Starbucks is once again in the middle of a cultural brew storm—this time not over the coffee, but the clothing. The company’s latest dress code update has sparked a wave of protests from its Gen Z workforce, particularly from unionized employees who see the move as a direct hit on personal expression and identity.
Set to take effect on May 12, the new policy mandates that baristas wear solid black tops—think crew necks, collared or button-up shirts—and pants in khaki, black, or blue denim. According to Starbucks, this change is designed to “allow our iconic green apron to shine” and to create a more unified customer-facing image across its 10,000 corporate-owned stores. But the rollout has been anything but smooth.
They’re told to dress like normal people and this is how they react.
“I don’t understand how it is in good faith of letting us express ourselves.”
“solid black short and long-sleeved crew neck, collared, or button-up shirts and any shade of khaki, black or blue denim bottoms.” https://t.co/DYHDh9Jpdv
— Trump Clock (@TrumpClock2024) May 2, 2025
In a video that quickly circulated on X (formerly Twitter), workers in a Seattle store—many part of Starbucks Workers United—confronted management over the uniform rules. One barista, defiantly sporting a bandana and party hat, called out the company’s decision as a betrayal of its stated support for individuality. “I don’t understand how [the dress code] is in good faith of letting us express ourselves,” she said, met with applause from coworkers who echoed the sentiment that they were expected to simply “lay down and accept it.”
Online commentary has been swift—and polarized. Critics dismissed the outrage, pointing out that Starbucks isn’t in the business of funding fashion statements.
“No one is paying these people to ‘express themselves,’” one user wrote. Others chimed in with snark, noting that the rebellion seemed more about laundry habits than labor rights. “Somebody has a problem with washing their clothes,” one podcaster quipped.
If I’m the ceo of @Starbucks I’m putting everyone in a uniform with zero flair — we just want great coffee, served briskly. Get back to work folks.
Enough bullshit, work faster pic.twitter.com/aNyiRNRz1u
— @jason (@Jason) May 1, 2025
But beneath the social media jokes and eye-rolls lies a deeper labor dispute. Starbucks Workers United, the same union that has organized over 570 stores, labeled the changes as “regressive” and potentially discriminatory—particularly toward LGBTQ+ employees who use clothing as part of gender expression. They argue that forcing a uniform aesthetic erases visibility and creates barriers, both financial and psychological.
The company’s offer of two free branded T-shirts has done little to calm tensions. The union has pushed back hard, asserting that Starbucks should prioritize resolving core workplace issues—like reduced hours, chronic understaffing, and high turnover—rather than trying to standardize fashion choices behind the counter.