McDonald’s has unveiled an initiative to foster safe and inclusive workplace it calls Global Brand Standards.

The policy will focus on four main areas: harassment, discrimination and retaliation prevention; workplace violence prevention; restaurant employee feedback; and health and safety. The company says the standards have been set to further ensure physical and psychological safety for its employees and customers. 

“There are no shortcuts to ensuring that people feel safe, respected and included at a McDonald’s restaurant,” said Chris Kempczinski, president and CEO of McDonald’s. “Our new Global Brand Standards reinforce our commitment to living our values such that at every interaction, everyone is welcome, comfortable and safe.”

These standards will be implemented across 39,000 McDonald’s restaurants in more than 100 countries. From January, restaurants will be assessed and held accountable in accordance with the applicable McDonald’s market’s business evaluation processes. Training and reporting mechanisms will be established.

McDonald’s said it will work closely with independent and third-party experts to support the implementation of the standards for franchisees.  

“McDonald’s has a responsibility and an opportunity to use our tremendous scale to drive change globally,” said Reto Egger, speaker group chair of the European Franchisee Leadership Group (EFLG) and franchise owner. 

“These refreshed standards and heightened measures of accountability are central to our culture, our business goals and the need in our society to foster more respect, safety and inclusion.”