- Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey filed a lawsuit against Starbucks, alleging the company discriminates based on race and gender. He argues these practices violate federal and state laws.
- The lawsuit references the 2023 Supreme Court ruling on race and college admissions.
- Bailey’s complaint targets Starbucks’ diversity programs, claiming they create segregation by excluding white men from certain opportunities.
Full Story
Missouri’s top prosecutor has filed a lawsuit against Starbucks, accusing the coffee giant of discriminatory practices based on race and gender within its workforce. Attorney General Andrew Bailey claims the company’s policies violate both federal and state laws.
Media Landscape
See who else is reporting on this story and which side of the political spectrum they lean. To read other sources, click on the plus signs below. Learn more about this data
Left 35%
Center 48%
Right 17%
Bias Distribution Powered by Ground News™
Allegations of discrimination in pay and promotions
Bailey filed the lawsuit Tuesday, Feb. 11, accusing Starbucks of using race and gender as criteria in both pay and promotions and in its leadership selection. The complaint argues these practices are discriminatory and unlawful under both federal and state law.
In response to the lawsuit’s claims, a Starbucks spokesperson said, “We are deeply committed to creating opportunity for every single one of our partners (employees).”
Point phone camera here
Reference to 2023 Supreme Court ruling
Bailey’s legal argument references the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2023 ruling, which declared individuals must be treated equally when applying to college, regardless of race. Bailey contends the same principle should apply to employers, arguing race should not be a factor in hiring or promotions.
Court documents also reference the Civil Rights Act of 1964, stating, “Congress outlawed all racial discrimination, recognizing that no discrimination based on race is benign, that no action disadvantaging a person because of his color is affirmative.”
Starbucks’ DEI programs
The lawsuit also examines Starbucks’ diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives launched in 2020. The company set goals to diversify its staff by reaching marginalized communities and investing in talent development through training and programs. Bailey argues these initiatives have caused segregation within the company, as white men are excluded from certain opportunities.
Starbucks data reveals nearly 48% of its workforce is white, with less than 5% Asian, 32% Hispanic, and 8% Black. Regarding gender, women make up nearly 71% of the workforce, while men represent just over 28%.
Get up to speed on the stories leading the day every weekday morning. Sign up for the newsletter today!
By entering your email, you agree to the Terms & Conditions and acknowledge the Privacy Policy.
Litigation against IBM
Bailey filed a similar complaint against IBM in 2024, accusing the tech company of violating laws by imposing hiring quotas based on race. That litigation is ongoing, according to Bailey’s office.
Bailey’s lawsuit against Starbucks includes multiple demands, including financial compensation, an acknowledgment from the company that its diversity programs are discriminatory, and a revision of its policies.
Tags: DEI, Discrimination, Diversity and inclusion programs, Lawsuit, Missouri, Racism, SCOTUS, Starbucks, Supreme Court
[Lauren Taylor]
MISSOURI’S TOP PROSECUTOR IS SUING COFFEE GIANT STARBUCKS OVER WHAT HE CALLS DISCRIMINATION BASED ON THE RACE AND GENDER OF ITS WORKFORCE.
ATTORNEY GENERAL ANDREW BAILEY FILED A LAWSUIT ON TUESDAY CLAIMING THE POPULAR COFFEE SPOT BROKE FEDERAL AND STATE LAWS WITH ITS PRACTICES.
THE COMPLAINT SAYS STARBUCKS PAYS PEOPLE BASED ON THEIR RACE AND GENDER–THE SAME CRITERIA IT USES TO PROMOTE WITHIN THE COMPANY AND DETERMINE ITS LEADERS.
IN A STATEMENT A SPOKESPERSON FOR THE SEATTLE BASED COMPANY SAYS, “We are deeply committed to creating opportunity for every single one of our partners.”
BAILEY CITES THE 2023 SUPREME COURT RULING, WHERE JUSTICES SAID INDIVIDUALS MUST BE TREATED EQUALLY REGARDLESS OF RACE IN COLLEGE ADMISSIONS. HE ARGUES THAT THIS SHOULD ALSO APPLY TO EMPLOYERS, REMOVING RACE AS A CONSIDERATION.
COURT DOCUMENTS ALSO BRING UP THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1964, SAYING “Congress outlawed all racial discrimination, recognizing that no discrimination based on race is benign, that no action disadvantaging a person because of his color is affirmative.”
THE LAWSUIT GOES INTO STARBUCKS’ DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION PROGRAMS AIMED TO DIVERSIFY ITS STAFF BOTH BEHIND THE COUNTER AND IN THE OFFICE.
THE COMPANY BEGAN SETTING GOALS IN 2020 TO REACH MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES AND INVEST IN THEIR TALENT THROUGH TRAINING AND PROGRAMS.
BAILEY SAYS ITS AN UNLAWFUL PRACTICE, CAUSING SEGREGATION ACROSS THE COMPANY BECAUSE WHITE MEN ARE NOT ALLOWED TO PARTICIPATE.
ACCORDING TO STARBUCKS, NEARLY 48 PERCENT OF THEIR EMPLOYEES ARE WHITE LESS THAN 5 ARE ASIAN, 32 PERCENT ARE HISPANIC AND 8 ARE BLACK.
BY GENDER, THE MAJORITY OF THE WORKFORCE ARE WOMEN AT 70 POINT NINE PERCENT AND MEN MAKE UP A LITTLE OVER 28 PERCENT.
BAILEY FILED A SIMILAR COMPLAINT AGAINST TECH COMPANY IBM IN 2024, SAYING THEY VIOLATED LAW BY PUTTING FORWARD HIRING QUOTAS BASED ON RACE. ACCORDING TO HIS OFFICE, THE LITIGATION IS ONGOING.
THE LAWSUIT HAS MULTIPLE DEMANDS, INCLUDING COMPENSATION, ACKNOWLEDGEMENT FROM STARBUCKS THAT THEIR PROGRAMS DISCRIMINATORY AND A CHANGE IN THEIR POLICIES.
FOR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS, I’M LAUREN TAYLOR
Media Landscape
See who else is reporting on this story and which side of the political spectrum they lean. To read other sources, click on the plus signs below. Learn more about this data
Left 35%
Center 48%
Right 17%
Bias Distribution
27 other sources covering this story
Total News Sources
27
Leaning Left
8
Center
11
Leaning Right
4
Last Updated
1 week ago
Bias Distribution Powered by Ground News™
Straight to your inbox.
By entering your email, you agree to the Terms & Conditions and acknowledge the Privacy Policy.
