Justin Cassera is a student at Harvard Law School.
In today’s news and commentary, Starbucks announces a new wave of layoffs and the EEOC sues Walmart over disability bias at a Wisconsin store.
On Thursday, Starbucks announced plans to lay off 900 employees and close hundreds of locations as the company continues to struggle. The company says that 1% of locations, roughly 200 stores, in Canada and the U.S. will close before a strategic refocus on renovations and new openings. The news follows a similar February announcement that saw 1,100 terminations. While the company maintains this is part of the turnaround plan led by CEO Brian Niccol, the firm’s efforts to succeed in an extremely competitive market are being hampered by its prices, labor disputes, and perceived support of Israel’s conduct in Gaza. Starbucks hopes that a combination of faster drinks, no upcharges for non-dairy milks, and a simpler menu will help them retain and expand their dominant footprint in the American coffee landscape.
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) is suing Walmart over alleged violations of civil rights laws due to the company’s refusal to accommodate intellectually disabled employees. The complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin on Thursday, alleges that Walmart’s Mount Pleasant, Wisconsin location harassed two intellectually disabled employees via namecalling and other conduct that engendered a hostile work environment. The lawsuit comes after a failed attempt by the EEOC to reach a pre-litigation settlement.
Daily News & Commentary
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September 29
Starbucks announces layoffs and branch closures; the EEOC sues Walmart.
September 28
Canadian postal workers go on strike, and the Federal Bureau of Prisons cancels a collective bargaining agreement covering over 30,000 workers.
September 26
Trump’s DOL seeks to roll back a rule granting FLSA protections to domestic care workers; the Second Circuit allows a claim of hostile work environment created by DEI trainings to proceed; and a GAO report finds alarming levels of sexual abuse in high school Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps programs.
September 25
Fenway workers allege retaliation; fired Washington Post columnist files grievance; Trump administration previews mass firings from government shutdown.
September 24
The Trump administration proposes an overhaul to the H-1B process conditioning entry to the United States on a $100,000 fee; Amazon sues the New York State Public Employment Relations Board over a state law that claims authority over private-sector labor disputes; and Mayor Karen Bass signs an agreement with labor unions that protects Los Angeles city workers from layoffs.
September 23
EEOC plans to close pending worker charges based solely on unintentional discrimination claims; NLRB holds that Starbucks violated federal labor law by firing baristas at a Madison, Wisconsin café.