Starbucks Employee Attacked by Monkey in Drive-Thru (Workers Compensation)

Starbucks Employee Attacked by Monkey in Drive-Thru

Tuesday, February 4th, 2025 Liability Risk Management Weird Workers' Compensation

A Starbucks employee in Mobile, Alabama, faced an unusual workplace hazard when a pet monkey leaped from a customer’s car and attacked them in the drive-thru. The monkey, identified as a Noisy Night Monkey, entered the store through the window before coworkers intervened and pulled it off the employee. The monkey then returned to the customer’s car, and the driver left the scene. Authorities are investigating, and the owner could face charges.

While the employee was not seriously injured, the incident highlights unexpected risks in the workplace. HR experts note that while companies like Starbucks prioritize worker safety, attacks from exotic pets are rarely considered in safety protocols. Had the monkey bitten the employee, it could have led to complex medical and liability issues.

This is not the first case of a primate attacking a worker. In October, a bonobo at the Cincinnati Zoo bit a zookeeper, resulting in a partial thumb amputation. Additionally, in 2018, a pet spider monkey named Spanky attacked two Home Depot employees in Florida. These incidents raise questions about the safety of exotic pet ownership and workplace preparedness for rare but potentially dangerous encounters.


External References & Further Reading
https://www.workerscompensation.com/daily-headlines/employee-attacked-in-drive-thru-by-monkey/
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