Starbucks serves 1 million free coffees to frontline workers, extends offer through May 31

Starbucks serves 1 million free coffees to frontline workers, extends offer through May 31

TAMPA, Fla. (WTVT) -- Starbucks announced Thursday that the company would be extending its current free coffee offer to front-line workers and first responders through the end of May.The promotion was originally announced on March 25, with Starbucks committing to provide free, tall coffees -- hot or iced -- to anyone identifying as police, firefighters, paramedics or health care professionals working on the front lines amid the coronavirus crisis.At the time, Starbucks scheduled the promotion to end on May 3.

Starbucks eyes store re-openings as coronavirus fight shows progress

Starbucks eyes store re-openings as coronavirus fight shows progress

SEATTLE -- Starbucks is exploring plans to re-open its U.S. stores after weeks of limited service due to the coronavirus pandemic.In a letter to employees on Thursday, April 16, Starbucks CEO Kevin Johnsons aid the coffeehouse chain has moved to a "monitor and adapt" phase of its response to the pandemic.Federal and state authorities are conducting continued discussions about when and how to restart the nation's economy.

Starbucks giving free coffee to first responders during coronavirus pandemic

Starbucks giving free coffee to first responders during coronavirus pandemic

(WJW) — Starbucks is giving back during the coronavirus crisis.On Wednesday, the company announced it’s giving free coffee to front-line responders to COVID-19 until May 3.Any customer who identifies as a first responder or front-line worker supporting the healthcare system will receive a tall brewed coffee — hot or iced — at no charge.

Starbucks offering mental-health, financial resources to employees affected by coronavirus pandemic

Starbucks offering mental-health, financial resources to employees affected by coronavirus pandemic

SEATTLE -- Starbucks is trying to make sure its employees have the tools they need to cope not only with a new coronavirus but also the stress accompanying the pandemic.Workers at the coffeehouse chain will have access to mental-health resources and can be compensated for any scheduled shifts they miss because of the COVID-19 virus.Starbucks' Executive Vice President Rossann Williams wrote a letter to employees on March 11 that stated:

Starbucks expands presence in low-income communities

Starbucks expands presence in low-income communities

DETROIT — Starbucks is expanding a program that tries to help low-income communities by opening coffee shops and hiring local workers.The Seattle-based company plans to open or remodel 85 stores by 2025 in rural and urban communities across the U.S. That will bring to 100 the total number of community stores Starbucks has opened since it announced the program in 2015.

Starbucks sees no bias in 'ISIS' cup for Muslim man

Starbucks sees no bias in 'ISIS' cup for Muslim man

A man in Islamic dress believes he faced discrimination at a Starbucks in Philadelphia, where an employee at another location last year called police on two black men, prompting nationwide racial bias training.Niquel Johnson gave his Islamic name, "Aziz" (ah-zeez), to a Starbucks barista on Aug. 25th but never heard it called out as the names of the three drinks he ordered were read instead.

Is print dead? Well, it is at Starbucks

Is print dead? Well, it is at Starbucks

NEW YORK — Newspapers at Starbucks are yesterday's news.Starbucks will quit selling The New York Times, Wall Street Journal and Gannett papers like USA Today in more than 8,600 U.S. stores in September, citing "changing customer behavior." Starbucks has sold The Times since 2000 and other papers since 2010.Indeed, the smells and smears of newsprint are in decline.

Barista reportedly asks Arizona police officers to leave Starbucks after making customer ‘feel uncomfortable’

Barista reportedly asks Arizona police officers to leave Starbucks after making customer ‘feel uncomfortable’

TEMPE, Ariz. — A Starbucks barista allegedly asked a group of Arizona police officers to leave the establishment because they were “making a customer feel uncomfortable.”The incident occurred at a Tempe Starbucks location July 4, KNXV reports.Six officers had reportedly paid for their drinks and were standing together inside the coffee shop when the barista approached them.He then told the group that they were making another customer uncomfortable and needed to either move out of the customer’s sight or leave.The officers chose to leave the establishment.The Tempe Officers Association released a statement to KNXV, stating they are aware this isn’t a nationwide Starbucks policy:

Needle disposal boxes coming to some Starbucks

Needle disposal boxes coming to some Starbucks

The newest amenity coming to Starbucks is a depressing one: needle disposal boxes.The company says that they will be installed at some locations because employees have found discarded bloody needles and syringes in bathrooms, USA Today reports.

Starbucks will start paying employees to volunteer 20 hours a week

Starbucks will start paying employees to volunteer 20 hours a week

Starbucks is paying employees to give back.The company announced on Thursday that it is testing a program that will allow some employees to spend half of their workweek at a local nonprofit.With the help of Points of Light, a nonprofit volunteering group, Starbucks picked 36 Starbucks Service Fellows in 13 cities for the pilot program.

Court: Starbucks, others must pay workers for off clock work

Court: Starbucks, others must pay workers for off clock work

SAN FRANCISCO — Starbucks and other employers in California must pay workers for minutes they routinely spend off the clock on tasks such as locking up or setting the store alarm, the state Supreme Court ruled Thursday.The unanimous ruling was a big victory for hourly workers in California and could prompt additional lawsuits against employers in the state.The ruling came in a lawsuit by a Starbucks employee, Douglas Troester, who argued that he was entitled to be paid for the time he spent closing the store after he had clocked out.Troester said he activated the store alarm, locked the front door and walked co-workers to their cars — tasks that required him to work for four to 10 additional minutes a day.An attorney for Starbucks referred comment to the company.

Starbucks, citing environment, is ditching plastic straws

Starbucks, citing environment, is ditching plastic straws

SEATTLE — Starbucks, citing the environment threat to oceans, will ban plastic straws from all of its stores globally in less than two years.The company becomes the largest food and beverage company operating globally to do so.Starbucks said Monday that it is making available a strawless lid at 8,000 stores in the U.S. and Canada for certain drinks.Starbucks Coffee Co.

Starbucks employee fired after mocking stuttering customer

Starbucks employee fired after mocking stuttering customer

PHILADELPHIA — Starbucks says an employee in Philadelphia has been fired after reportedly mocking a customer with a stutter.The coffee chain says the behavior did not reflect the experience customers should have and the employee is no longer with Starbucks.A customer posted Sunday on Facebook that his friend stuttered when giving his name.