Workforce

Which restaurant chains are tops for female employees?

Amid #MeToo era, the just-released Best Workplaces for Women ranking shows restaurants lag behind other industries.
Photograph: Shutterstock

Restaurant brands did not fare well on Fortune’s just-released 2018 Best Workplaces for Women ranking, which surveyed more than 4.5 million employees across the country.

No restaurant-only brand even cracked the list’s top 25, with MOD Pizza, the highest-rated chain, coming in at No. 27.

The fast-casual pizza company was followed by Arby’s at No. 28, The Cheesecake Factory at No. 43 and McDonald’s at No. 45 on the list.

A number of hospitality chains, including Hyatt Hotels Corp. (No. 6), Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants (No. 7), Hilton (No. 14) and Marriott International (No. 15) also made the list.  

To compile the ranking, the analytics and consulting firm Great Place to Work compiled employee responses across some 60 metrics, rewarding companies in which women are well-represented in the workforce and in leadership positions.

Topping the list is Ultimate Software, a Florida-based tech company, followed by Wegmans Food Markets Inc.

The restaurant industry, as well as many other sectors, is grappling with sexual assault and harassment claims against industry leaders. Last month, restaurateur Mike Isabella’s company filed for bankruptcy protection in the wake of a sexual harassment lawsuit against him. High-profile chef-owners John Besh, Ken Friedman and Mario Batali have left their operations following allegations of misconduct.

The James Beard Foundation Awards recently announced it would work to seek out a more diverse pool of candidates and winners. In September, McDonald’s was the target of a Fight for $15-led protest against alleged sexual harassment at the chain.

 

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