Starbucks sued for tip pooling practice

San Diego Daily Transcript

A San Diego County resident employed by Starbucks (Nasdaq: SBUX) is suing the company for requiring front-line coffeemakers, known as baristas in coffee-shop speak, to share tips with supervisors.

Attorney John English, a partner in the Coronado firm Chapko & English, filed the class-action lawsuit last week on behalf of the company's baristas across the state including Jou, pronounced "Joe," Chou.

The lawsuit says employees complained about the policy but were rebuffed.

Starbucks has more than 160 stores in San Diego County, and about 1,500 in California. English estimates several thousand employees have been affected by the tip pooling practice during the class period over the last four years. The company's liability, if the case is successful, is likely in the tens of millions of dollars, English said.

Although individual employees are not likely to receive more than $75,000 if the complaint is successful, English noted that that's not small change for someone who makes coffee for a living.

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