engineer who built an ADU in his Napa, California, backyard for his 26-year-old son, Jacob, who has autism.

As Kuchta's son grew older, he desired more independence from his parents but still needed their help with daily tasks like cleaning, taking medication, and preparing meals.

Unable to afford a larger home or an assisted living facility for their son, Kuchta and his wife hired Bay Area-based ADU builder Villa to construct a 480-square-foot, one-bedroom, one-bathroom tiny home on their property.

The ADU cost over $248,000 to build. The Kuchtas received financing through Napa County's Affordable ADU program, which provided a $63,000 forgivable loan. They also secured a $160,000 loan from a credit union as a second mortgage.

The new living arrangement has mutually benefited the Kucthas and their son.

"Jacob really enjoys living on his own — he's thriving," Kuchta told BI.

He added that he and his wife's "stress has significantly decreased, and they have peace of mind knowing they can still provide the emotional support he needs."

A woman built an ADU in her backyard to age in place

The growing trend of multiple generations living together, either under the same roof or on the same property, has fueled the rise of "granny pods" — small outbuildings designed to provide support while allowing older adults to age in place and maintain their independence.

Struggling with the stairs in her two-story home, 72-year-old Wilder-Abrams moved into a 560-square-foot, one-bedroom, one-bathroom granny pod in her backyard in 2022.

Meanwhile, her 34-year-old daughter moved into the home she had lived in for 35 years — a 2,000-square-foot, three-bedroom, two-bathroom home — with her 3-year-old daughter.

"I was ready to downsize and have a smaller place to live and take care of," Wilder-Abrams told BI. "The home is in an urban area, so there are a lot of possibilities for my daughter, too."

The ADU cost $350,000 to build. Wilder-Abrams secured a second mortgage on her home to finance the construction, as the original mortgage had been paid off years ago. Her daughter now pays $1,500 monthly rent, covering the new mortgage payment.

Beyond the financial benefits, home swapping has provided Wilder-Abrams with valuable physical and emotional support. She said having her daughter nearby was crucial to her recovery after knee surgery last year.

"The first few days, she stayed with me to change the ice packs regularly," Wilder-Abrams said. "It was so convenient for both of us."

• Elon Musk said SpaceX will donate free Starlink terminals to areas of LA hit by massive wildfires.
• The city is battling a series of huge fires which have forced over 100,000 residents to evacuate.
• Starlink has previously been used after natural disasters like Hurricane Helene, and in conflict zones.

Elon Musk says he will donate free Starlink terminals to Los Angeles as the city fights a series of devastating wildfires.

The SpaceX founder said on Wednesday night that the rocket company would provide the terminals to areas hit by the huge wildfires, which have forced 100,000 people to evacuate and plunged the region into chaos over the past few days.

"SpaceX will provide free Starlink terminals to affected areas in LA tomorrow morning," the billionaire wrote in a post on X.

SpaceX's Starlink service provides internet using a network of thousands of low-orbit satellites.

The technology is designed to offer connectivity in rural areas and regions without consistent internet access, and has been regularly deployed at natural disaster scenes in recent years.

Musk has also offered free Starlink services to areas hit by extreme weather events in the past.

In October, SpaceX waived costs to use the internet satellite service for those hit by hurricanes Milton and Helene, which battered the east coast of the US in late 2024 — although some users found that they still had to pay as much as $400 to purchase a Starlink terminal.

SpaceX has also deployed Starlink to war-torn regions such as Gaza and Ukraine, although not without political controversy.

Musk's announcement that SpaceX would supply Starlink to "internationally recognized aid organizations" in Gaza prompted fierce backlash from Israel, which had largely blocked communications from the territory since it launched a destructive invasion in the aftermath of attacks by Hamas in October 2023.

The company eventually received permission to set up the service in a hospital in Gaza, Musk confirmed in July last year.

Starlink's presence in Ukraine, where it has served as a key military communications tool for the Ukrainian army since 2022, has also dragged Musk into geopolitical minefields.

In 2023, the billionaire was heavily criticized for refusing a request from Ukrainian forces to enable Starlink over Crimea, foiling an attack on the Russian navy.

SpaceX did not respond to a request for comment, sent outside normal working hours.

• Shayla Smith is the COO of a Hollywood law firm, where curt corporate speak is normal.
• She realized she needed to take a more nuanced approach to communication at home.
• Her experience in retail helped her refine her communication techniques, she says.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Shayla Smith, Chief Operating Officer of Lichter Grossman Nichols Feldman Rogal Shikora & Clark, Inc. It has been edited for length and clarity.

I've always had a firm but fair communication style. I don't tone myself down: I am who I am because everyone else is taken. That's served me well professionally. While I started my career in retail at Target, I quickly stepped into C-suite operational roles, first in wealth management and later in law firms.

At work, I'm goal-oriented. Whether I'm recruiting new talent, helping a customer have the best experience possible, or working with one of the many managing partners at my firm, I operate with confidence and command. That's helped me get far in my career.

And yet, recently, I realized it was holding me back at home. It took a comment from my husband to help me realize that I needed to establish a clear separation between the role of a leader in the workplace and a leader at home. I was accustomed to providing directives all day at work, so I found it natural to adopt the same approach at home. Unfortunately, that often struck my husband and sons, who are 9 and 7, the wrong way.

Now, I focus on delivery, not just content

Professionally, I'm focused on the outcome. I can be curt, and I say something once and expect the team to act on it. After my husband pointed out that I was using corporate speak and delivery with him, I adjusted my communication at home. I started considering not only what I wanted to convey but how I wanted to convey it.

I stay true to myself but tone it down

I'm always going to have a strong communication style. Luckily, my husband is super even-keeled and well-balanced. I've started to think about toning down my sharp communication. I imagine it like a light switch: at work, I can let my bulb shine with full power, but at home, on relaxed evenings, sometimes it's nice to hit that dimmer switch and lower the intensity just a bit.

I'm intentional with my words

My husband is a first responder with a hectic overnight schedule, while I have an equally busy schedule in the corporate world. Sometimes, our communication has to be clipped and to the point because we're so busy.

Even at those times, I'm careful with the words that I use. Saying "I would like it if…" or "It would be nice if…" helps my husband know I come from a place of care and understanding, even when I'm being direct. In turn, that helps him better receive what I need to say, so we both win.

We create a relaxing environment at home

Since we both have such demanding jobs, we intentionally create a calm, relaxing environment at home that's markedly different from the chaos of the world outside. Physically, we create a very different environment, working together to pick soothing wall colors and decor. We might talk about work in the car, but we try not to discuss it at home because we want to protect our space.

There are some corporate communication lessons I want the boys to know

While I've changed my communication style with my family, there are aspects of corporate communication I want my sons to know. I'm always reminding them to speak loudly and clearly, looking the person they're speaking with in the eye and speaking with conviction. They know I'll only say things once, and I expect them to pay attention.

Ultimately, I hope they understand that people might not remember what you said, but they'll remember how you made them feel. I learned that working Black Fridays at Target when I was juggling angry guests, overwhelmed workers, and lots of small crises. Although a Hollywood law firm might seem different from that, customer service and great communication are critical across the board — whether with family, colleagues, or clients.

President-elect Trump and top advisers previewed ambitious plans for 100 executive orders during a meeting with Senate Republicans on Wednesday night, Axios has learned.

Why it matters: While Congress debates the next moves on their own aggressive legislative plans, Trump let them know he is ready to roll — especially on immigration.

• Senators were given previews of some of what they were told would be 100 executive orders, two sources who were in the room told Axios.
• Stephen Miller, Trump's longtime immigration adviser, dove into how they intend to use executive power to address the border and immigration starting Day 1.
• It's unclear if all will be technical executive orders, or more broadly executive actions taken by Trump or federal agencies.

One big border plan: Reinstating Title 42, according to multiple sources.

• The pandemic-era public health policy cites concerns about spreading illness to allow for the rapid expulsion of migrants at the border — preventing them from even a shot at asylum.
• There were millions of Title 42 expulsions from early in the COVID pandemic until President Biden ended the policy in 2023.

Other executive actions and plans that Miller outlined included:

• More aggressively using a part of the Immigration and Nationality Act — 287(g) — which allows some state and local law enforcement to assist in some of the duties of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
• Building the border wall, constructing soft-sided facilities to hold migrants and implementing other asylum restrictions.