A MAN who worked for McDonald's for over 20 years claims the bullying he experienced from other members of staff drove him to nearly take his own life.

The employee says he was exposed to daily harassment, abuse and discrimination by a number of fellow workers at the fast food chain restaurant in Somerset.

We are not naming the worker, who suffered a nervous breakdown due to the way he was treated, or the precise venue for legal reasons.

But his story comes after an investigation by the BBC revealed claims of unacceptable behaviour towards McDonald's workers across the country.

The chief executive of McDonald's in the UK and Ireland has written to the Somerset victim expressing his sadness at what happened and adding there will be an investigation.

Among claims made by the Somerset worker, who was with the company for 23 years from the 1990s onwards, are:

  • staff drawing an insulting picture of him on a cardboard box and stabbing it with a stick;
  • removing fuses so he had to work in the dark when he arrived at 5am for the start of his shift;
  • smearing dog poo on a door handle they knew he would have to open on that shift;
  • insulted by a manager in a review meeting;
  • after pointing out that a batch of buns was out-of-date, he was told to put them in the freezer for future use.

"I worked there for 23 years doing a job I loved," said the man. "But the last five years was hell.

"A number of young people were taken on and it felt like they wanted the older people out.

"The manager was obnoxious to me on his own in the office and told me I wasn't good enough.

"It felt like constructive dismissal.

"I had a nervous breakdown because of the way they treated me and I wrote a suicide note and ended up in a mental health institution.

"I was going to top myself. It took its toll.

"I've not been the same ever since and I'm still all over the place."

The man says he is still not "right" years after leaving the company and has only survived through the loving support of his close knit family.

We contacted the restaurant where the worker was employed and were forwarded a comment from a spokesperson for McDonald's.

They said: "There is simply no place for harassment, abuse, or discrimination of any kind at McDonald’s – and we will investigate all allegations brought to us."

Meanwhile, Alistair Macrow, chief executive of McDonald's Restaurants in the UK and Ireland, contacted the worker to say: "I am saddened to learn about the experiences you describe - this does not reflect the experience I expect our people to have.

"It is of the highest importance to me that all of our people can work in a respectful environment that is safe and inclusive."

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