Current:Home > reviewsFlorida attorney general says state will investigate Starbucks for DEI practices -WealthSync Hub
Florida attorney general says state will investigate Starbucks for DEI practices
View
Date:2025-04-23 14:27:09
Florida's top legal officer on Wednesday said the state will investigate Starbucks, the multinational chain of coffeehouses, for its diversity, equity and inclusion practices.
"So many of these DEI policies that have been pushed in corporate America that were meant to address and prevent discrimination are now pushing policies and programs and initiatives that may in fact be unlawful employment practices, in fact becoming discriminatory themselves," Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody said, while appearing on Sean Hannity's radio show, which Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis guest hosted.
Moody filed a complaint with the Florida Commission on Human Relations, which she said would launch a "full investigation." The decades-old commission is meant to enforce the Florida Civil Rights Act and address discrimination issues.
"We're going to make sure that this quota for hiring and programs that cause every employee to determine whether they are the problem based on the color of their skin, whether that violates Florida's anti-discrimination laws," Moody said.
The governor, an opponent of DEI programs who signed a bill last year banning such initiatives at state universities, thanked her for the work: "You should treat people as individuals, judge them based on the content of their character, not the color of their skin or their ethnicity or anything like that."
Both the Commission on Human Relations and Starbucks did not immediately respond to a request for comment from the Tallahassee Democrat, part of the USA TODAY Network.
Over the past few years, Republican lawmakers across the country have sought to dismantle DEI programs in higher education and in the corporate world. Since last year, some 85 anti-DEI bills have been introduced in 28 states, with 13 becoming law, according to The Chronicle of Higher Education. Conservative groups argue that the initiatives are discriminatory to those not benefitting from them, while supporters say programs are tackling systemic inequality.
More:Trump tried to crush the 'DEI revolution.' Here's how he might finish the job.
DEI under siege:Why more businesses are being accused of ‘reverse discrimination’
Starbucks has a DEI page on its website
In the complaint, Moody accused the company of having policies that “appear on their face to discriminate on the basis of race.”
She pointed to a portion of Starbucks' website that mentioned the company’s “annual inclusion and diversity goals of achieving BIPOC representation of at least 30 percent at all corporate levels and at least 40 percent of all retail and manufacturing roles by 2025.”
She also brought up how executive bonuses were tied to DEI goals, which was also mentioned.
Starbucks promotes on a separate webpage a commitment to diversity and inclusion, saying it has anti-bias curriculum, pay equity and that it was working to "enhance our efforts in reaching a broader pool of candidates and reaching talent that brings new perspectives and experiences to improve our business and workplace."
But the company's investors earlier this year in a non-binding vote approved a plan to drop executive bonuses correlated with DEI goals.
Meantime, a federal appeals court recently OK'd a block on a key provision of Florida's "Stop WOKE Act."
That provision restricted businesses' diversity practices and trainings, blocking concepts that could make employees feel "personal responsibility" for actions committed in the past — such as discriminatory ones — by someone of the "same race, color, sex or national origin."
More:Florida Gov. DeSantis hosts Sean Hannity's radio show, warns of threat from the left
Contributing: Christopher Cann, USA TODAY
veryGood! (7931)
Related
- Federal appeals court upholds $14.25 million fine against Exxon for pollution in Texas
- Which Las Vegas Hotel Fits Your Vibe? We've Got You Covered for Every Kind of Trip
- Is vaping better than smoking? Here's what experts say.
- Raymond Patterson: Investment Opportunities in Stock Splitting
- Whoopi Goldberg is delightfully vile as Miss Hannigan in ‘Annie’ stage return
- Hundreds gather to remember former fire chief fatally shot at Trump rally in Pennsylvania
- Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez Didn’t Acknowledge Their Anniversary—Here’s What They Did Instead
- Family of Alabama man killed during botched robbery has 'long forgiven' death row inmate
- 'As foretold in the prophecy': Elon Musk and internet react as Tesla stock hits $420 all
- Tree may have blocked sniper team's view of Trump rally gunman, maps show
Ranking
- Who are the most valuable sports franchises? Forbes releases new list of top 50 teams
- Don't believe Texas is ready for the SEC? Nick Saban does. So should you.
- Alabama inmate Keith Edmund Gavin to be 3rd inmate executed in state in 2024. What to know
- Pedro Hill: The relationship between the stock market and casinos
- Skins Game to make return to Thanksgiving week with a modern look
- Alabama set to execute man for fatal shooting of a delivery driver during a 1998 robbery attempt
- Appeals court affirms Mississippi’s ban on voting after some felonies, including timber theft
- Stock market today: Asian shares mostly fall as dive for Big Tech stocks hits Wall St rally
Recommendation
Alex Murdaugh’s murder appeal cites biased clerk and prejudicial evidence
Jagged Edge's Brandon Casey “Should Be Dead” After Breaking Neck, Skull in Car Crash
Kenney Grant, founder of iconic West Virginia pizza chain Gino’s, dies
Alabama to execute Chicago man in shooting death of father of 7; inmate says he's innocent
What do we know about the mysterious drones reported flying over New Jersey?
Britney Spears Tells Osbourne Family to “F--k Off” After They Criticize Her Dance Videos
Powerball winning numbers for July 17 drawing: Jackpot at $75 million
President Joe Biden tests positive for COVID-19 while campaigning in Las Vegas, has ‘mild symptoms’