{"id":1092,"date":"2025-09-18T14:10:59","date_gmt":"2025-09-18T14:10:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.agencywebdesigners.com\/?p=1092"},"modified":"2025-09-18T14:25:49","modified_gmt":"2025-09-18T14:25:49","slug":"starbucks-workers-in-colorado-sue-over-companys-new-dress-code","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.agencywebdesigners.com\/index.php\/2025\/09\/18\/starbucks-workers-in-colorado-sue-over-companys-new-dress-code\/","title":{"rendered":"Starbucks workers in Colorado sue over company\u2019s new dress code"},"content":{"rendered":"

Starbucks workers in Colorado and two other states took legal action against the coffee giant Wednesday, saying it violated the law when it changed its dress code<\/a> but refused to reimburse employees who had to buy new clothes.<\/p>\n

The employees, who are backed by the union organizing Starbucks\u2019 workers<\/a>, filed class-action lawsuits in state court in Illinois and Colorado. Workers also filed complaints with California\u2019s Labor and Workforce Development Agency. If the agency decides not to seek penalties against Starbucks, the workers intend to file a class-action lawsuit in California, according to the complaints.<\/p>\n

Starbucks didn\u2019t comment directly on the lawsuits Wednesday, but the company said it simplified its dress code to deliver a more consistent experience to customers and give its employees clearer guidance.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs part of this change, and to ensure our partners were prepared, partners received two shirts at no cost,\u201d the company said Wednesday. Starbucks refers to its employees as \u201cpartners.\u201d<\/p>\n

Starbucks\u2019 new dress code went into effect on May 12. It requires all workers in North America to wear a solid black shirt with short or long sleeves under their green aprons. Shirts may or may not have collars, but they must cover the midriff and armpits.<\/p>\n

Employees must wear khaki, black or blue denim bottoms without patterns or frayed hems or solid black dresses that are not more than 4 inches above the knee. The dress code also requires workers to wear black, gray, dark blue, brown, tan or white shoes made from a waterproof material. Socks and hosiery must be \u201csubdued,\u201d the company said.<\/p>\n

The dress code prohibits employees from having face tattoos or more than one facial piercing. Tongue piercings and \u201ctheatrical makeup\u201d are also prohibited.<\/p>\n

Starbucks said in April that the new dress code would make employees\u2019 green aprons stand out and create a sense of familiarity for customers. It comes as the company is trying to reestablish a warmer, more welcoming experience<\/a> in its stores.<\/p>\n

Before the new dress code went into effect, Starbucks had a relatively lax policy. In 2016, it began allowing employees to wear patterned shirts in a wider variety of colors to give them more opportunities for self-expression.<\/p>\n

The old dress code was also loosely enforced, according to the Colorado lawsuit. But under the new dress code, employees who don\u2019t comply aren\u2019t allowed to start their shifts.<\/p>\n

Brooke Allen, a full-time student who also works at a Starbucks in Davis, California, said she was told by a manager in July that the Crocs she was wearing didn\u2019t meet the new standards and she would have to wear different shoes if she wanted to work the following day. Allen had to go to three stores to find a compliant pair that cost her $60.09.<\/p>\n

Allen has spent an additional $86.95 on clothes for work, including black shirts and jeans.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think it\u2019s extremely tone deaf on the company\u2019s part to expect their employees to completely redesign their wardrobe without any compensation,\u201d Allen said. \u201cA lot of us are already living paycheck to paycheck.\u201d<\/p>\n

Allen said she misses the old dress code, which allowed her to express herself with colorful shirts and three facial piercings.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt looks sad now that everyone is wearing black,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n