Former Starbucks VP Files Lawsuit Alleging Wrongful Termination Following Her Reports Of Maggots In Equipment – CoffeeTalk

Former Starbucks Vice President Janice Waszak filed a lawsuit against the company on grounds of wrongful termination and sex discrimination, claiming her dismissal occurred after she reported concerns about a faulty product known as the “Siren System.” According to the complaint, Starbucks fired Waszak for refusing to provide false information regarding the system’s profitability and associated health and safety risks.

The Siren System, which aimed to enable baristas to prepare drinks in 40 seconds, was publicly presented by Senior Vice President Natarajan Venkatakrishnan to investors in 2022 as a catalyst for increased profitability and efficiency. However, during a presentation, two senior executives questioned the system’s financial projections, with allegations that Venkatakrishnan presented misleading figures. Following this, both executives were reportedly terminated, with Venkatakrishnan claiming responsibility for their dismissals.

Waszak’s oversight of the Siren System’s testing revealed serious concerns. During a demonstration in October 2022, maggots were reportedly discovered in the system’s milk dispenser due to inadequate cleaning protocols, which Waszak argued posed health risks to customers and employees, potentially resulting in significant financial repercussions for Starbucks.

By August 2023, she learned from a testing team that results for the Siren System were underwhelming, and the milk dispenser continued to be poorly maintained. Team members expressed concern about reporting actual results to Venkatakrishnan, fearing repercussions. On September 7, 2023, Waszak witnessed the Siren System catch fire during use at the Tryer Innovation Center.

After voicing her concerns to company executives about the product’s safety and financial implications, Waszak was subsequently terminated, which she claims was retaliatory in nature for her whistleblowing. Additionally, the lawsuit alleges that her termination was also influenced by discriminatory practices based on her gender, as her behavior, which did not lead to the termination of a male colleague, was cited as a reason for her dismissal. An internal Starbucks investigation concluded that Waszak’s termination lacked justification.

Starbucks provided the following statement on the lawsuit:

“Safety is a top priority for Starbucks, and these claims are entirely without merit. Ms. Waszak was separated from the company after an investigation into allegations that her conduct violated Starbucks workplace conduct policies. We look forward to presenting our evidence in court.”

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