Fast-food giant McDonald's has launched an internal investigation over allegations that restaurants aren't following Covid safety guidance.
Whistleblowers claim rules are being ignored in kitchens across the UK, while others allege that employees are being asked to work "as if we're not in a pandemic".
The investigation was triggered by Sky News, after whistleblowers told the broadcaster members of staff are "scared to work" because their colleagues are ignoring Covid guidance – with no action being taken by the chain.
Others said Covid rules have repeatedly been broken during the third lockdown – with staff skipping temperature checks and others not following the two-metre social distancing rule.
One female staff member in Greater Manchester, told Sky: "I think the management are working as if we are not in a pandemic right now.
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"My temperature isn't checked at the start of every shift when it should be, in my store nobody really socially distances. People hug and there is no sort of discipline by the managers for these people that are just breaching the rules.
"In my store they (colleagues) hug because they think it's funny, but it really isn't. I'm scared to go to work because I live with two people who are clinically vulnerable."
Last month, McDonald's U-turned on plans to keep stores closed during the third lockdown, announcing drive-thrus would continue as well as a service for walk-in customers withe extra precautions place.
It said safety restrictions such as one-way signs would ensure social-distancing guidelines are met.
However, behind order stations, staff claim temperatures are now often not checked, social distancing screens aren't always used and that they can't wash their hands every 30 minutes.
That's despite the chain's boss Paul Pomroy promising extra measures to keep staff safe during the pandemic.
"We made significant changes to our restaurant operations and kitchens to enhance our health and safety procedures to help keep you our customers and our employees safe," Pomroy previously said.
A female team member who works at a restaurant in Liverpool said: "I've not had my temperature checked at work since July".
"You are supposed to get covered every half an hour to go and wash your hands but it's not happening.
"If I was to leave my station to go and wash my hands the manager would be like 'where is she - she's got orders on the screen' but you are literally going to do something you are supposed to do when Covid is spreading like wildfire - it's unsafe."
Melissa Evans, a customer experience leader at a McDonald's restaurant in Wandsworth in south London, added: "They are risking lives by not ensuring that their workers are safe".
She said: "My store is good and we still do all those things but it's a different picture around the country... it's not happening everywhere and a lot of workers are saying they feel unsafe and they are questioning whether we should stay open or not."
At a store in Rochester, Kent, one worker added: "I think they are very aware, they know no one is doing it.
"It gets very busy - we can't just walk away from our stations without being covered and if you can't walk away without being covered you can't go away and wash your hands. You can't go off to a sink - it's just making the environment to be extremely unsafe.
"There is just a lack of care, a lack of people giving thought to the rules and ignoring them frequently.
"I worry about my family getting COVID and you know it creates a lot of anxiety, it makes our lives very stressful - more stressful than they need to be. We are already in a very stressful time and I think it burns people out... it burns people out emotionally."
The McStrike workers' campaign group claims workers reported problems in eight different parts of the country in January alone.
In response, McDonald's said the revelations were "deeply concerning" and vowed to work with safety experts to ensure "robust safety measures are in place and being followed".
A McDonald's spokesperson said: "We continue to work hard with our franchisees and third party safety experts to ensure robust safety measures are in place and being followed, to help protect our people and customers.
"We have regularly reviewed and updated these procedures since the start of the pandemic. We are deeply concerned to hear this feedback, and while we are confident this relates to a very small number of the 130,000 people we employ across the UK & Ireland, we strongly believe that every one of our employees should feel safe within the workplace.
"We are investigating the issues raised as a matter of urgency, and strongly encourage any of our employees with concerns to raise these using the various channels we have in place."
