Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier launched legal action against coffee giant Starbucks on Wednesday. The civil rights lawsuit, filed in Florida’s Tenth Judicial Circuit, accuses the company of engaging in employment practices that discriminate based on race. The 21-page complaint alleges that for the past five years, Starbucks has employed race-based quotas and policies that have disadvantaged nonminority employees in various aspects, including hiring, compensation, and promotional opportunities.
The complaint specifically points to executive compensation linked to race-specific mentorship programs, as well as inequitable networking and retention opportunities, and promotion accessibility for individuals outside of certain racial groups. The lawsuit references Starbucks' diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs, contending that these initiatives crossed legal lines by becoming a mandatory system for hiring and promotions based on racial targets, as stated by Uthmeier in a video message.
The legal action seeks a permanent injunction to halt Starbucks from continuing its race-based hiring, payment, and promotion policies, in addition to pursuing damages of $10,000 per civil rights violation, with the total possibly amounting to tens of millions of dollars. The case cites the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission's guidance, which prohibits disparities based on race in various employment conditions.
Starbucks has responded to the allegations by firmly denying any wrongdoing. A company spokesperson, as reported by NBC Miami, asserted that Starbucks' hiring practices are inclusive, fair, and competitive, ensuring the strongest candidate is chosen for each job.
This lawsuit is not the first legal challenge faced by Starbucks regarding this matter. A previous case filed by Uthmeier in November was dismissed due to the absence of identified individual claimants. The new filing reiterates the prior allegations, emphasizing the supposed disadvantage nonminority employees have faced in professional development for five years.
The case has broader implications, as it contributes to the national debate over corporate DEI programs. It raises important questions about the balance between promoting workplace diversity and complying with nondiscrimination laws. As several recent lawsuits in the U.S. have challenged similar policies, the outcome of this case involving Florida's Starbucks employees could influence how corporations across the country structure their DEI initiatives to align with civil rights legislation.
The lawsuit against Starbucks underscores a growing scrutiny of how companies implement formal metrics and programs intended to foster diversity, equity, and inclusion, and whether these efforts inadvertently contravene anti-discrimination statutes.
