The Modern Women’s Foundation revealed that a 17-year-old McDonald’s employee committed suicide after allegedly being sexually assaulted by a supervisor in Taipei. Customers are beginning to boycott the fast food joint, citing dissatisfaction with how the situation is being handled.
McDonald’s reportedly launched an investigation regarding the complaint and fired the perpetrator based on their findings in accordance with the law. The victim’s family and members of the public are claiming that remedial measures should be more rigorous and demonstrate deeper empathy with the victims’ situations.
The Modern Women’s Foundation cites the Gender Equality in Employment Act that regulates employers’ responsibility to prevent and control sexual harassment, disciplinary regulations, training, and more following acts of sexual violence in the workplace. The foundation pointed out that the “immediate and effective corrective and remedial measures” as stipulated in Article 13 require employers to prevent victims from recurrent harassment, which may include interviewing or investigating relevant personnel, administering appropriate disciplinary actions, and referring the victim to counseling or other services. They maintain that merely firing perpetrators of sexual violence is not enough to eradicate sexual harassment in the workplace.
In the face of major sexual violence incidents, the Modern Women’s Foundation urgers public institutions to conduct comprehensive employee education and training, reiterate internal sexual harassment prevention measures and complaint channels, and ensure every supervisor and employee is aware of their rights. They emphasize the profound trauma that can be caused by sexual violence, and call on employers to enact a no-tolerance policy that works proactively to prevent it.
If you or someone you know is experiencing thoughts of suicide, please seek help immediately. Toll-free 24-hour support can be found at the Health Ministry’s Suicide Prevention Hotline by dialing 1925, and at the Taiwan International Lifeline by dialing 1995 (English and Mandarin Chinese services are available).