Missouri Republican Attorney General Andrew Bailey filed a lawsuit against Starbucks this week arguing that the company’s diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) program violated discrimination laws and results in slower service, according to CNN.
The suit argues that Starbucks programs to increase diversity, such as employee resource groups and minority mentorship programs, are a “mere pretext for its actual commitment to unlawful discrimination”
Missouri also alleged that Starbucks makes hiring decisions based on race, instead of merit, which leads to “more mistakes” on the job and higher prices for consumers.
“Missouri’s consumers are required to pay higher prices and wait longer for goods and services that could be provided for less had Starbucks employed the most qualified workers,” regardless of their race, gender or national origin, the lawsuit said.
Starbucks denied the allegations in a statement saying their “programs and benefits are open to everyone and lawful.”
“Our hiring practices are inclusive, fair and competitive and designed to ensure the strongest candidate for every job every time,” the company said.
Jason Schwartz an attorney from Gibson Dunn told CNN that Missouri’s case is a “stretch” and “bites off more than it can chew.”
“It paints with a broad brush, arguing that virtually every diversity program is illegal even if open to all. This is not the law,” Schwartz said. “I don’t think a court will find employee resource groups that are open to all are illegal.”
Though legal experts are skeptical of Missouri’s case, they expect other GOP-led states to file similar suits after Donald Trump signed an executive order threatening federal investigations over “illegal DEI” programs, which he claims are “discriminatory.”
