Starbucks Is Giving Its Workers a Raise
Starbucks announced Monday the coffee giant will give raises to all of its U.S. workers this fall. The company also announced other efforts to recruit and retain more staffers. "Effective October 3, all partners and store managers in U.S. company-operated stores will receive an increase in base pay of 5 or greater," Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz wrote in a statement. The company will also double annual stock contributions for employees who work for Starbucks for at least two years, which will effectively increase workers' pay by between 5 and 15. Employees will also have access to more health plans. The company is also working to make schedules and dress codes more flexible for their employees. The dress code changes are aimed at allowing employees to bring their "whole self" to work while the scheduling change aims to make work more convenient for employees. "Starbucks has long been a third place for our customers, but it must also be the right place for you, our partners," Schultz wrote. These changes align with an effort Starbucks introduced two years ago. In 2014, Starbucks launched a College Achievement Plan that offered free tuition to an online college for employees.