In a recent development, Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody has announced an investigation into Starbucks' diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) practices. The complaint was made to the state agency responsible for investigating violations of the Florida Civil Rights Act. This move comes after Governor Ron DeSantis and Moody discussed the issue on "The Sean Hannity Show."

During the radio show, Moody expressed concerns over policies that could potentially cause employees to feel targeted based on their race. She emphasized the need to determine whether these practices violate Florida's anti-discrimination laws. The matter has now been officially referred to the Florida Commission on Human Relations for a full investigation of Starbucks.

This complaint follows a ruling in March by a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, which declared the 2023 Stop Woke Act unconstitutional when applied to businesses. The law aimed to prevent companies from mandating DEI training for employees. Governor DeSantis criticized the court's decision, stating that the law granted employees the right to opt out of such programs.

Moody's four-page complaint argues that Starbucks' goal of achieving diversity in 30% of corporate roles and 40% of retail and manufacturing roles by 2025 violates federal and Florida civil rights acts. According to the company's most recent data, Starbucks currently has a workforce consisting of 48% white employees, 31.7% Hispanic employees, 8.1% Black employees, and 5.9% Asian employees.

Furthermore, Moody raises concerns about the company's ties between diversity goals and executives' bonuses, claiming that Starbucks operates under racial quotas. Reports indicate that in 2023, 7.5% of Starbucks executive bonus consideration was tied to diversity.

As of now, Starbucks has not responded to requests for comment regarding the investigation.

It remains to be seen how this investigation will unfold and what implications it may have for Starbucks' DEI practices. As Florida continues to address issues of diversity and equality, stakeholders will closely watch for updates from the Florida Commission on Human Relations.