An emblematic case of racial discrimination at Starbucks has taken the spotlight again. Shannon Phillips, former manager of the coffee chain, was awarded damages in a lawsuit alleging civil rights violations and racial profiling.
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In 2018, an incident at a Starbucks branch in Rittenhouse Square, Philadelphia, sparked massive protests. Two black men, Rashon Nelson and Donte Robinson, were arrested at the store after being denied bathroom use because they had not purchased anything from the store.
They insisted that they were waiting for someone for a business meeting, but they were still escorted by police from the scene, an event captured on video and shared widely on social media.
As a result, all 8,000 Starbucks stores across the US were closed for a day so workers could attend anti-racial bias training.
Starbucks and the resignation of Shannon Phillips
In the wake of these events, regional manager Shannon Phillips was fired, while the manager of the store where the incident occurred, who was black, kept his job.
In 2019, Phillips sued Starbucks, claiming the company was unfairly punishing employees whites, like herself, in response to incidents of alleged racial slurs.
Judicial victory for former Starbucks employee
Recently, a federal grand jury in New Jersey found that Starbucks violated Phillips' federal civil rights, as well as a New Jersey law that prohibits discrimination on the basis of race. Phillips was awarded $600,000 in compensatory damages and $25 million in punitive damages.
Rights of Brazilian workers in similar cases
In Brazil, workers' rights are also protected in cases of racial discrimination. The Federal Constitution, in its 5th article, guarantees the principle of equality, which implies the prohibition of discrimination of any nature, including racial discrimination.
In terms of labor relations, the CLT (Consolidation of Labor Laws) establishes punishments for discriminatory acts in the workplace (Art. 373-A). Additionally, Law 7716/89 makes it a crime to practice, induce or incite discrimination or prejudice based on race, color, ethnicity, religion or national origin.
Therefore, a Brazilian worker who goes through similar situations may seek compensation through the Labor Court, and may even receive compensation for moral and material damages.