Starbucks Corp.

Seattle, WA: (Jun-13-07) The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) filed a disability discrimination lawsuit on behalf of Christine Drake against Starbucks Corp., alleging that the Seattle woman was belittled in front of customers and had her hours reduced because of her disability. In September 2006, when the EEOC filed the lawsuit, Drake said she had felt a sense of accomplishment by working as a barista for Starbucks. The suit stated that Drake, who has bipolar disorder and major depression, began working for Starbucks in 2001 and for two years had two different managers who accommodated her by giving her extra time to study and make drinks. They also would let her practice making drinks in the Queen Anne store, and Drake didn't have to make coffee during peak business hours. The new manger no longer provided those accommodations and also cut her hours. Drake said the manager berated her in front of customers and told her she was "not Starbucks material" before she was fired in May 2004.

In a settlement reached, Drake will receive $75,000 from Starbucks Corp. As part of the settlement, Starbucks also would give $10,000 to the Disability Rights Legal Center, which represents low-income people with disabilities. [SEATTLE POST INTELLIGENCER: DISABILITY DISCRIMINATION]

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Published on Jun-14-07