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As we prepare to return to the office a minimum of 3 days beginning next week, I want to share an update on what we’re doing to support your partner experience.&nbsp;First, I want to thank our Modern Workspace team for their fast and tireless work to find solutions in service of all of us.

Over the course of the coming months, we will:

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I’m also pleased to share that we will bring more team choice for common days.&nbsp;We will shift our common days in the SSC from Tuesday and&nbsp;Wednesday to one common day for all SSC partners which will remain Tuesday. The additional common day will be either Wednesday or Thursday, defined by your team at the director level. The third day remains flexible, to be determined by agreement between partner and manager.

We will use tomorrow’s SSC Connect to share resources, including team norm setting tools, tips for choosing spaces and navigating the SSC, our full suite of commute options, building amenities, and more to support you through this transition. If you are unable to join us, please be sure to review this week’s SSC Happenings Newsletter for a recap of the tools, resources and information that we’ll cover.

On behalf of the ELT, I want to thank you for the thoughtful questions and feedback you have shared in your town halls since we announced this policy. Your leaders have shared your ideas and they are informing solutions we are building as we move forward.

Your partner, Sara Kelly evp, chief partner officer

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Stories to inspire and nurture the human spirit

Starbucks Stories

Starbucks Corporation

As we prepare to return to the office a minimum of 3 days beginning next week, I want to share an update on what we’re doing to support your partner experience.

Message from Sara: Supporting partners as we return to the office

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Since I returned last April, I’ve had conversations with many of you about our principles and aspirations for our company.&nbsp;

Three ideas—in some form or another—come up again and again to describe Starbucks:

Connection through coffee

Nurturing belonging, joy, love

Starbucks can be a feeling, a safe haven, a true Third Place

These are powerful descriptions of why we work here. For Starbucks to be linked to any of them as an idea, as a place of work or as a community of partners is an awesome responsibility.&nbsp;&nbsp;

And all of us, no matter what your role is in the company, are stewards of these ideas.

IN SERVICE OF ONE ANOTHER AS GREEN APRON PARTNERS&nbsp;

I want to share a change in our policy about hybrid work&nbsp;consistent with our past, but boldly about our future. Before I do, let me share context.&nbsp;

The pandemic was a full-out attack on the ideas that make Starbucks, Starbucks. It disrupted human connection. It made the world harder for so many. And it threatened our ability to be a safe haven and a Third Place.&nbsp;

At the SSC and across our regional offices, we had the privilege and the ability to pivot to virtual work. Most of us stopped coming into the office—at first, because of safety, and to protect ourselves and our loved ones. As days stretched into weeks, many of us claimed new freedoms, pioneered new ways of working, achieved new productivity.

But many partners didn’t have that privilege. They had to keep coming into their workplace—our stores, our plants, our distribution centers—day after day. They faced the hardship. They faced the challenges in their communities—deeply, passionately and often with great heroics.&nbsp;

Today, when we talk with our store partners, we hear how much they need us. As the nation comes out of the pandemic, they want to thrive, not just survive. We need to support them better. We need to simplify their jobs. We need to dive even deeper into each store and every store to support partners the way they need us to, now.

I believe they are asking support partners to be better integrated, showing up as one team, working to be not just a little better but profoundly better. They are asking us to do the transformative work that I believe can only be done effectively when we are physically together—the kind of thinking, daring collaboration, courageous conversations that cannot be done on Teams calls, or in just pre-scheduled meetings, or just as transactions.&nbsp;

Partners, it’s time for us to come back to the office—to do this Mission-critical work face-to-face, and in person. It’s time we rebuild and revive the energy of the SSC and our regional offices as thriving, active hubs.

Effective Jan. 30, all SSC partners within commuting distance are expected to work in the SSC a minimum of three days per week. To rebuild our connection to each other and synchronize teams and efforts, two of your days will be Tuesday and Wednesday—and the third day will be aligned on in partnership with your leader and team. The other two days of the week are work from anywhere—home, office, a Starbucks store, or beyond. We will still honor our partners that work fully digitally and will continue to hire fully digital roles as appropriate, with a commitment to foster inclusivity across all our teams.

This policy applies to partners within commuting distance of the SSC. It is a shift designed to preserve the flexibility and productivity that you’ve built through your work-at-home rituals while, at the same time, bringing us together in a synchronized way for the in-person work that’s vital for our future success.

This policy also applies to region-based support partners within commuting distance of a regional office with a slight nuance. Effective January 30, the expectation is to be in the regional office a minimum of three days per week with one of those days being a common day identified by local leadership, when all partners are in the office together. The remaining days of the week are up to you - home, store, office or beyond - building on the rituals, balance, and productivity you’ve created in your work from home routines.

I want to be clear that this policy is not intended to take our retail leaders (DM+ and others whose day-to-day work is done primarily in stores or "in-market") away from stores. In fact, there should be little to no change for those partners.

Let me be frank and honest about why we are making this shift now.

First, is our culture.&nbsp;We are a company rooted in human connection. We must have authentic and deep human connection everywhere we work—in stores, the SSC, roasting plants, coffee farms—everywhere. While we have built transactive connection and on-screen skills through COVID, we have lost a true human connection at the SSC. We need to rebuild that. Failing to do so as we emerge from the pandemic puts us at a great loss, depriving us of vital relationships and the impromptu connections and idea generation that comes from convening in person.&nbsp;In a real sense, the more we lose human connection with each other and within our stores and the vital relationships that define who we are, we put our brand into peril.

I think many of us crave a bigger meaning to our work, and the camaraderie and joy from doing our best work together. We will spend time this quarter reclaiming that and strengthening our relationships. Our culture depends on rituals—from coffee tastings to storytelling to seeing how our design experiences look end-to-end by putting the work up on a wall, and on and on. We will revive and reinvent these rituals to build our culture. And we will use in-person time to spend on our Reinvention efforts, forging the deeper hard choices, trade-offs, and integration, so we succeed.

Second, is fairness. I applaud the hard work from all of us. But it’s time to right something that has been inherently not fair. Partners in our offices have had the privilege of not coming into the workplace and when we embarked on hybrid work last year, each of us made a promise to each other to be in the office between one to two days a week. From our badging data, it’s clear that a good number of SSC partners are not meeting their minimum promise of one day a week. This is why I am also announcing that this policy—three days in the SSC and regional offices—is a requirement, and we expect every partner to respect it like we do every other workplace policy. It’s that critical to our business success.&nbsp;

Additionally, our Modern Workplace team has spent the past two years tirelessly redesigning a workplace of the future with countless amenities to support an inspiring and uplifting environment.&nbsp;We are providing those resources in support of enabling your very best contributions.&nbsp;And we acknowledge that we have some work still to do as we reimagine the future of the workplace, given the policy shift we are announcing today.&nbsp;Know that we are committed to adjusting quickly and will need to give the team some time to refine the vision.&nbsp;

Third, we must correct the unintended consequences that have emerged from conducting so much of our work virtually. Many of you have shared in our partner surveys and co-creation sessions that we are losing the art of collaboration, doing so much of our work in silos prevents actual prioritization, and we are having a hard time operationalizing decisions quickly and thoughtfully. What’s more, we’re losing a connection to a shared mission, something bigger. Being together will give us a chance to work on all these things.&nbsp;

Our call to action is to build the SSC and regional offices into vibrant hubs of great people doing great work, in person with each other.&nbsp;All of us will be facing in the same one direction in service of our stores, so that we fulfill our much larger Mission.&nbsp;You can expect that, especially on Tuesdays and Wednesdays at the SSC, we’ll be engaging in the in-person rituals, imaginative conversations about our future, the restoration of our Mission and values and the real work of our Reinvention.&nbsp;And be assured, Laxman, the leaders of the company and I will be working with you in powerful ways as you come back.

As with all big shifts, having open dialogue and providing space to work together to live up to a new policy is a long-standing tradition at Starbucks.&nbsp;

Shortly, all support partners will receive an invitation to join your leader for a team town hall to discuss this decision and invent ways to bring it to life.&nbsp;We welcome your input as we build towards the future.

I’ve also asked Sara Kelly and the executive team to share their plans for making our time together in this new form of hybrid work a superior use of all our time, talent and hopes for this company. You will hear more from them shortly.

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“It’s time we rebuild and revive the energy of the SSC and our regional offices as thriving, active hubs,” wrote Starbucks chief executive officer Howard Schultz in a letter to Starbucks support partners.

Message to Starbucks support partners: Returning to each other and to the office - Starbucks Stories

Message to Starbucks support partners: Returning to each other and to the office

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I have been thinking of you and your families over the holidays and, as we enter the new calendar year, I am reflecting on the enormous challenges you have encountered in the last few years.&nbsp;I cannot be more grateful for your&nbsp;selflessness and the incredible&nbsp;resilience you have shown in taking care of each other, serving our customers and supporting our&nbsp;communities, despite&nbsp;the&nbsp;continued disruptions to your home and work lives.&nbsp;It is during moments of adversity that we reveal&nbsp;our true character. Thank you for staying true to our values and exemplifying the very best of Starbucks.

I have been in weekly discussions with our China Leadership team and in daily touch with Belinda Wong to follow developments in China. I am very sorry to hear that there has been a spike in infections in the country since early December that has and continues to severely impact your lives and our business. I want to remind you, once again, that the health and well-being of your families, your partners and you is our number one priority. We will continue to protect and support our partners as China enters its post-Covid phase and begins the gradual process of fully reopening. 

The gradual return to normalcy and pre-Covid routines in people’s lives will undoubtedly contribute to our business recovery in China over time.&nbsp;Our customers are&nbsp;craving&nbsp;for a&nbsp;return to&nbsp;familiar&nbsp;routines and lifestyles, and huge pent-up consumer demand&nbsp;will be&nbsp;unleashed when people feel they are truly safe to venture outside. That will happen. And when it happens our customers will head to our stores&nbsp;in tremendous numbers to enjoy moments of reconnection, their favorite Starbucks beverages and the premium&nbsp;Starbucks Experience&nbsp;you deliver.

Nonetheless, and as Belinda has repeatedly shared, challenges and uncertainties remain and the recovery path ahead will be nonlinear.&nbsp;&nbsp;While the spread of Covid has impacted all retail businesses in China in these last two months, we believe the disruptions are temporary, and normalcy will gradually return for our stores and customers.&nbsp;&nbsp;

I know this because Starbucks commitment to China, and to our partners and business in China has never wavered, and is unwavering today. I remain confident that, even more than two decades after entering the market, we are&nbsp;still&nbsp;only in the early chapters of&nbsp;our&nbsp;growth story&nbsp;in China.&nbsp;I believe that one day, China will be Starbucks largest market.&nbsp;I am certain of that because of you, our China partners. Your demonstrated ability to meet&nbsp;every challenge, navigate every obstacle and volatility – and build even more operating muscle with every unexpected test – gives me the greatest confidence imaginable in the future of our business in China. Starbucks will continue to invest in you, and in China, for decades to come. And I promise you our best days are ahead.&nbsp;

Please know that I cannot wait to see you in person in China very soon.&nbsp;I’ll be looking for the very first opportunity to do so. In the meantime, with Chinese New Year approaching, please accept my very best wishes as you reunite with your families and celebrate a healthy and&nbsp;prosperous&nbsp;Year of the Rabbit.

“Your demonstrated ability to meet every challenge, navigate every obstacle and volatility – and build even more operating muscle with every unexpected test – gives me the greatest confidence imaginable in the future of our business in China.”

Message to Starbucks China Partners: Sending love and good wishes for a prosperous Chinese New Year

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Chief global public policy counsel Zulima Espinel shares our company’s ongoing commitment to advance inclusion and equity for all, following today’s important milestone when the Respect for Marriage Act was signed into law.

At Starbucks we believe we have a role and responsibility to serve communities by advancing inclusion, equity and belonging for everyone. This belief, core to our Mission and Values, is rooted in nurturing the human spirit and guides our decisions on how we can best use our voice and resources for good.

Today, our country reached an important milestone when the Respect for Marriage Act was signed into law. This bipartisan bill reflects broad support for same-sex and interracial marriages. The bill mandates federal recognition of marriages performed at the state level, guaranteeing rights and benefits under federal law and requires all states to recognize marriages performed in other states.

While this is an important step, we know that there may still be challenges to marriage equality in the legal system or in states and local jurisdictions. If you are passionate about this issue, we always encourage partners to make their voices heard with their elected officials, regardless of their political affiliation or views.

We know that creating a sense of belonging and advancing equity and inclusion requires intentional commitment from each of us to care for one another every day. <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/stories/2022/starbucks-pride-a-long-legacy-of-lgbtq-inclusion/">For more than 30 years</a> our company has supported our LGBTQIA2+ partners and communities – from offering inclusive health coverage, to expanding voluntary self-identification for partners, to partnering with organizations like Human Rights Campaign and National Center for Transgender Equality. And we <a href="https://www.hrc.org/resources/business-coalition-for-equality">continue to advocate in support of the Equality Act </a>and oppose <a href="https://www.hrc.org/resources/business-statement-on-anti-lgbtq-state-legislation">the patchwork of harmful policies and</a> actions that have been proposed in several states around the country in addition to <a href="https://hrc-prod-requests.s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Final-Respect-for-Marriage-Act-Letter-to-the-Senate-8.2022.pdf">our recent advocacy around the Respect for Marriage Act</a>.

We remain steadfast in our commitment to advance inclusion and equity for all, inspired by how you care for one another, our customers and communities every day.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Chief global public policy counsel Zulima Espinel shares our company’s ongoing commitment to advance inclusion and equity for all.

Message from Zulima: Advancing Protections for Marriage Equality

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Zulima Espinel, chief global public policy counsel, shares resources for DACA recipients

We are proud that 250,000 partners across the country reflect the diverse communities we serve. Every day, you create welcoming spaces for each other and our customers and every day we are inspired to extend that sense of belonging beyond the four walls of our stores.&nbsp;

Inclusion is inherent to nurturing the human spirit and this is foundational to our long support for Dreamers, including our partners who are recipients of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, known as DACA.&nbsp;Earlier this month the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit decided DACA is unlawful.&nbsp;While this decision did not immediately end the program for current DACA recipients,&nbsp;the program is at risk as it continues to move through the judicial system, likely up to the Supreme Court.&nbsp;

At Starbucks we will continue to use our voice and resources to support Dreamers and partners who are DACA recipients– <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/press/2017/letter-from-howard-schultz-to-senators-lindsey-graham-and-richard-durbin/">just as we have since 2017</a>. We will continue to offer benefits and support to partners who are DACA recipients. Partners can also connect with an Immigration Advisor – confidentially and at no cost – to help with questions related to navigating the program and any changes to the law.

We will also continue to advocate. Just today, Starbucks joined dozens of businesses to urge Congress to come together and pass bipartisan legislation that will provide a long-term solution and legal path to citizenship for all DACA recipients and the permanent protection they deserve to continue to live and contribute to the United States. You can read the full letter <a href="https://www.coalitionfortheamericandream.us/daca-fifth-circuit-response/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">here</a>.

I know many of you are passionate about this program so here are some tools and resources available:

We will continue to support and advocate for Dreamers so they can live, work, and dream in the country that they call home – not only because it is the right thing to do but because the communities we serve will be stronger for it.

Zulima Espinel, chief global public policy counsel

A letter to Starbucks partners (employees) from Zulima Espinel, chief global public policy counsel, sharing resources for DACA recipients.

Letter to Starbucks Partners: Our Support and Advocacy for Dreamers

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As communities across North America and the Caribbean are impacted by this hurricane season, Starbucks and The Starbucks Foundation remain committed to supporting disaster relief efforts on the ground, leveraging long-term nonprofit partnerships and tapping into our local Starbucks teams to deliver critical support. 

Hurricane Fiona&nbsp;&nbsp;

Through partnerships with World Central Kitchen and the Red Cross, The Starbucks Foundation is supporting preparedness and relief efforts to communities impacted by Hurricane Fiona. World Central Kitchen’s Relief Team is distributing thousands of meals a day to impacted communities across Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, and Turks &amp; Caicos. The Red Cross is providing relief and comfort to Fiona survivors across <a href="https://www.redcross.org/about-us/news-and-events/news/2022/red-cross-responds-to-devastating-storms-in-puerto-rico-usvi-ak.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Puerto Rico</a> and <a href="https://www.redcross.ca/about-us/media-news/news-releases/canadian-red-cross-launches-appeal-for-hurricane-fiona" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Canada</a>, including distributing relief items and providing health and mental health services.

Starbucks and The Starbucks Foundation are closely monitoring the impact of Hurricane Ian to provide needed support to partners (employees) and communities. 

How To Support&nbsp;&nbsp;

For Starbucks partners (employees) and customers looking to help impacted communities, you can join The Starbucks Foundation and World Central Kitchen to help people affected by making a donation at the register at any U.S. company-owned store or directly on <a href="https://www.wck.org/starbucks-fiona-2022-response" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">World Central Kitchen’s website</a>. In addition, Starbucks is inviting customers to make a donation to World Central Kitchen through the Starbucks mobile app in the U.S. through October 12.

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Customers in Canada can make a donation at the register in any Canada company-owned store to support the Canadian Red Cross.&nbsp;

The Starbucks Foundation strengthens humanity by transforming lives across the world, with a focus on enabling community resiliency and prosperity and uplifting communities affected by disaster. Established in 1997, The Starbucks Foundation is a Section 501(c)(3) charitable organization under U.S. law. &nbsp;

As communities across North America and the Caribbean are impacted by this hurricane season, Starbucks and The Starbucks Foundation remain committed to supporting disaster relief efforts on the ground.

Starbucks Supports Hurricane Relief Efforts Across North America and Caribbean  

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‘I am thrilled to announce that we have identified an individual with the ideal background, knowledge, and demonstrated track record of living his values to lead Starbucks into the future,’ wrote Howard Schultz in a letter to Starbucks partners.

As you know, when I rejoined Starbucks in the spring it was with the goal of co-creating the future of the company with all of you and working with the Board of Directors to identify our next chief executive officer – a person with not only the skills and experience to guide the transformation of a global brand that touches the lives of more than 100 million customers but also understands that the core of the&nbsp;Starbucks Experience&nbsp;is our mission and the culture brought to life by 400,000 partners every day.&nbsp;

I am thrilled to announce that we have identified an individual with the ideal background, knowledge, and demonstrated track record of living his values to lead Starbucks into the future. On October 1st,&nbsp;Laxman Narasimhan&nbsp;will join us as the next chief executive officer of Starbucks.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Put simply, Laxman is steeped in humility with extraordinary executive and operational skills. &nbsp;&nbsp;

He is a&nbsp;strategic and transformational leader with deep experience in building powerful consumer brands, driving innovations that create loyalty and convenience for consumers, and working in partnership with employees to live up to their own full potential and fulfill a purpose. Over the course of his three-decade career in the retail and CPG industries, he has worked across the U.S., Europe, Latin America, Asia and Africa. And from the significant time that I, and others of us on the leadership team and Board have spent with him, we know that he is a world-class leader in every sense.

Of course, in taking on this role, Laxman has learned about the Reinvention plan in detail. And once he comes on board, he will immediately begin a full immersion into Starbucks as we accelerate our work to transform the company for the future. This will include spending time as a barista in our stores, meeting our partners around the world, visiting roasting plants, distribution centers and the farms where our coffee is grown, and more. This unique experience will position him to effectively bring his own perspectives to help build on and shape this work.&nbsp;

I am looking forward to introducing you all to Laxman and working closely with him as he listens, learns, and plans for the future of Starbucks for the benefit of our partners, customers, and communities. He is the leader we were looking for to lead Starbucks at this moment and for the future. Please join me in welcoming Laxman to Starbucks.&nbsp;

Message from Howard Schultz: Welcoming Laxman Narasimhan, our next ceo

I am thrilled to announce that we have identified an individual with the ideal background, knowledge, and demonstrated track record of living his values to lead Starbucks into the future.

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Howard Schultz shares a message with Starbucks partners following the tragedy in Uvalde, Texas.

My heart is heavy for Uvalde today. I know many of us are deeply saddened, outraged and confused, and we are all thinking of the families and communities impacted by this senseless tragedy.

To be honest, we have been here too many times before, grieving as a nation. Just ten days ago, a gunman opened fire in a Buffalo grocery store, targeting African Americans and killing 10 people. The next day, a man shot at Asian American seniors at a church in Laguna Woods, CA. And it is not lost on me that today marks the two-year anniversary of the senseless murder of George Floyd.

I want to first share that our partners in Uvalde have our full support. We have one store near Robb Elementary School, and I am grateful that our partners are safe. That said, I know this tragedy, like the one in Buffalo, hit close for partners with friends and family in the community. I heard yesterday that our Uvalde partners, even in the face of unimaginable pain, came together to close the store to serve first responders and families, while bringing water and food to nearby hospitals. In Buffalo, our partners came together to provide coffee at a memorial for the victims and volunteered at nearby food banks. To the partners who step up in these moments – thank you. Your generosity and care inspire us all to choose love, over hatred, in times like these. I am so proud to be your partner.

As a company, we are taking this time to hear from partners, learn from experts, and examine additional steps we can take. We are already exploring donations and support for victims and their families in Uvalde, Buffalo and Laguna Woods. And as we all support one another, we urge lawmakers to come together, in a bipartisan way, to address issues around gun and community safety. We also encourage partners to use their own voice – write or call your elected officials and <a href="https://www.starbuckspartnersvote.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">make a plan</a> to vote in your upcoming elections. We will also continue to prioritize de-escalation and active shooter trainings for partners. I want to also remind you about benefits like Lyra – I have heard from many partners that having someone to talk to in the aftermath of these traumatic events can be helpful.

I know there is always more we can do, as a company and as individuals. I want to hear your ideas. We will host a Partner Open Forum tomorrow to share how we are feeling and continue this conversation. I have included a list of additional resources below.

We must continue to <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/press/2013/open-letter-from-howard/">stand together</a> to rise above hatred, indifference, and cowardice. And as we do, please know you have the support of your fellow partners as you search to comprehend this senseless violence. I also know that in times like these, this community of Starbucks partners finds ways to lift one another up, to be a safe space for sharing, to come together in unity. Please take care of one another, and know that together, we will always choose love.

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Howard Schultz shares a message with Starbucks partners following the tragedy in Uvalde, Texas.

A message to partners from Howard: Safe Communities

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As we mentioned on March 8, we have suspended all business activity in Russia, including shipment of all Starbucks products. Starbucks has made the decision to exit and no longer have a brand presence in the market.&nbsp;We will continue to support the nearly 2,000 green apron partners in Russia, including pay for six months and assistance for partners to transition to new opportunities outside of Starbucks.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Letter to partners from Kevin Johnson on Ukraine:

As I communicated Friday, we condemn the horrific attacks on Ukraine by Russia and our hearts go out to all those affected.&nbsp;

We continue to watch the tragic events unfold and, today, we have decided to suspend all business activity in Russia, including shipment of all Starbucks products. Our licensed partner has agreed to immediately pause store operations and will provide support to the nearly 2,000 partners in Russia who depend on Starbucks for their livelihood.

Through this dynamic situation, we will continue to make decisions that are true to our mission and values and communicate with transparency. Thank you for the care and concern you are sharing with me and your leaders.

As always, I’m extremely proud to be your partner.

Letter to partners from Kevin Johnson on Ukraine:

We condemn the unprovoked, unjust and horrific attacks on Ukraine by Russia, and our hearts go out to all those affected.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The invasion and humanitarian impact of this war are devastating and create a ripple effect that is felt throughout the world. I know this is weighing emotionally on so many of you, especially those with family and friends in the region.

While Starbucks does not have cafés in Ukraine, we do have 130 stores in Russia that are wholly owned and operated by a licensed partner. And I want to express deep care for the livelihoods of our 2,000 green apron partners in Russia.&nbsp;

In times like these, as a company and as partners, we strive to never be a bystander. Partners’ perspectives continue to help inform the actions we will take, which I want to begin sharing with you all today.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

First, we will donate any royalties we receive from our business operations in Russia to humanitarian relief efforts for Ukraine. Second, The Starbucks Foundation has contributed $500,000 to World Central Kitchen and the Red Cross for humanitarian relief efforts for Ukraine. And third, our EMEA business will continue to work in the market to support people in need through additional financial contributions and service.

As this dynamic situation continues to unfold, we will listen and take additional steps to support all our partners and communities. We will let you know as we have more to share.&nbsp;

I want to thank you all for your deep care and connection to one another and your communities during these challenging times.

Like you, my heart is heavy – and I want you to know that no matter what, we stand together, as partners.

Starbucks has made the decision to exit and no longer have a brand presence in the market. 

Update to Starbucks partners on our business in Russia

https://stories.starbucks.com/press/2022/update-to-starbucks-partners-on-our-business-in-russia/

In a letter to Starbucks partners, Sara Kelly, acting evp, Partner Resources, shares our commitment to ensuring our partners always have access to quality healthcare – regardless of where you live or what you believe.

I’m sure many of you are seeing that the U.S. Supreme Court made its decision to overturn Roe v. Wade today. Even though we have prepared for this scenario, personally and as a company, I know this decision leaves many of you disheartened or in shock. &nbsp;

We all need to process this in our own way, and as you do, here is what I want you to know: no matter where you live, or what you believe, we will always ensure you have access to quality healthcare. And when legislative actions impact your access to healthcare, we will work on ways to make you feel supported.

That’s why we have provided partners enrolled in Starbucks healthcare plan a medical travel reimbursement benefit to access an abortion, and coming soon, access to gender-affirming care. You can learn more about that benefit in my message from last week, and also on the <a href="https://s2.bl-1.com/h/dqDg8gT4?url=https://departments.starbucks.com/sites/partnerfamilysupport/en-us/Pages/medical-travel-reimbursement.aspx">Partner Hub.</a>&nbsp;The impacts of this decision are complex and our Starbucks Advocates are dedicated to working directly with partners year-round with questions about healthcare coverage. They are a knowledgeable resource and a free and confidential service for our partners.&nbsp;

We are here to support you partners and thank you for taking care of one another in this moment.

In anticipation of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision&nbsp;on Roe v. Wade,&nbsp;<a href="https://l.workplace.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fs2.bl-1.com%2Fh%2FdqDg8b42%3Furl%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fstories.starbucks.com%252Fpress%252F2022%252Fletter-to-starbucks-partners-ensuring-access-to-healthcare%252F&amp;h=AT23atyBfo8HigKiY93oNm6uTBLDBXPFqaJizaCuN9SRe20EH9z75ARN28TKyFClTAay8BwEo8xe3nplIkqgYz1R1ijzogCpp3aaa_8Q3Fm9xuxwehMQs9X7sRw1Y9czS9R0kTfHL8GvRv4fm1htOA&amp;__tn__=-UK-R&amp;c%5b0%5d=AT2UKaSbKX1ZQzvGXVLELH7lij4hz5DfugFvIHaSYQTVAMBKvPS-S_04L8s5IMZhWOWKJF7svXSE2xxvBgo0WZ6wDS-dXrKufGNWpNA3z5ngRupvMspEs9isuPVJ2vRHJ-5s9QXQ6grZK0S0RtaZT0D_BE_jUzDzIBEI4pKYOCyPQTnBKL0MwW5FFfVziIBak1QrGC9yg_o" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">in May we shared</a>&nbsp;that&nbsp;we will always strive to ensure our partners have access to quality healthcare. When legislative actions impact your access to healthcare we will work on ways to make you feel supported. That’s why&nbsp;starting today,&nbsp;we will provide partners enrolled in Starbucks healthcare plan a medical travel reimbursement benefit to access an abortion.

This benefit will support eligible partners (and their eligible dependents) who are enrolled in a Starbucks medical plan, cannot legally access an abortion in their state of residence and do not have a provider available within 100 miles of their home. You can read full details of this benefit and how to access it on the&nbsp;<a href="https://l.workplace.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fs2.bl-1.com%2Fh%2FdqDg8gT4%3Furl%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fdepartments.starbucks.com%252Fsites%252Fpartnerfamilysupport%252Fen-us%252FPages%252Fmedical-travel-reimbursement.aspx&amp;h=AT3z7JPIfdRGQKKSVWDw7NPNgijfDozB3oDq8xtAfOy44CpJeH86alcG8HCb8inhLvYgBSsGB9FdrtrK3LZKCYydbSVhJdPuoGj3r0jQlOUUE3P9bhkXGbjRuFQ6osZGQK9BeH4CEmTud0OdrbqHew&amp;__tn__=-UK-R&amp;c%5b0%5d=AT2UKaSbKX1ZQzvGXVLELH7lij4hz5DfugFvIHaSYQTVAMBKvPS-S_04L8s5IMZhWOWKJF7svXSE2xxvBgo0WZ6wDS-dXrKufGNWpNA3z5ngRupvMspEs9isuPVJ2vRHJ-5s9QXQ6grZK0S0RtaZT0D_BE_jUzDzIBEI4pKYOCyPQTnBKL0MwW5FFfVziIBak1QrGC9yg_o" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Partner Hub.</a>

We know some partners may also face legislative barriers when it comes to accessing gender affirming procedures and we are working on the details for the medical travel reimbursement benefit for gender-affirming procedures now. Part of why this one is taking a little longer to finalize is that we want to make sure we account for the fact that there are more procedures to consider as part of this benefit. We will share an update on this as soon as possible.

As we work through these details, we’re unfortunately seeing some misinformation that Starbucks will take benefits away from partners who are in the petitioning process. Here are the facts we want you to know:

Partners, thank you for the perspectives these last few weeks, including from those of you in our partner networks. I want to also thank you for continuing to listen and engage with one another with empathy and kindness, given the diverse views amongst us. Together, we can continue to make progress on critical benefits like these and find ways to support one another.

Like many of you, I’m deeply concerned by the draft Supreme Court opinion related to the constitutional right to abortion that was first established by Roe v. Wade. I know this is weighing on many of you, so let me be clear up front – regardless of what the Supreme Court ends up deciding, we will always ensure our partners have access to quality healthcare. And when actions impact your access to healthcare, we will work on a way to make sure you feel supported.

Today I’m announcing that we are expanding our U.S. healthcare benefit to further protect your personal health decisions. Regardless of where you live or what you believe, partners enrolled in Starbucks healthcare will now be offered reimbursement for eligible travel expenses when accessing abortion or gender-affirming procedures when those services are not available within 100 miles of a partner’s home. This benefit will also apply to dependents of partners enrolled in Starbucks healthcare.

Whatever healthcare choice you believe is right for you and your family, you deserve access to those services and the benefits that Starbucks provides. We offer industry-leading benefits, <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/stories/2022/starbucks-commitment-to-quality-healthcare-and-support-for-our-partners/">including many benefits that support partners in planning for their future</a>, including:

At Starbucks, we have 240,000 U.S. partners with diverse views. That’s okay, because it’s what makes us Starbucks. My hope is that we will continue to honor and respect one another. And, together, we’ll become better listeners and learners – finding ways to support one another, as we always have. Because that’s what it means to be a partner.

Thank you to the perspectives and ideas shared by many of you, including those in our partner networks. Our Benefits team is working on the specifics and timing of our benefit expansion and we look forward to sharing more updates soon.

In a letter to Starbucks partners, Sara Kelly, acting evp, Partner Resources, shares our commitment to ensuring our partners always have access to quality healthcare – regardless of where you live or what you believe.

Letter to Starbucks Partners: Ensuring Access to Healthcare

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https://stories.starbucks.com/press/2022/letter-to-starbucks-partners-ensuring-access-to-healthcare/

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A letter to Starbucks partners from Dennis Brockman, chief global inclusion and diversity officer

We are committed to creating a safe, brave place where you are valued. That includes your right to self-identify in your own way and to be addressed by your preferred or chosen name and pronouns.

We unfortunately live in a time where our LGBTQIA2+ community continues to face hate and uncertainty. We know this is hurtful and may be weighing on many of you. I want you to know that we see you, and we stand with you.

In times like these, our responsibility to create welcoming environments feels more important than ever. It’s why we have <a href="https://s2.bl-1.com/h/dpVwd9mV?url=https://stories.starbucks.com/stories/2019/starbucks-pride-a-long-legacy-of-lgbtq-inclusion/">stood up for our LGBTQIA2+ partners for more than 30 years</a> – from inclusive health coverage, to expanding voluntary self-identification for partners, to supporting organizations like Human Rights Campaign and National Center for Transgender Equality. And we continue to <a href="https://s2.bl-1.com/h/dpVwdF8X?url=https://www.hrc.org/resources/business-coalition-for-equality">advocate in support of the Equality Act</a> and <a href="https://www.hrc.org/resources/business-statement-on-anti-lgbtq-state-legislation" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">oppose the discriminatory policies</a> and actions we’ve seen proposed in many states around the country.

I want to also be very honest in saying we haven’t always gotten this right – and we are committed to turning setbacks into opportunities that are meaningful to your partner experience – like launching pronoun pins across U.S. Retail this summer, expanding our self-ID options, and updating internal systems like Partner Central so they reflect partners’ preferred or chosen names and pronouns. And as we continue to make improvements, we will need your partnership and guidance when we fall short.

I invite you to join us. Here are some ways you can help make a difference:

Additionally, as part of our ongoing efforts to create a brave space for partners to have candid discussions we will be bringing together a panel of partners and advocates engaged in the pursuit for social justice. Please join me in April for a Real Talk discussion on how we continue to support our LGBTQIA2+ partners and communities and ways you can get involved.

I know that the ongoing uncertainty can feel deeply personal, and it’s okay to need to talk to someone. All U.S. partners have access to mental health care options at <a href="https://s2.bl-1.com/h/dpVwfvLq?url=https://retailstarbucks1com-my.sharepoint.com/personal/badkins_starbucks_com/Documents/Microsoft%20Teams%20Chat%20Files/lyrahealth.com/starbucks">Lyra</a>. And remember, discrimination and harassment, including intentional misgendering, have no place at Starbucks. If you need support, please call Partner Relations.

Partners, we are in this together and we are committed to doing our part in caring for you and driving real change. Thank you for being part of the journey.

Dennis Brockman (he/him/his) svp, chief global inclusion and diversity officer

That includes your right to self-identify in your own way and to be addressed by your chosen name and pronoun.

Starbucks commitment to LGBTQIA2+: A safe third place where you are seen, heard and valued

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A year ago, I signaled to the Starbucks Board of Directors that as the pandemic neared an end, I would consider retirement. Well, that day has come.&nbsp;

As I make this transition, we are very fortunate to have our founder, Howard Schultz, who is able to step in on an interim basis, giving the Board time to further explore potential candidates and make the right long-term succession decision for the company.&nbsp;

When I say that Starbucks has been a gift in my life, I am really talking about all of you — all Starbucks partners, past and present, around the world.&nbsp;

Today is my 14th Annual Meeting of Shareholders, first as a member of the Board of Directors, then as coo, and the past five years as ceo.&nbsp;

Today’s Annual Meeting will also be my last as a Starbucks partner.&nbsp;

I want to express my gratitude for all that you do and for all that you have taught me about this wonderful company.&nbsp;

You are the heartbeat of Starbucks and together, we are united around a common Mission – a purpose that goes beyond the pursuit of profit – to inspire and nurture the human spirit, one person, one cup, one neighborhood at a time.&nbsp;

Together, we live a set of values that embody compassion, empathy, and support of each other. As partners we work in service of each other, our customers, and our communities.&nbsp;

And to you, my Starbucks partners, I want to offer a heartfelt thank you.&nbsp;

You welcomed me in your stores around the world. We shared stories together in hundreds of partner roundtables and open forums. You taught me what it means to be a partner. When visiting stores, I often put on the green apron and stepped behind the bar where you would indulge me in a beverage “throw down” challenge. I know you let me win some of those flat white competitions! Please know that I have fond memories of making beverages together, laughing together, and sharing stories with one another. Fond memories of how we overcame challenges and pursued opportunity… together.&nbsp;

You are the heartbeat of Starbucks, Our Starbucks, and it has been an honor working in service of YOU!&nbsp;

As always, I am filled with gratitude and optimism for the future of Starbucks.&nbsp;

Starbucks ceo Kevin Johnson expresses gratitude as he announces retirement after 13 years.

A message of thanks to partners from Kevin: Starbucks has been a gift in my life

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Starbucks ceo Kevin Johnson expresses gratitude as he announces his retirement.

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