McDonald’s has hired a new diversity chief amid allegations of racism and harassment throughout the company.
Reginald Miller, the previous chief diversity officer at VF Corp. — which owns brands like The North Face and Vans — will replace Wendy Lewis when he starts his role as Mickey D’s global chief diversity equity and inclusion officer next Monday, the Associated Press reports.
Lewis retired in September, less than a year after former CEO Steve Easterbrook was fired in November 2019 after owning up to having sent explicit texts to an employee. David Fairhurst, the Golden Arches' former human resources chief, was also axed, replaced by Heidi Capozzi in March.
“Reggie and I share the same goal: that in order to move forward, we must move away from the notion that the responsibility of diversity lies with one person, one department or one group,” Capozzi wrote in a letter to employees.
The first job Miller ever held was at a McDonald’s when he was in high school. The incoming diversity officer, who is Black, previously led similar efforts at Walmart and served in the U.S. Army for eight years, beginning in 1997.
Miller’s appointment comes amid the many charges of sexual harassment and racism that have recently plagued the Big Mac maker.
Since 2016, more than 50 workers have taken to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission or state courts to file separate sexual harassment charges against the fast food giant.
Back in January, two Black McDonald’s executives sued the international chain, alleging that it had harsher grading standards for Black-owned stores and that its business plans were discriminatory against Black franchisees.
In August, the company said it hired an outside law firm to look into the human resources department amid employees allegations that Fairhurst ignored grievances about a club-like atmosphere.
Last week, brothers James and Darrell Byrd, who are Black and own four Tennessee McDonald’s, filed a massive lawsuit against the company, alleging racial discrimination. The brothers, who are seeking damages of $4 to $5 million per store, claim that McDonald’s steered them to less-profitable inner-city locations which require high security and insurance costs.
The lawsuit filed by the Byrds, who allege white franchisees have are afforded better opportunities, could total over $3 billion.
With News Wire Services