Starbucks closes 8’000 stores for training against racism

Seattle / WA. (sc) Starbucks Coffee Company announced it will be closing its more than 8’000 company-owned stores in the United States on the afternoon of May 29 to conduct racial-bias education geared toward preventing discrimination in its stores. The training will be provided to nearly 175’000 partners (employees) across the country and will become part of the onboarding process for new partners.

«I’ve spent the last few days in Philadelphia with my leadership team listening to the community, learning what we did wrong and the steps we need to take to fix it», said Starbucks ceo Kevin Johnson. «While this is not limited to Starbucks, we’re committed to being a part of the solution. Closing our stores for racial-bias training is just one step in a journey that requires dedication from every level of our company and partnerships in our local communities».

All Starbucks company-owned retail stores and corporate offices will be closed in the afternoon of Tuesday, May 29. During that time, partners will go through a training program designed to address implicit bias, promote conscious inclusion, prevent discrimination and ensure everyone inside a Starbucks store feels safe and welcome.

«The company’s founding values are based on humanity and inclusion», said executive chairman Howard Schultz, who joined Johnson and other senior Starbucks leaders in Philadelphia to meet with community leaders and Starbucks partners. «We will learn from our mistakes and reaffirm our commitment to creating a safe and welcoming environment for every customer».

The curriculum will be developed with guidance from several national and local experts confronting racial bias, including Bryan Stevenson, founder and executive director of the Equal Justice Initiative; Sherrilyn Ifill, president and director-counsel of the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund; Heather McGhee, president of Demos; former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder; and Jonathan Greenblatt, ceo of the Anti-Defamation League. Starbucks will involve these experts in monitoring and reviewing the effectiveness of the measures we undertake.

Earlier this week, Starbucks began a review of its training and practices to make important reforms where necessary to ensure our stores always represent our Mission and Values, by providing a safe and inclusive environment for our customers and partners.

Once completed, the company will make the education materials available to other companies, including our licensee partners, for use with their employees and leadership.

Statement from Starbucks and the Company’s Attorney

«For the past several days, Starbucks CEO Kevin Johnson and the gentlemen involved in the incident at the Philadelphia Starbucks store have engaged in constructive discussions about this issue as well as what is happening in communities across the country. Mr. Johnson apologized on behalf of Starbucks, and the conversation continues today about how this painful incident can become a vehicle for positive social change. We have a situation – and the people at the center of it have come together with civility, common purpose and a willingness to listen and work towards a solution. Together we ask that the community respect this process. There will be more to follow».

Background

Some days ago, two black men were arrested in a Starbuck shop in Philadelphia. They asked to use the toilet in that place. They were denied that because they had not ordered anything. When the men refused to leave the café, the employees called the police. Customers filmed the arrest and emphasized that the two had not been guilty of anything. A man said that he had an appointment with them and they had been waiting for him. Videos of the arrest have been viewed millions of times online. The Mayor of Philadelphia, Jim Kenney, expressed his concern. Starbucks CEO Kevin Johnson apologized and announced that the company would review its internal regulations to avoid such incidents in the future.

bakenet:eu