Missouri sues Starbucks over its diversity programs

A new lawsuit from Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey accuses Starbucks of using diversity programs to discriminate based on race and gender.

The fight over businesses’ diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs is heading to the courtroom. This week, a lawsuit was filed against coffee giant Starbucks over DEI practices which the suit claims break the law.

That lawsuit, filed by Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey, a republican, says the chain is allowing race discrimination. “Starbucks ties compensation to racial and sexbased quotas, discriminates on the basis of race and sex in training and advancement opportunities, and discriminates on the basis of race and sex with respect to its board membership,” the suit reads. “All of this is unlawful.”