Former Executive Janice Waszak Files Lawsuit Against Starbucks Over Safety Issues
Starbucks CEO tells Fox Business that the coffee chain is ‘ahead of schedule’ in its major turnaround effort.
A former Starbucks executive has filed a lawsuit against the coffee giant, claiming wrongful termination after voicing safety concerns regarding new store equipment.
Janice Waszak alleges that she was dismissed due to sex discrimination and wrongful termination. Her concerns centered around the safety and functionality of a proprietary equipment system known as the Siren System.
In response, Starbucks has stated that the claims are “entirely without merit.”
Starbucks introduced the Siren system to investors in 2022, asserting that it would significantly boost productivity and enhance the company’s revenue and profit margins, as noted in the lawsuit. However, Waszak discovered multiple defects during further testing, which she claims posed health and safety risks. She expressed concerns that the Siren system might not be profitable and could lead to substantial financial losses for the company.
STARBUCKS’ TURNAROUND PLAN SHOWS PROMISE IN US AS SALES GROWTH RETURNS FOR FIRST TIME IN 2 YEARS
Janice Waszak accused the coffee giant of wrongful termination and sex discrimination. (iStock)
Waszak claims in her lawsuit that she was terminated in “retaliation for reporting and opposing materially false or misleading statements” regarding Siren’s profitability and health risks. The court documents also allege that Starbucks discriminated against her based on her sex, as she was terminated for behaviors that male employees were not penalized for.
“Safety is a top priority for Starbucks, and these claims are entirely without merit,” the company stated, adding that Waszak was separated from the company following an investigation into her conduct, which allegedly violated workplace policies.
STARBUCKS REMOVES CAP ON CEO’S USE OF COMPANY’S PRIVATE JET, CITING SECURITY CONCERNS
| Ticker | Security | Last | Change | Change % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SBUX | STARBUCKS CORP. | 91.67 | -0.28 | -0.30% |
The company expressed eagerness to present “evidence in court.”
According to the lawsuit, issues arose during a live demonstration of the Siren system at the Tryer Center in October 2022. During this event, “maggots dropped out of the overhead milk dispenser and fell onto the counter and beverages,” as stated in the lawsuit. It was also alleged that “baristas flicked the maggots away to avoid attendees seeing them.”
Starbucks said Waszak was “separated from the company after an investigation into allegations that her conduct violated Starbucks workplace conduct policies.” (Zhang Peng/LightRocket via Getty Images)
Waszak later learned that the maggots had bred in Siren’s milk dispenser due to improper cleaning, according to the suit. She also alleged that staff expressed concerns about the “complicated” design of the milk dispenser, which made it difficult to clean.
STARBUCKS ROLLS OUT CHANGES, INCLUDING FREE REFILLS; BRINGS BACK CONDIMENT BARS
Waszak believed that the complicated design of Siren, combined with staff’s inability to clean the milk dispenser properly, increased the risk of maggots or other contaminants developing in the equipment, posing health and safety risks to customers and staff.
In September 2023, the Siren milk dispenser reportedly caught fire while in use at the Tryer Center. Starbucks later determined that the fire was due to a manufacturing defect involving faulty wiring. However, the lawsuit claims that at the time of the fire, the “Siren was already being tested in several Seattle-area test stores, and milk dispensers from the same manufacturer were being used by store baristas.”
Maggots dropped out of the overhead milk dispenser, Waszak alleged in a lawsuit. (Angus Mordant/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
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Waszak discussed the health and safety risks associated with Siren with her superior, Vice President of Global Equipment Natarajan Venkatakrishnan, whom she had reported to since 2018, according to the suit.
Starbucks CEO tells Fox Business that the coffee chain is ‘ahead of schedule’ in its major turnaround effort.
A former Starbucks executive has filed a lawsuit against the coffee giant, claiming wrongful termination after voicing safety concerns regarding new store equipment.
Janice Waszak alleges that she was dismissed due to sex discrimination and wrongful termination. Her concerns centered around the safety and functionality of a proprietary equipment system known as the Siren System.
In response, Starbucks has stated that the claims are “entirely without merit.”
Starbucks introduced the Siren system to investors in 2022, asserting that it would significantly boost productivity and enhance the company’s revenue and profit margins, as noted in the lawsuit. However, Waszak discovered multiple defects during further testing, which she claims posed health and safety risks. She expressed concerns that the Siren system might not be profitable and could lead to substantial financial losses for the company.
STARBUCKS’ TURNAROUND PLAN SHOWS PROMISE IN US AS SALES GROWTH RETURNS FOR FIRST TIME IN 2 YEARS
Janice Waszak accused the coffee giant of wrongful termination and sex discrimination. (iStock)
Waszak claims in her lawsuit that she was terminated in “retaliation for reporting and opposing materially false or misleading statements” regarding Siren’s profitability and health risks. The court documents also allege that Starbucks discriminated against her based on her sex, as she was terminated for behaviors that male employees were not penalized for.
“Safety is a top priority for Starbucks, and these claims are entirely without merit,” the company stated, adding that Waszak was separated from the company following an investigation into her conduct, which allegedly violated workplace policies.
STARBUCKS REMOVES CAP ON CEO’S USE OF COMPANY’S PRIVATE JET, CITING SECURITY CONCERNS
| Ticker | Security | Last | Change | Change % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SBUX | STARBUCKS CORP. | 91.67 | -0.28 | -0.30% |
The company expressed eagerness to present “evidence in court.”
According to the lawsuit, issues arose during a live demonstration of the Siren system at the Tryer Center in October 2022. During this event, “maggots dropped out of the overhead milk dispenser and fell onto the counter and beverages,” as stated in the lawsuit. It was also alleged that “baristas flicked the maggots away to avoid attendees seeing them.”
Starbucks said Waszak was “separated from the company after an investigation into allegations that her conduct violated Starbucks workplace conduct policies.” (Zhang Peng/LightRocket via Getty Images)
Waszak later learned that the maggots had bred in Siren’s milk dispenser due to improper cleaning, according to the suit. She also alleged that staff expressed concerns about the “complicated” design of the milk dispenser, which made it difficult to clean.
STARBUCKS ROLLS OUT CHANGES, INCLUDING FREE REFILLS; BRINGS BACK CONDIMENT BARS
Waszak believed that the complicated design of Siren, combined with staff’s inability to clean the milk dispenser properly, increased the risk of maggots or other contaminants developing in the equipment, posing health and safety risks to customers and staff.
In September 2023, the Siren milk dispenser reportedly caught fire while in use at the Tryer Center. Starbucks later determined that the fire was due to a manufacturing defect involving faulty wiring. However, the lawsuit claims that at the time of the fire, the “Siren was already being tested in several Seattle-area test stores, and milk dispensers from the same manufacturer were being used by store baristas.”
Maggots dropped out of the overhead milk dispenser, Waszak alleged in a lawsuit. (Angus Mordant/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
GET FOX BUSINESS ON THE GO BY CLICKING HERE
Waszak discussed the health and safety risks associated with Siren with her superior, Vice President of Global Equipment Natarajan Venkatakrishnan, whom she had reported to since 2018, according to the suit.
