Starbucks employees have filed a lawsuit against the coffee chain over its ‘tone deaf’ dress code.
Staff in US branches have been forced to pay nearly $150 for clothes – or be turned away from their shifts.
This has led to workers in Colorado and Illinois branches to file a class-action lawsuit.
Brooke Allen, a full-time student who works at a Starbucks branch in Davis, California, wore Crocs in July, but was told by her manager to change her shoes else face forfeiting her shift the following day.
She visited three different shops to find shoes compliant with the rules and ended up spending $60 on one pair.
She spent an additional $86.95 to update her wardrobe to black shirts and jeans.
‘Brooke said: ‘I think it’s extremely tone deaf on the company’s part to expect their employees to completely redesign their wardrobe without any compensation.
‘A lot of us are already living paycheck to paycheck.’
The new dress code came into force on May 12 and requires all staff to wear short or long-sleeved plain black shirts, according to its guidelines found online.
(Picture: Shutterstock)
Modesty must be maintained as the shirt should cover the shoulders, midriff and armpits, which means crop tops, distressed T-shirts, and gym tank tops are all out.
Workers can wear black or tan khakis, black or blue jeans, provided they are not frayed or ripped, and solid black dresses and skirts are permitted as long as it is no more than four inches above the knee.
Shoes or boots should be flat but can be black, grey, navy blue, brown, tan or white and must be waterproof resistant.
Socks should be neutral with ‘subdued patterns’ to avoid cause a distraction, the company said.
Before the new rules, Starbucks’ dress code was considered more relaxed, allowing staff to express their identity.
In 2016, colourful patterned shirts were allowed to provide more opportunities for self-expression.
The lawsuits against Starbucks allege the dress code violates state laws that require companies to reimburse employee expenses.
A group known as Starbucks Workers United has filed hundreds of unfair practice charges against Starbucks and in April filed a charge over the dress code.
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