Overview of the Lawsuit

Bailey’s lawsuit claims that Starbucks is in violation of the Missouri Human Rights Act, citing the company’s programs aimed at promoting employment among “BIPOC” employees, which stands for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color. The suit highlights Starbucks’ goal to achieve a minimum of 30 percent representation of BIPOC employees across all corporate levels and at least 40 percent in retail and manufacturing positions by the year 2025.

The draft of the lawsuit, reviewed by Fox News Digital, states, “With Starbucks’ discriminatory patterns, practices, and policies, Missouri’s consumers are required to pay higher prices and wait longer for goods and services that could be provided for less had Starbucks employed the most qualified workers, regardless of their race, color, sex, or national origin.” This assertion underlines the claim that such hiring practices could negatively impact service and cost for consumers.

Attorney General’s Statement

In a statement regarding the lawsuit, AG Bailey emphasized his moral and legal responsibilities to protect Missourians from discriminatory practices. “As Attorney General, I have a moral and legal obligation to protect Missourians from a company that actively engages in systemic race and sex discrimination,” Bailey stated. “Racism has no place in Missouri. We’re filing suit to halt this blatant violation of the Missouri Human Rights Act in its tracks.”

Legal Precedent Cited

Bailey’s lawsuit references a recent Supreme Court ruling, which found that federal law prohibits discrimination based on race in college admissions. Bailey argues that this ruling should extend to employment practices, contending that Starbucks’ approach reflects illegal hiring policies linked to race and gender quotas.

The lawsuit claims that by intentionally applying racial and gender-based criteria to its hiring practices, Starbucks has not only acted unethically but has also “blatantly violated the law.” It further asserts that the company discriminates based on race and gender even at the level of board membership, putting forth a comprehensive challenge against Starbucks’ internal policies.

Starbucks’ Response

As of the time of writing, Starbucks has not issued a public response to the lawsuit. The company was contacted by Fox News Digital for comment but did not provide any immediate statement or clarification regarding the claims made against it.

Recent Company Developments

This legal action comes on the heels of announcements from Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol regarding anticipated layoffs within the company. In a message to employees, Niccol outlined the firm’s initiatives aimed at improving in-store experiences and operational efficiency, indicating that these changes would lead to job eliminations as part of a restructuring effort.

Niccol’s message indicated the seriousness of the situation: “We have recently begun the work to define the support organization for the future. We are approaching this work thoughtfully, but it will involve difficult decisions and choices. I expect that, unfortunately, we will have job eliminations and smaller support teams moving forward.” This admission points to the challenging economic environment facing Starbucks and its ongoing strategy to adapt to changing market dynamics.