LOS ANGELES - Starbucks is facing discrimination allegations in a civil lawsuit filed originally in the Los Angeles County Superior Court on Jan. 29
Plaintiff Crystal Johnson is a Los Angeles woman who was employed as a store manager at the Starbucks at 8400 Lincoln Boulevard. She worked in the role for almost two years until her alleged wrongful termination in January 2019.
Johnson applied for and was approved by Starbucks for a FMLA/CRFA from November 2018 to January 2019, the suit says. The plaintiff notified multiple people in the company, including her immediate supervisor, human resources and the Starbucks leave of absence administration company, of her explicit inability to report to work during her approved leave of absence, and provided medical documentation requiring her leave to be extended by 10 days, the suit says.
When Johnson reported to work, the first day after her leave, a new district manager she had not met immediately requested she sign an employment separation agreement, the suit says. When Johnson declined to sign, her employment was terminated in violation of California Code and public policy regarding FMLA/CRFA, the suit says.
The plaintiff is charging Starbucks with discrimination, harassment, retaliation, failure to prevent harassment and retaliation from occurring, failure to provide reasonable accommodations, failure to engage in a good faith interactive process, wrong termination, intentional infliction of emotional distress, failure to pay wages due, failure to provide meal and rest breaks, waiting time penalties and unfair competition.
Johnson is requesting lost wages and benefits and damages for emotional and mental stress. She is represented by the Joseph Farzam Law Firm.
Starbucks removed the case to Los Angeles federal court on Feb. 25.