Missouri AG sues Starbucks, says workforce is 'more female and less white' [View all]

[SunSeeker]

Missouri’s attorney general has sued Starbucks, accusing it of engaging in discrimination with its diversity, equity and inclusion policies and alleging that such initiatives have made the coffee giant’s workforce “more female and less white.”

The federal lawsuit filed Tuesday by Andrew Bailey, a Republican, accuses Starbucks of engaging in “systemic racial, sexual, and sexual orientation discrimination” through hiring quotas, advancement opportunities and board membership.

Such practices force Missouri consumers to “pay higher prices and wait longer for goods and services,” he argued, because making hiring decisions “on non-merit considerations will skew the hiring pool towards people who are less qualified to perform their work.” He did not provide evidence for how costs would increase for consumers.

In a statement to news outlets, the Seattle-based chain disputed the allegations as “inaccurate.” “Our programs and benefits are open to everyone and lawful,” it said. “Our hiring practices are inclusive, fair and competitive and designed to ensure the strongest candidate for every job every time.”

https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2025/02/13/starbucks-dei-diversity-missouri-hiring-andrew-bailey/