Missouri AG Accuses Starbucks of Violating Anti-Discrimination Laws

Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey (R) has filed a lawsuit against Starbucks, claiming the international coffee chain has violated federal and state anti-discrimination laws.

In a lawsuit formally filed Tuesday, Bailey claims the company engaged in race-and-sex-based hiring practices, unlawfully segregated employees and offered certain training and employment benefits exclusively to select groups.

He further alleges that initiatives designed to prioritize diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) ultimately amount to unlawful discrimination.

The filing, citing employment data from 2020 and 2024, asserted that Starbucks’ workforce has become “more female and less white” over time. Bailey contends that the coffee chain uses quotas to shape its workforce and board of directors, arguing that its policies disadvantage other employees.

According to a 2021 memo from Starbucks, also cited in the lawsuit, the company has set and tracked annual inclusion and diversity goals — aiming for at least 30 percent BIPOC representation at corporate levels and 40 percent at retail and manufacturing levels by 2025. BIPOC refers to employees who are Black, Indigenous, or people of color.

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Starbucks has also pledged to create mentorship programs for BIPOC employees and provide additional training and advancement opportunities for those groups, according to the memo. {snip}

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