‘Maybe Having a Kid Wasn’t the Best Choice for You,’ Supervisor Told Him
Employment law firm Jackson Spencer Law filed a lawsuit against Starbucks Corporation in the Western District of Washington at Seattle on behalf of Dion Johnson, a U.S. Army veteran. The lawsuit alleges that Johnson was discriminated against and retaliated against for his sex, veteran status, and taking parental leave.
Johnson, of Snohomish, Washington, alleges that he was subjected to a hostile work environment by his supervisor, Carrie Worley, who made derogatory comments about veterans (claiming they could not “think for themselves”) and fathers who took family leave (claiming that “real dads” would return to work after only a few days).
After Johnson reported Worley’s behavior to human resources, he was placed on a performance improvement plan and ultimately terminated. During one exchange after his termination, Russell Loftis, another supervisor, told him, “Maybe having a kid wasn’t the best choice for you.”
“Mr. Johnson is not only a dedicated father,” said Jennifer Spencer of Jackson Spencer Law, PLLC. “He also served his country honorably and deserved better than this treatment. But this lawsuit is about more than just one employee. It’s about sending a message to Starbucks and other employers that employees have fundamental rights, and when an employer discriminates and retaliates against an employee who stands up for what’s right, we will fight to protect them.”
The lawsuit details the following claims against Starbucks:
- Violation of the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA): Johnson took twelve weeks of parental leave to care for his newborn child, a protected right under the FMLA.
- Discriminatory Discharge in Violation of Title VII: Johnson alleges that he was terminated because of his sex and for not conforming to gender stereotypes about men taking parental leave.
- Retaliatory Discharge in Violation of Title VII: Johnson was fired after reporting Worley’s discriminatory behavior.
- Harassment in Violation of Title VII: Johnson was subjected to a hostile work environment due to Worley’s ongoing discriminatory comments.
- Wrongful Discharge in Violation of the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA): Johnson believes his veteran status was a factor in his termination.
- Retaliatory Discharge in Violation of USERRA: The lawsuit alleges that Johnson was fired in part for complaining about Worley’s comments toward veterans.
- Violation of the Washington Paid Family Leave Act (WPFLA): Johnson used protected leave under WPFLA to care for his newborn child.
Johnson seeks compensation for lost wages, emotional distress, and punitive damages.
The case is Dion Johnson v. Starbucks Corp., No. 2:24-cv-00918, in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington in Seattle.
Media coverage: Veteran Says Starbucks Fired Him Over Parental Leave, Law360 (subscription required)
