The move comes after the company implemented a new uniform policy in May
Starbucks is facing legal action from workers in three US states, who are accusing the coffee giant of refusing to reimburse expenses related to its new uniform policy, according to reports.
Employees in Illinois and Colorado filed class-action lawsuits accusing Starbucks of not reimbursing the money they paid for new clothes that are aligned with its new dress code, The Associated Press reported.
According to the report, complaints were also filed with California's Labor and Workforce Development Agency. But plans to escalate them to the state court will be considered if the agency dismisses their complaints.
The class-action lawsuits come after Starbucks implemented a new uniform policy in May, which required baristas to wear "simplified colour options" to highlight the company's iconic green apron.
"The more defined colour palette includes any solid black short- and long-sleeved crewneck, collared, or button-up shirts and any shade of khaki, black, or blue denim bottoms," the coffee giant previously announced.
One of the plaintiffs in the case said she spent $86.95 on clothing that is compliant with Starbucks' new policy, The Associated Press reported.
She claims she her request for reimbursement from Starbucks for expenses to comply with the dress code was refused. This was also the case for other plaintiffs in the class-action suits, according to reports.
The employees allege Starbucks violated state laws that mandate companies to reimburse workers for expenses that benefit the employer. They are also seeking damages on behalf of other workers in the three states.
The AP said Starbucks did not comment directly on the lawsuits when asked for a statement, but the coffee giant said employees received two shirts at no cost.
"To ensure our partners were prepared, partners received two shirts at no cost," the company said as quoted by the news outlet.
The class-action suits are the latest backlash over the dress code change.
Earlier this year, thousands of baristas of the coffee giant in the US walked out of their jobs to protest the dress code.
Starbucks Workers United said the company did not bargain with them over the policy change, which the union said was restricting gender expression of employees.
"This new dress code hurts partners. Starbucks workers are racially diverse, disabled, queer, and trans," the union said in a statement in April. "We need a dress code that allows us to show up as our full selves at work."
