SBUX · News · 20260917N

Litigation and Legal Risk

STARBUCKS CORP · 2026-09-17 · Importance 40 · Surprise 42

Starbucks agreed to settle a lawsuit brought by the Florida Attorney General’s Office concerning alleged race- and sex-based preferences in hiring, promotion and pay decisions. The company will pay $1 million, submit annual compliance certifications for four years, and pledge not to adopt race- or sex-based quotas or preferences. Starbucks will not admit liability and must comply with Florida anti-discrimination law. Separately, a federal appeals court overturned most of an NLRB ruling but upheld a finding that Starbucks threatened to deny maternity-leave benefits to a pregnant employee.

Key facts

• A federal appeals court overturned most of an NLRB ruling that Starbucks illegally threatened workers over unionization. source
• The federal appeals court upheld a finding that Starbucks threatened to deny maternity leave benefits to a pregnant employee. source
• Under the Florida settlement Starbucks will submit annual compliance certifications for four years. source
• As part of the Florida settlement Starbucks pledged not to adopt race- or sex-based quotas or preferences in hiring, promotion and pay decisions. source
• In settling the Florida suit Starbucks committed to not violating state anti-discrimination law and did not admit liability, according to Bloomberg Law. source
• Starbucks agreed to pay $1 million to settle a discrimination lawsuit brought by the state of Florida. source