Discontent Starbucks workers in 3 states are pursuing changes in dress code
Starbucks workers in three states brought legal action against the coffee giant on Wednesday, saying that he had violated the law when she changed her dress code but refused to reimburse the employees who had to buy new clothes.
The employees, who are supported by the union organizing the workers of the Starbucks, brought together collective appeals before the State Court of Illinois and Colorado. Workers have also made complaints to California Labour and WorkForce Development Agency. If the agency decides not to ask for sanctions against Starbucks, workers intend to bring a collective appeal in California, according to complaints.
Starbucks did not comment directly on Wednesday, but the company said it has simplified its dress code to provide customer experience and give clearer advice to its employees.
“As part of this change, and to ensure that the partners were prepared, the partners received two shirts at no cost,” the company said on Wednesday. Starbucks refers to its employees as “partners”.
The new Starbucks dress code entered into force on May 12. It forces all workers in North America to wear a solid black shirt with short or long sleeves under their green aprons. The shirts may or may not have necklaces, but they must cover the belly and the armpits.
Employees must carry khaki, black or blue funds without failed patterns or hems or solid black dresses which are not more than 4 inches above the knee. The dress code also requires workers to wear black, gray, dark blue, brown, bronzed or white shoes made from a waterproof material. Socks and good humor must be “moderate”, said society.
The dress code prohibits employees from having face tattoos or more of a facial drilling. Language piercings and “theatrical makeup” are also prohibited.
Starbucks said in April that the new clothing code would stand out from the workers’ green aprons and create a feeling of familiarity for customers. This comes when the company tries to restore a warmer and more welcoming experience in its stores.
Before the new dress code has entered into force, Starbucks had a relatively lax policy. In 2016, he began to allow employees to wear patterned shirts in a greater variety of colors to give them more possibilities of self -expression.
The old dress code was also loose, according to the Colorado trial. But as part of the new clothing code, employees who do not comply are not allowed to start their quarters of work.
Brooke Allen, a full -time student who also works in a Starbucks in Davis, California, said that a manager told her that the fangs she wore did not meet new standards and that she should wear different shoes if she wanted to work the next day. Allen had to go to three stores to find a compliant pair that cost him $ 60.09.
Allen spent an additional $ 86.95 on work clothes, including black shirts and jeans.
“I think it is extremely deaf on the part of the company to expect their employees to completely rethink their wardrobe without any compensation,” said Allen. “Many of us already live the pay check at the pay check.”
Allen said she was missing the old dress code, which allowed her to express himself with colorful shirts and three facial piercings.
“It looks sad now that everyone is wearing black,” she said.
The proceedings and complaints filed on Wednesday allege that the Starbucks dress code violates the laws of the states which oblige companies to reimburse the workers of expenses which mainly benefit the employer. The Colorado law also prohibits employers from imposing spending on workers without their written consent, according to this trial. The complainants ask for damages on behalf of all Starbucks workers in these states, whether their stores are unionized or not.
Several complainants, such as Allen, declared that they had asked for the reimbursement of Starbucks to comply with the dress code but that they had been refused. Gilbert Cruz, an employee in Aurora, Illinois, asked for $ 10 for the cost of eliminating a nose drill.
The legal proceedings led by workers in state courts are a change in tactics in the multi -year effort to unionize Starbucks stores.
Starbucks Workers United, the Labor Group, which syndicated 640 of the 10,000 American stores belonging to Starbucks, has deposited hundreds of accusations of unfair work against Starbucks to National Labor Relations Board. The union filed an accusation on the dress code in April, but it is not a part in current prosecution.
But the ability of the board to hear cases has been reduced under President Donald Trump. Trump dismissed a member of the NLRB in the spring, leaving the board of directors without the quorum he needs to decide on cases.
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