Updated to correct Mcdonald’s spelling
McDonald’s and Coca-Cola have announced plans to increase the diversity of their staff, but reports on social media about their alleged plans to stop hiring white people for top positions are unfounded. Spokesmen for both companies told Reuters this allegation was false.
“McDonald’s and Coke have both announced that no whites will be appointed to top positions,” the Facebook reports read. Examples can be seen here, here and here.
Reuters found no evidence to substantiate this allegation. Such announcements would be widely reported by the media.
Asked about the allegation, McDonald’s Corp. confirmed by email to Reuters that it was false.
On February 18, 2021, the fast food chain announced new initiatives to increase the diversity in the company, including linking bonuses to the new goals. However, the statement makes no mention of the appointment of white people to leadership positions (here).
The company has announced its goal of increasing the share of historically underrepresented groups in senior leadership roles in the United States from its current 29% to 35% in the next five years (here). It is also said that they plan to increase the percentage of women in leadership roles worldwide from 37% to 45% by 2025.
Scott Leith, a Coca-Cola spokesman, told Reuters in an email that the claim “was fabricated and was not accurate.”
According to its website by 2030, the company wants to align its employee population “at all job levels” with U.S. census and ethnic data (13% Black in 2010).
On December 31, 2020 in the US, Coca-Cola reported that 19% of its employees and hourly employees and 8% of its senior leaders were black.
VERDICT
Untrue. McDonald’s and Coca-Cola will not stop appointing white people in the top positions as part of diversity improvements, and has not made any announcements about it.
This article was produced by the Reuters Fact Check team. Read more about our work here to check out social media posts.