Starbucks employees across three states have initiated legal proceedings against the renowned coffee chain, asserting that the company has violated labor laws by changing its dress code without offering reimbursement for necessary clothing purchases. The employees, supported by the union that is actively organizing Starbucks workers, filed class-action lawsuits in state courts in Illinois and Colorado. Additionally, complaints have been lodged with California’s Labor and Workforce Development Agency. Should this agency decline to impose penalties on Starbucks, the workers are prepared to pursue a class-action lawsuit in California, as outlined in their complaints.
The updated dress code, which took effect on May 12, mandates that all employees in North America wear a solid black shirt with either short or long sleeves beneath their green aprons. The shirts can be collared or uncollared but must appropriately cover the midriff and armpits. Starbucks provided each employee with two complimentary T-shirts that meet these new standards. Furthermore, employees are required to wear khaki, black, or blue denim bottoms free of patterns or frayed hems, or solid black dresses that do not exceed four inches above the knee. The dress code also specifies that footwear must be black, gray, dark blue, brown, tan, or white shoes, constructed from waterproof materials, while socks and hosiery should be “subdued.”
The new dress code has not been well-received by many employees. For instance, Brooke Allen, a full-time student employed at a Starbucks in Davis, California, recounted a frustrating experience where she was informed by her manager that her Crocs did not meet the new standards. Consequently, she had to visit three different stores to find a compliant pair of shoes, ultimately spending $60.09. Allen has also incurred an additional $86.95 in expenses for work-appropriate clothing, including black shirts and jeans. She expressed her discontent, stating, “I think it’s extremely tone deaf on the company’s part to expect their employees to completely redesign their wardrobe without any compensation. A lot of us are already living paycheck to paycheck.”
Allen lamented the loss of the previous dress code, which allowed for more personal expression through colorful shirts and multiple facial piercings. “It looks sad now that everyone is wearing black,” she remarked.
The lawsuits and complaints filed on Wednesday allege that Starbucks' dress code contravenes state laws mandating that companies reimburse employees for expenses primarily benefiting the employer. In Colorado, there are also laws prohibiting employers from imposing costs on workers without their written consent, as highlighted in the lawsuit. The plaintiffs are seeking damages on behalf of all Starbucks employees in the affected states, regardless of their store's union status. Several plaintiffs, including Allen, have reported that reimbursements requested from Starbucks to comply with the dress code have been denied. Another employee, Gilbert Cruz, from Aurora, Illinois, sought $10 for the cost of removing a nose piercing.
The legal actions represent a strategic shift in the ongoing efforts to unionize Starbucks stores. Starbucks Workers United, the labor organization that has successfully unionized 640 of Starbucks’ 10,000 company-owned U.S. locations, has filed numerous unfair labor practice complaints against the company with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). The union had previously filed a charge concerning the dress code in April; however, the board's capacity to hear cases has been hindered under the previous administration. Notably, former President Donald Trump dismissed an NLRB member in the spring, leaving the board without the necessary quorum to address pending cases.
As the situation unfolds, it remains to be seen how Starbucks will respond to the legal challenges and whether the employees will achieve the compensation they seek for the expenses incurred due to the new dress code.
