Starbucks hit with $35 million payout for breaking NYC worker scheduling laws
Starbucks is paying over $35 million to settle claims it broke New York City's Fair Workweek Law more than 500,000 times from July 2021 through early July 2024.
The city found that thousands of hourly workers were denied stable schedules and had their hours cut without warning.
More than 15,000 employees will get $50 for every week they worked during that time.
Biggest worker protection settlement in NYC history
Announced December 1, 2025, this deal is the largest of its kind in the city's history. The investigation started after workers spoke up about unpredictable shifts and unfair treatment, eventually expanding across all NYC Starbucks stores.
Now, Starbucks must offer more predictable schedules and chances for extra shifts. While the company says it supports fair scheduling—even if the law is complicated—worker strikes are still happening as staff push for better pay and job protections.