Starbucks Scores -40 on Fair Pay. For a Coffee Company.
Starbucks employs over 400,000 people worldwide. It operates more than 38,000 stores. Its brand is built on the experience of the barista serving your drink.
That barista works for a company that scores -40 on Fair Pay & Worker Respect.
The Full Scorecard
One positive score. Five zeros. Five negatives.
The Labour Record
The -40 on Fair Pay reflects documented union-busting activity across US stores. The National Labor Relations Board has filed dozens of complaints against Starbucks since 2021, when unionisation efforts began at a Buffalo, New York, store. Allegations include firing union organisers, closing stores that voted to unionise, and refusing to bargain in good faith.
Starbucks Workers United has organised over 400 US stores. The company's response has generated a court record that drives the score.
The Sourcing Irony
Starbucks scores -30 on Fair Trade & Ethical Sourcing. For a company that built its brand on responsibly sourced coffee, this is notable. The score reflects documented concerns about pricing pressures on coffee farmers, supply chain transparency gaps, and the gap between Starbucks' C.A.F.E. Practices marketing and independent assessments of farmer-level outcomes.
The Animal Score
The +60 on Kind to Animals is one of the highest single-value scores among consumer brands. Starbucks has expanded plant-based menu options, eliminated animal testing for food products, and adopted welfare standards for dairy sourcing.
The irony writes itself: Starbucks treats animals better than its documented record shows it treats workers.
The Takeaway
A +60 on animals does not offset a -40 on worker pay. These are independent values that measure independent realities. Starbucks is not simply "good" or "bad." It is specifically good on animal welfare and specifically failing on labour rights.
The question for investors: which value matters more to you?
What the ratings miss, in your inbox.
One short email when court filings and regulatory actions contradict the official ESG story. No account. No card. Unsubscribe any time.