Orange County Employment Lawyer

Starbucks to Pay more than $100 million to Baristas in Lost Tips.

A San Diego judge ruled that Starbucks, Inc. owed their baristas more than one hundred million dollars in tips that were surrendered to shift supervisors. The company is ordered to pay the back tips, plus interest to all employees, with some baristas receiving more than ten thousand dollars.

The company had a tip share program in place, under which every employee split the tips received for the day, including shift supervisors and managers, who are on salary. This was considered unfair by the hourly baristas, who are dependent on the tips to supplement their income.

The lawsuit was started in 2004 by a barista who alleged that shift supervisors were illegally collecting a share of the tips. This was made into a class-action lawsuit in 2006, and settled upon two years later.

If you feel that you have been a victim of unfair tip share by management, please call Perry Smith at Orange County Employment Lawyers at 866-356-2529.