Starbucks Set to Reap Consequences of Labor Disregard, Paying $38.9 Million to NYC Workers
In a significant victory for the city's workers' rights, New York City officials have announced that Starbucks will pay a staggering $35.5 million and $3.4 million in fines to settle allegations of violating the Fair Workweek Law. The settlement affects over 15,000 workers across more than 300 locations, marking the largest worker protection settlement in city history.
The violations, which span back to 2021, were found to be widespread, with DCWP officials ruling that Starbucks had committed over 500,000 infractions. Workers were allegedly denied stable and predictable schedules, making it difficult for them to pick up extra shifts or plan their lives around their work schedules. This practice left many baristas involuntarily classified as part-time employees, a decision that significantly impacted their working conditions.
As per the settlement, most affected workers will receive $50 for each week worked from July 2021 through July 2024. Furthermore, the agreement allows workers who experienced violations after this date to file a complaint and potentially receive compensation. Moreover, it grants city workers who were laid off due to store closures the right to be reinstated at other open locations.
The timing of the settlement is also notable, as hours before its announcement, Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani and U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders joined a Starbucks strike in Brooklyn. The union has been waging a "Red Cup Rebellion" against the coffee giant, highlighting issues such as lack of transparency, low wages, and unfair working conditions.
The Fair Workweek Law, enacted to address these concerns, requires NYC fast food employers to provide workers with regular schedules 14 days in advance, premium pay for schedule changes, and the opportunity to decline extra shifts. Employers are also restricted from scheduling "clopening" shifts without explicit consent and a $100 premium.
With this settlement, Starbucks will face severe repercussions for its labor practices. The company must now confront the consequences of disregarding workers' rights and take concrete steps to ensure compliance with city regulations going forward.
In a significant victory for the city's workers' rights, New York City officials have announced that Starbucks will pay a staggering $35.5 million and $3.4 million in fines to settle allegations of violating the Fair Workweek Law. The settlement affects over 15,000 workers across more than 300 locations, marking the largest worker protection settlement in city history.
The violations, which span back to 2021, were found to be widespread, with DCWP officials ruling that Starbucks had committed over 500,000 infractions. Workers were allegedly denied stable and predictable schedules, making it difficult for them to pick up extra shifts or plan their lives around their work schedules. This practice left many baristas involuntarily classified as part-time employees, a decision that significantly impacted their working conditions.
As per the settlement, most affected workers will receive $50 for each week worked from July 2021 through July 2024. Furthermore, the agreement allows workers who experienced violations after this date to file a complaint and potentially receive compensation. Moreover, it grants city workers who were laid off due to store closures the right to be reinstated at other open locations.
The timing of the settlement is also notable, as hours before its announcement, Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani and U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders joined a Starbucks strike in Brooklyn. The union has been waging a "Red Cup Rebellion" against the coffee giant, highlighting issues such as lack of transparency, low wages, and unfair working conditions.
The Fair Workweek Law, enacted to address these concerns, requires NYC fast food employers to provide workers with regular schedules 14 days in advance, premium pay for schedule changes, and the opportunity to decline extra shifts. Employers are also restricted from scheduling "clopening" shifts without explicit consent and a $100 premium.
With this settlement, Starbucks will face severe repercussions for its labor practices. The company must now confront the consequences of disregarding workers' rights and take concrete steps to ensure compliance with city regulations going forward.
with companies not respecting their employees. It's totally unfair that baristas were treated like part-time employees when they worked full-time hours. 
This $38.9 million fine is a big deal and I'm glad the city is standing up for its workers 
. It's about time Starbucks takes responsibility for its actions and starts prioritizing employee well-being over profits. 
like seriously 38.9 million is a lot of $$$ for one company to have to pay back to their workers it's crazy that they were denying ppl stable schedules & making them part-time employees without even offering them benefits 
like what kind of coffee shop do you run where u can just disregard your workers' rights lol anyway i'm kinda curious if this is gonna lead to more companies being held accountable for their labor practices 
and btw i wonder how many baristas are actually getting that $50 each week from July 2021 to July 2024 
over their shady labor practices! $38.9 million in fines and settlements? That's like, a small fortune 
for those workers who were robbed of their stability and predictability 
. I'm all about fairness and transparency in the workplace, so kudos to NYC officials for taking a stand 
. It's about time corporate giants like Starbucks face consequences for putting profits over people 
!
Like, who knew that denying workers stable schedules would be the real buzzkill? But seriously, $38.9 million is like, a lot of coffee beans... just kidding, it's more like worker rights! 
. It's crazy that they had to pay out $38.9 million to NYC workers, and it's amazing that those 15k+ baristas will receive some compensation for the stress and uncertainty they faced. This settlement should be a wake-up call for all companies to prioritize worker well-being and transparency 
. And can you believe the timing of this announcement? The union's "Red Cup Rebellion" is just the push Starbucks needed to step up their game 
. Now, let's hope they actually make some changes and treat their workers with respect 
and not getting stable schedules 
Starbucks gotta step up their game now 
and prioritize worker rights 
no more clopening shifts or unfair pay 
You can't just sweep issues under the rug or ignore worker rights. The Fair Workweek Law is a great step forward, but we need more of these kinds of laws in place to protect workers across the country 
. Maybe this will be a wake-up call for other big corporations to take notice of their labor practices 
.
. i remember when baristas used to be able to pick up shifts at will, it was pretty cool 
. but now it's all about stable schedules and predictable pay, which is just common sense 
.
I'm loving how the powers that be are finally taking a stand against these massive corporations 
. It's about time they're held accountable for exploiting their employees 
. This settlement should serve as a warning to other companies that think they can get away with treating their staff poorly 
.
. So, here's to the workers who have been fighting for their rights – may this settlement be the start of a new era of fairness and equality in the workplace 
. Those baristas were being treated unfairly and now they're getting the recognition they deserve 
. Kudos to Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani and U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders for standing with the workers 
. This is all about unity and taking care of each other 
. Starbucks, take note: you can't just ignore your employees' needs anymore 
starbucks gotta pay out like 38 million bucks to their nyc employees who were treated super unfairly 
️ i mean, 500k infractions is wild! they should've been more considerate of their baristas and paid 'em more reasonably 
. I mean, who wouldn't want a $50 weekly stipend just for showing up on time? 
️. Can't wait to see how this plays out 
Ugh I'm so tired of these big corporations thinking they can just do whatever they want and get away with it. Like seriously, $38.9 million is a small price to pay for exploiting over 15,000 workers like that. And the fact that most affected workers only get $50 per week worked from 2021-2024? It's not even enough to cover their expenses, let alone compensate them for the stress and inconvenience caused by these dodgy schedules.
. It's just not fair to the workers who deserve better wages & working conditions 
500k infractions is wild, imagine being a barista and not knowing when your next shift is