Starbucks
Flagged · AvoidViolated NYC's scheduling law hundreds of thousands of times, sued its own workers' union, and is accused of shifting billions in profit through Switzerland.
Last updated October 5, 2026
Reasons to avoid
Issues span:LaborEnvironmentTax
Hundreds of labor law violations nationwide
The National Labor Relations Board found Starbucks committed hundreds of labor law violations across more than 200 stores, making it one of the most prolific union-busting cases in recent U.S. history. Federal judges ordered the company to reinstate fired workers and stop interfering with organizing efforts at multiple locations.Paid $38.9 million over scheduling violations
Starbucks agreed to pay $38.9 million to settle charges that it violated New York City's Fair Workweek Law more than half a million times between 2021 and 2025. The law requires employers to provide workers with stable, predictable schedules, a protection Starbucks systematically ignored.Missed reusable cup pledge, disposables increased
Starbucks serves the majority of its drinks in disposable cups, generating billions of single-use plastic and paper containers every year. Despite pledging to make reusable cups the norm by 2025, the company missed that target as mobile ordering and drive-through growth pushed disposable cup usage higher.Routed $1.3 billion through Swiss subsidiary
A 2025 report accused Starbucks of routing at least $1.3 billion in profits over a decade through a Swiss subsidiary that marks up the price of coffee beans by 18% before reselling them to other Starbucks entities, with none of the goods ever passing through Switzerland. Critics say the arrangement deprives coffee-producing countries in the Global South of tax revenue that funds public services.Sued own union over Palestine post
In 2023, Starbucks sued its own employees' union for trademark infringement after the union posted in support of Palestine, a move the union called a pretext for anti-union retaliation. Starbucks dropped the lawsuit in early 2024 after its CEO admitted on an earnings call that the resulting boycott had hurt the company's business.
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Common questions
- Is Starbucks ethical?
- Starbucks has been found by the National Labor Relations Board to have committed hundreds of labor law violations, and it paid $38.9 million to settle claims it violated NYC scheduling law more than half a million times. It has also missed its own reusable-cup targets and faced reporting on tax avoidance through offshore subsidiaries.
- Why are people boycotting Starbucks?
- The most common reasons are union busting, including firing pro-union workers and closing unionized stores, and ongoing worker strikes over pay and scheduling. Environmental waste from billions of single-use cups is another frequent driver.
- What are the best ethical alternatives to Starbucks?
- For cafes, your local independent coffee shop keeps money in your community. For beans at home, farmer-owned and worker-owned roasters like Pachamama Coffee and Equal Exchange offer fair trade, organic options.
Know of a documented reason we're missing?