NLRB Judge Orders Starbucks to Eliminate Illegal Work Rules (1)

Starbucks Corp. must rescind a large swath of rules in its workplace guides for employees as they are overly-broad and violate labor law, a National Labor Relations Board judge ruled.

Administrative Law Judge Eleanor Laws in a sweeping nationwide decision Friday cited many provisions she deems illegal including in the coffee giant’s “Partner Guide” and its “Standards of Business Conduct,” as well as in an arbitration agreement that Starbucks’ workers are asked to sign.

• Laws’ decision came in a case brought by Workers United, an affiliate of the Service Employees International Union, at Phoenix, Ariz.-area stores, alleging more than 30 ...