Starbucks workers sue over company's new dress code

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP

By DEE-ANN DURBIN
Updated 7:02 PM CDT, September 17, 2025

Starbucks workers in three states took legal action against the coffee giant Wednesday, saying it violated the law when it changed its dress code but refused to reimburse employees who had to buy new clothes.

The employees, who are backed by the union organizing Starbucks’ workers, filed class-action lawsuits in state court in Illinois and Colorado. Workers also filed complaints with California’s Labor and Workforce Development Agency. If the agency decides not to seek penalties against Starbucks, the workers intend to file a class-action lawsuit in California, according to the complaints.

Starbucks didn’t comment directly on the lawsuits Wednesday, but the company said it simplified its dress code to deliver a more consistent experience to customers and give its employees clearer guidance.

“As part of this change, and to ensure out partners were prepared, partners received two shirts at no cost,” the company said Wednesday. Starbucks refers to its employees as “partners.”



Read more: https://apnews.com/article/starbucks-dress-code-lawsuits-union-9d1eff89242d00f65d459d8a393f409a

[twodogsbarking]

1. Raise the fucking minimum wage. Provide health care for everyone. Geez.

[yardwork]

2. Provide uniforms to workers.

Stop nickel and diming the people who work.

[Aristus]

3. Goddamn. The corporations sure are getting bold.

This is going to make the Gilded Age look like a socialist utopia.

[popsdenver]

4. Exactly...........

the Republican Oligarchs, Steven Miller, the 2025 CABAL, and Corporations are hell bent on returning us back to the Gilded Age with new Robber Barrons, and repealing every last regulation that FDR put in place to protect citizens from the Corporations........

The Republican and Trump CABAL are all kicking, scratching, biting and clawing to support Trump to try and make sure THEY make it into the
top 1% before the Republican's crash the lower 99%...............and cause a second depression that makes the first one look like nothing....

I find it amusing that the Republican Senators, Republican House members, and the republican U.S. Supreme Court Justices are all in lock step to make this happen and to install a Fascist Corporate Government.......Are they all so stupid as to not realize that in a Tyranny/Dictatorship, there aren't Judicial or Legislative Branches of government.......and that they will be kicked to the curb as soon as they have fulfilled their usefulness.....just like so many others in Trump's nefarious past...............

[FakeNoose]

5. This change isn't very dramatic, and it went into effect back in May

From the OP link:

Starbucks’ new dress code went into effect on May 12. It requires all workers in North America to wear a solid black shirt with short or long sleeves under their green aprons. Shirts may or may not have collars, but they must cover the midriff and armpits.

Employees must wear khaki, black or blue denim bottoms without patterns or frayed hems or solid black dresses that are not more than 4 inches above the knee. The dress code also requires workers to wear black, gray, dark blue, brown, tan or white shoes made from a waterproof material. Socks and hosiery must be “subdued,” the company said.

The dress code prohibits employees from having face tattoos or more than one facial piercing. Tongue piercings and “theatrical makeup” are also prohibited.

Seems pretty standard. I'm ok with this ... but I don't have any face tattoos or piercings.

[CozyMystery]

6. Not reimbursing employees for items they have to buy to comply with the dress code is the problem. nt

nt

[FakeNoose]

7. I'm retired now but I worked for almost 50 years in various American companies

I was never once "reimbursed" for any clothing that I wore to any of those jobs. For about 6 months I made deliveries for Pizza Hut, and I wore a Pizza Hut t-shirt that was supplied by the company. I think they gave me a hat too, but I can't remember now.

I don't see any big expense here for any Starbucks employees. Everyone has black t-shirts and dark colored jeans or dungarees.

[CozyMystery]

8. Well, when someone isn't making a living wage,

it can be difficult to come up with the money for clothing to meet uniform requirements.

A living wage isn't merely the hourly rate. It must also take into account how many hours the employee works. Too many places do not hire full-time workers, and the employees do not have health insurance or other benefits. Some places require employees to have a specific availability, which in turn can prevent them from acquiring a second part-time job.

I think that if a company requires a uniform, the company should be required to pay for that uniform. It is part of the cost of doing business. If a company has a dress code uniform instead of a formal uniform, that does not change my opinion.

[Omaha Steve]

9. Well said

[Swede]

10. I don't like their coffee. I support these workers.

nt