A Latte Trouble: Missouri Attorney General Sues Starbucks Over Hiring Practices
When ordering in a Starbucks, common concerns facing customers include whether a venti is going to be enough coffee or if today is the kind of day that's going to require a trenta to get through it. Which barista fills the order probably doesn't matter to most.
But the state of Missouri is alleging that Starbucks' barista hiring practices are hurting the state. In what looks like the first private sector test of the Trump administration's war against DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) and DEIA (diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility) programs, Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey filed a lawsuit against Starbucks in federal district court on Feb. 11, 2025.
The suit claims Starbucks is guilty of unfair hiring practices and programs that discriminate based on sex and race. Does Missouri's case hold water, or is it just full of (coffee) beans?
Understanding DEI/DEIA
DEI and DEIA have become catch-all terms for different types of diversity efforts designed to provide an organizational framework for full participation and fair treatment for workers. It focuses on giving opportunities to groups that have historically been subject to discrimination based on disability or identity.
Companies that add DEI initiatives are attempting to bring diversification to their workforce, especially at the C-suite level, which has been traditionally dominated by white males. Some programs addressed the issue by providing paths for advancement for traditionally underrepresented people.
More than half of the people polled in a November 2024 Pew Research Center study felt that DEI practices at work were a good thing. 21% felt they were negative.
Ending DEI
One of the many executive orders fired off by President Donald Trump during the early days of his second administration declared all DEI, DEIA, and "environmental justice" programs at the federal level illegal and to be immediately terminated. This included firing federal workers with any kind of attachment to DEI programs or policies.
But what about the private sector? The Trump administration has said that private companies may face civil or even criminal investigations for their DEI policies.
Steamed Over Starbuck's DEI Directive
The Missouri Attorney General isn't waiting for federal action. His complaint charges that Starbucks is guilty of violating state and federal laws against racial discrimination.
The lawsuit cites Starbuck's relationships with organizations that promote the development of BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) talent as illegal, along with releasing data that highlights their DEI accomplishments. It also claims Starbucks's goal of increasing the presence of BIPOC employees in management is a violation under federal law.
The 59-page filing asserts that Starbucks violates federal law by basing hiring decisions on protected classes. Namely, race, ethnicity, gender, and sexual orientation. It alleges that because of DEI hiring practices, customers are subjected to flawed service from inferior workers. It does not supply any data to support this theory in the complaint.
Basing hiring decisions on race does violate federal law, regardless of the race of the applicant being discriminated against. However, committing to a diverse workforce, pledging to interview minority candidates, or creating mentorship programs for historically underrepresented groups has not previously been viewed as a violation of federal law.
Will More Lawsuits Follow?
While companies such as Google and McDonalds have rolled back DEI directives in the face of pressure, Starbucks announced its disagreement with the attorney general's allegations and plans to stand its ground(s).
How the case resolves could indicate whether other private employers will be at risk of civil or criminal investigations moving forward.
Related Resources
- The Hiring Process (FindLaw's Employment Law and Human Resources)
- Are DEI Positions and Policies at Law Firms on Risky Legal Ground? (FindLaw's Practice of Law)
- What Are Executive Orders? What Are Their Limits? (FindLaw's Law and Daily Life)
