dress codes gone wrong
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Hiii,
It's officially fall, y’all! 🍂
Which means YES, I’m drinking something pumpkin-y and pulling out the dark clothes.
Speaking of dark clothes…did you know Starbucks is out here getting sued over black T-shirts? Yep, you read that right!
Who needs burnt coffee when the real burn is employees footing the bill for a dress code they didn’t ask for?
Sprinkle in a convo about burnout and why “purpose” is giving HR teams an existential crisis, and you’ve got today’s brew!
So grab a sweater, sip something cozy, and let’s get into it.
And if you need something to look forward to... I'm joining an all-star lineup thanks to my friends at Empathy! We're talking all things estate planning and how that contributes to building a financial legacy. As someone who has gone through unexpected loss, I've become deeply passionate about this topic and helping educate all my friends about the importance of estate planning. I cannot wait for this event, grab a spot and learn more!
SPONSORED BY WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE
🤡 Recruiting right now feels like a sh*tshow.
Someone had to say it....
And for startups, things can feel even more chaotic and intense. Finding talent can make or break some product roadmaps!
Welcome to the Jungle is hosting a free virtual event to help you fix your process STAT.
Join talent leaders from tech unicorn Wise and Series B startup hyperexponential as they break down why applications are ⬆️ but quality is ⬇️, and how to attract people who fit.
Think clear job descriptions, better pipelines, and fewer hours wasted weeding out the wrong ones.
It's time to go from sh*tshow to something better.
Register and learn a framework that makes recruiters and candidates happier!
🗞️ Here’s the Tea:Copy anchor linkCopied
☕ Starbucks workers sue over company's new dress code and costs to employees
The TL;DR: Starbucks workers in California, Colorado, and Illinois are suing the company over its new dress code, which requires solid black shirts under the green apron. Employees claim they’re being forced to buy these items out of pocket (without reimbursement) even though state laws mandate employers cover such expenses. Starbucks says it gave two shirts for free, but workers argue that’s not enough and disciplinary action has been tied to noncompliance.
My POV: Even “small” policy changes, like a tweak to the dress code, can carry major compliance, cost, and employee experience risks.
If state law says you have to cover expenses, you should probably cover them!
More importantly: nickel-and-diming employees when they’re already juggling unpredictable schedules and low wages is an easy way to erode trust and make your workplace look out of touch.
🎙️ Mic Drop Moment:Copy anchor linkCopied
“Burnout is really just walking around with a bunch of unfinished stress cycles.”Copy anchor linkCopied
On the mic this week: Eva Bak is a strategic people leader with 15 years of experience spanning talent acquisition, career development, and employee engagement. Before HR, she worked as a mental health therapist, a background that deeply informs her approach to leadership, culture, and employee well-being. She’s passionate about inclusive practices, storytelling, and helping both people and businesses thrive.
Pin this:
- Burnout happens when stress never completes its cycle. It lingers in your body until you shut down.
- HR is uniquely at risk because the work is invisible, lonely, and often caught between employees and leadership.
- Recognition and community are straight-up survival tools for HR professionals.
- Setting boundaries matters, but the cruel truth is that deep burnout often robs you of the energy to set them.
My H*ly Sh*t Moment: Burnout doesn’t start when you hate your job! It usually begins in the honeymoon phase, when you’re chasing that initial rush of excitement and working yourself past the point of no return.
▶️ Press Play
📊 Data Is My Love Language:Copy anchor linkCopied
Stat: Roughly nine in 10 Gen Zs (89%) and millennials (92%) consider a sense of purpose to be important to their job satisfaction and well-being
My spiral: What’s wild about this stat is that purpose has become the baseline for job satisfaction, which I love BTW!
But this also means that purpose isn’t one-size-fits-all.
For some, it’s about changing the world. For others, it’s making enough money or gaining skills to change their own world outside of work.
For HR, that means stop trying to package one glossy “purpose statement” and start building flexible environments where different definitions of purpose can actually coexist!
🛠️ In Your Toolkit Copy anchor linkCopied
HR Therapy is back TODAYYY, and we are, in fact, examining the tools you use for work!
Sooo if you’re duct-taping your tech stack together like a bad DIY project, this one is for you.
We’ll be airing payroll horror stories, dragging broken systems, and deciding if it’s time to patch things up or pull the plug.
Register now, unless you love screaming into the void every week!
🗣️ UNMUTE YOURSELF
You know how we’re constantly giving feedback but rarely stop to reflect on the moments it’s been given to us?
Some of those little moments can leave some unexpected impacts!
And that brings me to this week’s question:
“What’s a piece of feedback that changed how you lead forever?”
🛠️ TRY THIS TOMORROW:
I love a simple action that carries a lot of weight, especially in a field where recognition feels…a a bit too rare sometimes.
If you want to build stronger connections and remind yourself that appreciation doesn’t have to be complicated, try this tomorrow:
DM a peer, “You’re really good at ____. Just wanted you to know.”
👂 OVERHEARD IN SAFE SPACE
OMG. That's deff the kind of nonsense you document ASAP! And that's all I'll say about that here. 😅
Read what members had to say here.
And apply for your spot to join in the rage comments!
See ya on Friday!
