Starbucks employees file lawsuit against company’s updated dress policy

Starbucks workers from three states have taken legal action against the coffee company over its new dress code. They claim Starbucks violated the law by changing the dress code without reimbursing employees for the costs of purchasing new clothes. Backed by a union that organizes Starbucks workers, employees filed class-action lawsuits in Illinois and Colorado, along with complaints in California.

Starbucks had implemented a new dress code that came into effect on May 12, requiring all North American workers to wear a solid black shirt with their green aprons. Additionally, employees must adhere to specific guidelines for bottoms, shoes, and accessories. The company explained that the simplified dress code aimed to provide a more consistent experience for customers and give clearer guidance to employees.

Before the new dress code, Starbucks had a more relaxed policy, allowing employees to express themselves with patterned shirts in various colors. However, the new changes, outlined in the dress code, prohibited elements like facial tattoos, multiple facial piercings, tongue piercings, and theatrical makeup. This stricter enforcement has led to instances where employees were not allowed to start their shifts if they did not adhere to the new guidelines.

Brooke Allen, a full-time student and Starbucks employee, shared her experience of having to purchase new shoes and clothes to comply with the updated dress code. She expressed her frustration at the company’s expectation for employees to redesign their wardrobes without any compensation, especially considering many workers live paycheck to paycheck. Allen, along with other employees, felt restricted by the new dress code, missing the freedom of self-expression offered by the previous policy.

The lawsuits and complaints filed by Starbucks workers allege violations of state laws that require employers to reimburse workers for expenses that primarily benefit the company. In Colorado, the law prohibits employers from imposing expenses on workers without their written consent. The plaintiffs seek damages on behalf of all Starbucks workers in the states involved, whether or not their stores are unionized.

These legal actions reflect a shift in strategy by Starbucks workers striving to unionize the company’s stores. While a labor group has unionized hundreds of Starbucks stores, hundreds of unfair labor practice charges have been filed with the National Labor Relations Board, including a charge related to the dress code. However, restrictions on the board’s decision-making capacity under former President Trump’s administration have posed challenges to addressing these cases effectively.