Starbucks worker sues for $1m after alleged supervisor attack

A former Starbucks employee is suing the franchise in Canada in a $1million lawsuit, after an alleged attack from a colleague.

Shannon Mishimagi said she was scheduled to work under a supervisor, prior to complaining about him to her management. Having claimed he had physically assaulted her, she said that Starbucks Canada failed to uphold their duty to make employees feel safe in the workplace.

The allegations in the statement of claim state that the 23-year-old was “physically assaulted, verbally abused, and was physically threatened multiple times” by Gurjaspreet Jolly, her supervisor. It also states that Jolly had displayed intimidating behaviour prior to the assault including “threats to use various harmful substances in hazardous ways toward Mishimagi, and use of violent, disrespectful and threatening gestures.”

Despite raising concerns, the Ryerson University student said she was still required to work alongside Jolly. “I was so nervous. I couldn’t sleep. I was so stressed. All of this when I’m trying to finish fourth year projects — all of that had to be put on hold because I just physically wasn’t well.”