Starbucks Sued for Forcing Baristas to Pay for Dress Code Clothing

Case Overview: Workers allege Starbucks illegally required them to buy clothing for a stricter dress code without reimbursement.

Consumers Affected: Starbucks employees in California, Colorado, and other states with reimbursement laws.

Court: Complaints filed in state labor agencies and courts in California and Colorado.

The constantly embattled Starbucks is facing a new wave of legal trouble, this time regarding payment for the clothes it is making workers wear as part of a new dress code. 

Employees in three states say the coffee giant forced them to buy new clothes under a stricter uniform policy, but never paid them back. The lawsuits argue that Starbucks shifted business costs onto workers in violation of state labor laws, Associated Press reports.

Baristas Say New Dress Code Forced Costly Purchases

The legal challenges began after Starbucks rolled out a new dress code in May requiring baristas to wear solid black tops and khaki, black, or blue denim bottoms to highlight the company’s iconic green apron. 

Workers say that change meant ditching their old clothes and shelling out for new ones. One plaintiff reported spending nearly $87 on compliant shirts and jeans, only to have reimbursement requests denied. 

Another, a California barista balancing her job with school, says she had to buy new shoes for more than $60 after being told her Crocs didn’t meet standards. Other employees pointed to similar expenses, from clothing to body piercing removals, all paid out of pocket.

Lawsuit Claims Starbucks Shifted Business Costs to Workers

The lawsuits argue Starbucks broke state laws by failing to reimburse workers for costs that benefited the company, with additional claims in Colorado that employers can’t impose expenses without written consent. 

Complaints were also filed in California with plans to escalate to state court if regulators decline to act.

Workers also say the new dress code is more restrictive than past policies, banning certain piercings, tattoos, and even colorful clothing. Those changes have frustrated employees who previously enjoyed more freedom to express themselves behind the counter and say they have the right to do just that.

Coffee Giant Faces Mounting Legal and Labor Battles

The lawsuits come as Starbucks faces a growing list of legal battles and worker unrest. A California jury recently ordered the company to pay $50 million to a delivery driver severely burned by spilled hot beverages. 

Workers have also staged strikes across major cities, accusing Starbucks of stalling contract negotiations.

In addition, the company has been sued over lactose-intolerant customers being charged extra for non-dairy milk, a federal labor trafficking case tied to Brazilian coffee farms, and hundreds of unfair labor practice complaints related to its union fight. Together, the class action lawsuits show the fierce pressure the company is facing on multiple fronts.

Have you got a dress code at your work? Let us know how that is received by employees in the comments section below!