We understand there is some confusion regarding a potential Starbucks kiosk at the San Jose Convention Center. We want to set the record straight on a rumor, which states that Starbucks has requested an exemption from the San Jose living wage policy. It’s particularly important for us to correct this misinformation because it is not reflective of how we do business. Starbucks never requested such an exemption with the City of San Jose. San Jose is an important market for Starbucks, and although we asked for more information about this location, we decided to pursue other opportunities in the area after reviewing the site.

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Starbucks is rooted in the notion that the best way to ensure our success is to take care of our people. In fact, since the earliest days of the company, we offered stock options and health care to eligible part-time workers – a commitment which continues to this day and that most other retailers don’t offer. In addition to these important benefits, Starbucks partners (how we refer to our employees) receive a comprehensive compensation package that includes a competitive wage, eligibility for merit increases every six months, tuition reimbursement, free coffee and a 30 percent in-store discount on beverages, food and merchandise. 

Our partners have, and always will be, at the heart of everything we do. More than four decades in business, we continue our commitment to be at the forefront of doing all that we can to invest in our people.

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Setting the Record Straight: Starbucks Never Requested Living Wage Exemption - Starbucks Stories

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Setting the Record Straight: Starbucks Never Requested Living Wage Exemption

We understand there is some confusion regarding a potential Starbucks kiosk at the San Jose Convention Center.

https://stories.starbucks.com/press/2014/setting-the-record-straight-starbucks-never-requested-living-wage-exemption/

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SEATTLE (December 12, 2013) - Starbucks Coffee Company (NASDAQ: SBUX) issued the following statement from its chairman, president and ceo Howard Schultz commending the U.S. House of Representatives for passing a bipartisan, two-year federal budget today.

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“I want to commend our elected leaders in the U.S. House of Representatives for putting aside their partisan differences and achieving an important, while not perfect, budget agreement. This deal provides important stability to our economy at a critical time for all Americans, and avoids another disastrous shut-down or default.

“Citizens simply cannot afford a repeat of the past, and this action restores some needed confidence in our future. The bipartisan leadership of U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) and U.S. Representative Paul Ryan (R-WI) demonstrates what is possible when we come together with civility and for a common purpose to serve the greater good of the country. The Senate should follow their lead and pass this budget.”

This fall nearly two million Americans signed a petition posted in Starbucks stores across the U.S. and on the company’s website urging Congress and the White House to reach a deal to resolve the U.S. budget crisis.

Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz Commends House of Representatives on Budget Approval - Starbucks Stories

Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz Commends House of Representatives on Budget Approval

Starbucks issued a statement from its chairman, president and ceo Howard Schultz commending the U.S. House of Representatives for passing a bipartisan, two-year federal budget today.

https://stories.starbucks.com/press/2013/starbucks-ceo-howard-schultz-commends-house-of-representatives-on-budget-ap/

Read the letter from Howard Schultz, Starbucks chairman, president and ceo, to America's business leaders asking them to continue discussing ways to foster a culture of responsible self-government.

I write today with a sense of relief that our political leaders are governing again. Yet, it pains me to think of the millions of Americans whose voices will never be heard – whose lives were fractured by this senseless lack of responsibility. While we do not yet have the long-term plan that our economy and country needs, this is an important step forward. There is no doubt that the upcoming decisions and votes about long-term budget issues are complex and difficult ones for the President and Members of Congress.

It should be abundantly clear that a majority of Americans of varying political persuasions want our elected officials to continue to come together and make the hard decisions ahead in a spirit of civility and common purpose. Reasonable minds can disagree, but responsible leaders must still govern for the American people.

As to our responsibility as business leaders and citizens, I continue to believe we cannot be bystanders about our collective future. We are going to have to become more engaged so that Washington doesn’t fall back into this kind of unnecessary crisis every few months. 

I appreciate the dialogue we have had and I hope we can continue to discuss ways to foster a culture of responsible self-government. The response to our Come Together petition drive – nearly two million partners (employees) and customers signed it – has inspired me to think more about what we can do at Starbucks to continue to use our scale for good. 

Together, let’s continue to pursue a more perfect union.

Continuing to Pursue a More Perfect Union - Starbucks Stories

Continuing to Pursue a More Perfect Union

Read the letter from Howard Schultz, Starbucks chairman, president and ceo, to America's business leaders asking them to continue discussing ways to foster a culture of responsible self-government.

https://stories.starbucks.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Petition_Thank_You.jpg

https://stories.starbucks.com/press/2013/continuing-to-pursue-a-more-perfect-union/

Read the letter from Howard Schultz, Starbucks chairman, president and ceo, to America's business leaders asking them to sign a petition urging our elected leaders to come together for the collective good.

I am grateful to all of you for the outpouring of support and ideas regarding how we can best solve the current crisis of leadership in which we are now embroiled. 

What has become clear to me over these past few days – aside from the continued dysfunction we see from our elected leaders – is the sad and striking realization that the American people have no platform with which to voice their frustration with Washington and the current stalemate that threatens our nation. The fact that the government’s “We the People” initiative website has shut down due to a lack of funding says everything about the irresponsible and untenable situation our political leadership has created across America.

This is one area where we can help put our country back on the right track. Using our collective scale for good, this Friday Starbucks and others will distribute a petition (<a href="http://www.cometogetherpetition.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">www.ComeTogetherPetition.com</a>) asking Congress and the White House to:

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Starbucks will offer up its thousands of stores across the nation to give the millions of customers who come through our stores every week, and thousands of partners (employees) who serve them, an opportunity to have their voices heard by signing our petition. Please join us in doing what you – and your companies – can to give the American people the voice they currently lack, and are desperately crying out for. And in the process, you can help to restore faith and trust in our government through your civil words and deeds.

Watch Howard speak about this petition and the importance of coming together to make our voices heard:

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The come together petition is available in participating Starbucks stores in the US:

If We Come Together, Our Voices Will Be Heard - Starbucks Stories

If We Come Together, Our Voices Will Be Heard

Read the letter from Howard Schultz, Starbucks chairman, president and ceo, to America's business leaders asking them to sign a petition urging our elected leaders to come together for the collective good.

https://stories.starbucks.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/ComeTogetherPetitionAd.jpg

https://stories.starbucks.com/press/2013/if-we-come-together-our-voices-will-be-heard/

Read the letter from Howard Schultz, Starbucks chairman, president and ceo, to Starbucks partners (employees) about coming together during uncertain times.

As I reflect on the success our company has achieved during the past year, I am nevertheless reminded of the hardships, stresses and strains that many of our customers are experiencing in these volatile times. The U.S. federal government shutdown, the pending debt and default crisis, waning consumer confidence and the general sense of unease these and other events have instilled in the minds of so many have created another period of uncertainty in our country.

Faced with this seemingly unending cycle of dysfunction and doubt, it would be understandable if many of us -- and our customers -- felt cynical, powerless or disengaged. So, as we have done in the past, we once again find ourselves asking a simple question: What can WE do about it at Starbucks? After all, we're just a coffee company.

Our business was built customer-by-customer, one cup of coffee at a time. Every day in our stores, we bear witness to small acts of human kindness that reflect the generosity of spirit at the core of our guiding principles. Most often, these are the little gestures that best embody our commitment to our communities and our care for our customers, and one another.

Starting Wednesday through this Friday, we honor that heritage. If a customer buys someone else their favorite beverage, we will offer that customer a free tall brewed coffee in return. It's that simple – “pay it forward,” and Starbucks will pay you back. I believe you will agree that this is a different yet authentic way Starbucks can help our fellow citizens to Come Together by supporting one another during a particularly challenging time, while continuing to make Starbucks stores a place of respite and comfort for millions of customers.

I've said before that we have a responsibility as well as an opportunity not to be bystanders, but to act in ways that contribute to the vibrancy of the communities where we live and work. This has always been the lens through which we make decisions, and it is a key reason why our customers have continually trusted us to do the right thing.

Please join me in helping our customers Come Together to support and connect with one another, even as we wait for our elected officials to do the same for our country. And thank you all for the heroic things you do every day as a Starbucks partner. Together, we can continue to make a difference-one cup, one customer, one act of civility and kindness at a time.

Stay tuned for more in the coming days as we continue to use our scale for good.

When we Come Together our voices can be heard.

Message from Howard to Partners: Come Together - Starbucks Stories

Message from Howard to Partners: Come Together

Read the letter from Howard Schultz, Starbucks chairman, president and ceo, to Starbucks partners (employees) about coming together during uncertain times.

https://stories.starbucks.com/press/2013/message-from-howard-to-partners-come-together/

Read the letter below from Howard Schultz, Starbucks chairman, president and ceo, to America's business leaders about putting citizenship above partisanship

Monday, October 7, 2013

Like so many of you, I find myself utterly disappointed by the level of irresponsibility and dysfunction we are witness to with our elected political leadership. This weekend I heard from several business leaders who shared their concern about our relative silence and impact in urging the political leadership to act on behalf of the citizenry. I hope you share my view that it is our responsibility to address the crisis of confidence that is needlessly being set in motion. I’d like to encourage you to consider what your companies and organizations can do to help shift the norms of our country back toward civility, compromise and problem-solving. 

At Starbucks, we are planning actions in the coming weeks to galvanize our customers, inspire our people and encourage the communities we serve to come together to take care of each other. In uncertain moments such as these, it is time for us as citizens and business leaders to remind our employees and customers that we stand with them. Perhaps through these actions, we can remind the Congress and the President of their duty to put citizenship over partisanship for the sake of our country and the world at large. 

Please join me in pleading for civility and a respectful, honest discourse among politicians to bring a solution to the current stalemate. I don't pretend that both parties are equally to blame for this crisis. But, I do think they are equally responsible for leading us to a solution. We have to do what we can to mitigate and avoid the unintended consequences that the current political direction is leading the country and world toward. Let’s start by pushing for solutions and speaking out against posturing and blaming. The humanity and conscience of our country depends on it. 

I am eager to hear your thoughts and ideas on what else we can do together to move us past this crisis in leadership. 

A Call for Civility and Leadership - Starbucks Stories

Read the letter from Howard Schultz, Starbucks chairman, president and ceo, to America's business leaders about putting citizenship above partisanship

https://stories.starbucks.com/press/2013/a-call-for-civility-and-leadership/

A Call for Civility and Leadership

Read the Open Letter from Howard Schultz, Starbucks chairman, president and ceo, respectfully requesting customers not to bring weapons into our stores.

Tuesday, September 17, 2013

Few topics in America generate a more polarized and emotional debate than guns. In recent months, Starbucks stores and our partners (employees) who work in our stores have been thrust unwillingly into the middle of this debate. That’s why I am writing today with a respectful request that customers no longer bring firearms into our stores or outdoor seating areas.

From the beginning, our vision at Starbucks has been to create a “third place” between home and work where people can come together to enjoy the peace and pleasure of coffee and community. Our values have always centered on building community rather than dividing people, and our stores exist to give every customer a safe and comfortable respite from the concerns of daily life.

We appreciate that there is a highly sensitive balance of rights and responsibilities surrounding America’s gun laws, and we recognize the deep passion for and against the “open carry” laws adopted by many states. (In the United States, “open carry” is the term used for openly carrying a firearm in public.) For years we have listened carefully to input from our customers, partners, community leaders and voices on both sides of this complicated, highly charged issue.

Our company’s longstanding approach to “open carry” has been to follow local laws: we permit it in states where allowed and we prohibit it in states where these laws don’t exist. We have chosen this approach because we believe our store partners should not be put in the uncomfortable position of requiring customers to disarm or leave our stores. We believe that gun policy should be addressed by government and law enforcement—not by Starbucks and our store partners.

Recently, however, we’ve seen the “open carry” debate become increasingly uncivil and, in some cases, even threatening. Pro-gun activists have used our stores as a political stage for media events misleadingly called “Starbucks Appreciation Days” that disingenuously portray Starbucks as a champion of “open carry.” To be clear: we do not want these events in our stores. Some anti-gun activists have also played a role in ratcheting up the rhetoric and friction, including soliciting and confronting our customers and partners.

For these reasons, today we are respectfully requesting that customers no longer bring firearms into our stores or outdoor seating areas—even in states where “open carry” is permitted—unless they are authorized law enforcement personnel.

I would like to clarify two points. First, this is a request and not an outright ban. Why? Because we want to give responsible gun owners the chance to respect our request—and also because enforcing a ban would potentially require our partners to confront armed customers, and that is not a role I am comfortable asking Starbucks partners to take on. Second, we know we cannot satisfy everyone. For those who oppose “open carry,” we believe the legislative and policy-making process is the proper arena for this debate, not our stores. For those who champion “open carry,” please respect that Starbucks stores are places where everyone should feel relaxed and comfortable. The presence of a weapon in our stores is unsettling and upsetting for many of our customers.

I am proud of our country and our heritage of civil discourse and debate. It is in this spirit that we make today’s request. Whatever your view, I encourage you to be responsible and respectful of each other as citizens and neighbors.

Watch Howard's video message to U.S. store partners on this important topic:

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Our Respectful Request - Starbucks Stories

Read the Open Letter from Howard Schultz, Starbucks chairman, president and ceo, respectfully requesting customers not to bring weapons into our stores.

https://stories.starbucks.com/press/2013/open-letter-from-howard/

Our Respectful Request

Starbucks was one of the first U.S. retailers to offer affordable and comprehensive health coverage to eligible full- and part-time partners (employees) and their families. It’s been a cornerstone of our partner-focused culture for more than two decades. As America’s health care system changes in the coming years, Starbucks is committed to continuing to be a leader in doing the right thing by ensuring that our partners have the peace of mind that comes with affordable health care.

Partners who work an average of 20 hours per week or more have the option of two quality health plans. Hourly and salaried partners are offered the same plans. For both plans, Starbucks funds approximately 70 percent of the premium costs and covers 100 percent of preventive care services. New in 2014, the company will also fund 100 percent of women’s preventive health coverage. We’re proud of our plan and believe it’s one of the many reasons people want to work at Starbucks.

To help make the complexities of the changing health care system simpler and easier to understand, we have developed tools and resources for all partners, including <a href="http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLLt7Vrrx9E2DVAtb_QTdytOzXjVcuBowY">these videos</a> that explain our company’s responsibilities to our partners, as well as their options. For partners not currently eligible for Starbucks plans, we have created a new <a href="http://www.yourcoverageresources.com/page.php?cid=353VV2ZKBQFDWEB">State Marketplace Information Center </a>where they can learn about options available in the new insurance marketplace.

Our Commitment to Comprehensive Health Care - Starbucks Stories

Our Commitment to Comprehensive Health Care

Affordable and comprehensive health care for our partners and their families has been important to Starbucks for more than two decades. Here's why.

https://stories.starbucks.com/press/2013/health-care/

On August 9, 2013 we closed our Newtown, CT store early. Find out more from Chris Carr, executive vice president, U.S. Retail.

At Starbucks we are proud that our stores serve as gathering places for thousands of communities across the country and we appreciate that our customers share diverse points of view on issues that matter to them. We also believe in being sensitive to each community we serve.

Today, advocacy groups from different sides of the open carry debate announced plans to visit our Newtown, Connecticut store to bring attention to their points of view. We recognize that there is significant and genuine passion surrounding this topic, however out of respect for Newtown and everything the community has been through we decided to close our store early before the event started. Starbucks did not endorse or sponsor the event. We continue to encourage customers and advocacy groups from all sides of the debate to contact their elected officials, who make the open carry laws that our company follows. Our long-standing approach to this topic has been to comply with local laws and statutes in the communities we serve.

Thank you for your understanding and respect for the Newtown community.

Early Store Closure in Newtown, Connecticut - Starbucks Stories

Early Store Closure in Newtown, Connecticut

On August 9, 2013 we closed our Newtown, CT store early. Find out more from Chris Carr, executive vice president, U.S. Retail.

https://stories.starbucks.com/press/2013/early-store-closure-in-newtown-connecticut/

As signed by Starbucks partner, Ryan Schlecht

Recent allegations have surfaced in the media regarding the treatment of some Deaf customers in two of our New York City stores. On behalf of the over 200,000 partners (employees), we want to take the opportunity to be clear that discrimination of any kind is not tolerated at Starbucks. We take these allegations very seriously, and believe they are neither consistent with our values nor our track record of engaging the Deaf community both as partners and as customers.

We want Starbucks to be a place where Deaf people want to work and visit. We strive to provide a Starbucks Experience that is culturally sensitive and inclusive of Deaf etiquette. We are proud of our continued growth in recruiting and employing members of the Deaf community at our headquarters in Seattle, as well as in our stores in the U.S. and across the globe. We are also grateful for the <a href="http://deafreview.com/business/reviewed?what=Starbucks&amp;where=Seattle%2C+WA&amp;submit=Search+Businesses">positive feedback </a>we continue to receive from the Deaf community on our accessibility in stores, as well as the opportunity to support <a href="http://www.starbucksmelody.com/2012/08/12/signing-at-starbucks-benefit-oc-deaf/">American Sign Language interpreted store events</a>.

At Starbucks, inclusion and cultural sensitivity are core to our leadership training and foundational to the Starbucks Experience. We promote equality, inclusion and accessibility, including offering a number of ways we directly support our Deaf partners and customers.

We provide training, including American Sign Language as well as a “Creating a Deaf Friendly Environment” course, to help engage our partners in delivering an accessible environment for all.

We also provide communications equipment and resources to our Deaf partners for interpreting services such as video relay interpreting services, real time captioning, flashing strobe light signalers for emergency evacuation notice, and video captioning.

Our Starbucks Access Alliance also helps promote equal opportunity and accessibility for partners and customers.

Starbucks is a business with humanity at its soul and communities in which we have the opportunity to serve are the heart of our business.

More information on inclusion and accessibility from Cliff Burrows, Starbucks group president, Americas, Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA), and Teavana, can be found on our website<a href="http://www.starbucks.com/responsibility/community/diversity-and-inclusion"> here</a>. We also welcome you to view a few of our Deaf partners’ stories as told <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S65xRCvV8xY">here</a>, <a href="http://deafnation.com/joelbarish/usa-tour/starbucks-deaf-barista/">here</a>, and <a href="http://deafnation.com/joelbarish/usa-tour/visiting-starbucks-hq/">here</a>.

Starbucks on Inclusion of Deaf Community - Starbucks Stories

Read about Starbucks inclusion of the deaf community.

https://stories.starbucks.com/press/2013/starbucks-on-inclusion-of-deaf-community/

Starbucks on Inclusion of Deaf Community

Posted by Ann B. - Global Responsibility manager

The effects of climate change are far-reaching, and farmers around the world are especially sensitive to the impact. Traditional farming strategies may not yield the same results, and farmers now contend with an increasing number of variables that can affect coffee production.

Conservation International’s Sumatra program manager Fazrin Rahmadani is witnessing this firsthand. “In the past, a stable climate in Sumatra minimized instances of pests and diseases, helped regulate the rainy season and made it easier to predict fertilization periods for coffee,” writes Rahmadani. Today, unexpected changes question tried and true farming methods and introduce new challenges. The coffee berry borer (Hypothenemus hampei), for instance, has begun “expanding to higher altitudes and posing a growing threat to coffee crops.”

With the help of our partners at Conservation International, it’s our goal to help farmers address these challenges as they arise through our<a href="http://www.conservation.org/campaigns/starbucks/Pages/CAFE_Practices_Results.aspx"> C.A.F.E. Practices program</a>. Helping farmers thrive in the midst of a changing climate is fundamental to our mission statement, and helps to secure the future of the thing we are most passionate about: incredible coffee.

Read Rahmadani’s <a href="http://www.starbucks.com/blog/helping-sumatran-farmers-respond-to-climate-change/1213">full blog entry here </a>to learn how Starbucks and Conservation International are working together on a pilot approach to helping farmers respond to the effects of climate change without sacrificing the principles of high-quality, climate-friendly coffee production.

Helping Sumatran Farmers Respond to Climate Change - Starbucks Stories

Helping Sumatran Farmers Respond to Climate Change

July 23, 2012 Posted by Ann B. &#8211; Global Responsibility manager The effects of climate change are far-reaching, and farmers around the world are especially sensitive to the impact. Traditional farming strategies may not yield the same results, and farmers now contend with an increasing number of variables that can affect coffee production. Conservation International’s […]

https://stories.starbucks.com/press/2012/helping-sumatran-farmers-respond-to-climate-change/

Taiwan was previously labeled "Taiwan, Province of China" on the store locator system on Starbucks.com in deference to International naming conventions. Because Starbucks takes no position on political issues, the system has been adjusted and the store locator is now labeled "Taiwan."

Starbucks Statement re: Taiwan on Starbucks.com - Starbucks Stories

Starbucks Statement re: Taiwan on Starbucks.com

Taiwan was previously labeled &#8220;Taiwan, Province of China&#8221; on the store locator system on Starbucks.com in deference to International naming conventions. Because Starbucks takes no position on political issues, the system has been adjusted and the store locator is now labeled &#8220;Taiwan.&#8221;

https://stories.starbucks.com/press/2009/starbucks-statement-re-taiwan-on-starbucks-com/

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