Missouri accused Starbucks of linking executive salaries to achieving the company’s racial and gender-based employment quota.
Missouri, US, sues Starbucks, accusing coffee chains of using their commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion as an excuse to systematically discriminate based on race, gender and sexual orientation I’m doing it.
In a complaint filed Tuesday in St. Louis federal court, Missouri accused Starbucks of linking executive wages to the company’s racial and gender-based employment quota.
It also criticized Starbucks for picking priority groups for additional training and employment prospects and adopting quota systems to ensure their own boards have a variety of racial and ethnic backgrounds. .
“This is all illegal,” violating federal and state civil rights laws, according to a complaint from Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey.
Republican Bailey also argued that Missouri consumers will pay longer to wait for services at Starbucks than if the Seattle-based chain hired the most qualified workers.
“We opposed the Attorney General and these allegations are inaccurate,” Starbucks said in a statement. “We are deeply committed to creating opportunities for all of our partners (employees). Our programs and benefits are open to everyone and legal.”
President Donald Trump, who is also a Republican, has sought to shut down policies promoting diversity, equity and inclusion within and outside the federal government, with some companies terminating or cutting their own programs.
For example, Wall Street Bank’s Goldman Sachs on Tuesday cancelled its policy to make a company public only if there were two diverse board members. They are generally defined as people with an undervalued demographic.
Meanwhile, Google scrapped its diversity-based employment target last week, but Amazon.com removed inclusion and diversity references from its annual report.
Diversity Policy
The lawsuit on Tuesday challenges Starbucks’ policy adopted since 2020 after Black Minneapolis police officer George Floyd sparked a national uproar and led many businesses to rethink their employment practices. I chanted it.
Missouri said it was “no surprise” about its support for Starbucks quota, leading the Chipotle Burrito chain, while also supporting new CEO Brian Nicole’s environmental, social and governance goals. I quoted it.
Starbucks employs approximately 211,000 people in the US and 361,000 people worldwide.
In August 2023, a federal judge in Spokane, Washington dismissed a shareholder lawsuit challenging Starbucks’ diversity policy. The case addressed public policy questions that were most decided by lawmakers and businesses rather than courts.
The Missouri lawsuit calls for Starbucks to end alleged discrimination based on race, gender and national origin. Rehires and withdraws discipline for employees affected by discrimination and pays unspecified damages.
The case was conducted by Missouri Eastern District Court, Eastern District of Missouri, No. This is 25-00165.