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Equality

McDonald’s Investors Demand Civil Rights Audit in Close Vote

  • Nonbinding measure calls for analysis of company, franchises
  • Shareholders reject Carl Icahn’s animal-rights challenge
A customer receives an order from an employee at the drive-thru of a McDonald's restaurant in San Pablo, California.

A customer receives an order from an employee at the drive-thru of a McDonald's restaurant in San Pablo, California.

Photographer: David Paul Morris/Bloomberg

Updated on

McDonald’s Corp. investors voted in favor of a proposal calling for an independent civil-rights audit, going against the company’s recommendation, according to preliminary vote totals viewed by Bloomberg.

The fast-food chain joins the ranks of other large businesses facing a wave of shareholder scrutiny regarding their environmental, social and governance stances. The civil rights audit was the only shareholder proposal to gain the backing of a majority of votes cast at McDonald’s annual meeting. Other votes that failed included a request for a report on lobbying activities and spending.