The mega-coffee chain paid some supervisors in California with tip money. One barista cried foul, and then thousands more joined in.
Ah! The sweet smell of success, just like a Double Ristretto Venti Nonfat Organic Chocolate Brownie Frappuccino Extra Hot with Foam and Whipped Cream Upside Down Double Blended (yes, that’s a real Starbucks drink).
That’s what as many as 100,000 former Starbucks baristas in California are smelling after a court ruling on a lawsuit regarding back tips.
A judge has ordered the coffee mammoth to pay its Golden State drink servers $106 million in back tips and interest that the chain had paid instead to supervisors.
The judge also issued an injunction that prevents Starbucks’ shift supervisors from sharing in future tips, saying state law prohibits managers and supervisors from sharing employee gratuities.
A La Jolla barista first filed suit over the tips. It then grew into a class action lawsuit.
The company says it is considering an appeal.
Not only that, but the company took issue with the brevity of the judge’s decision, which was only four paragraphs.
Apparently, you can read the opinion faster than you can say: decaf triple shot grande sugar free vanilla 2% milk extra white mocha extra hot no whip no foam extra drizzle (chocolate) Marble Mocha Macchiato.
