Starbucks has grown to be a regular destination for many people. Coffee, which is widely popular in the United States and elsewhere, is a beverage that millions of individuals rely on to get them through the day. That is why it is significant news that Starbucks, one of the world’s major coffee companies, will be shutting down sixteen shops as a result of safety issues.
Starbucks is closing its shops in the United States of America due to increasing safety concerns in various cities across the country. Starbucks locations will be shut down in Los Angeles, Portland, Philadelphia, Seattle, and Washington, D.C., among other cities, within the next few months.
A letter from Debbie Stroud and Denise Nelson, senior vice presidents of U.S. operations, to Starbucks partners about safety and what shops may do to make their stores safe places for customers to visit was published on a Starbucks site as follows:
“You’ve been open and honest with us about your experience – from what you need to feel your best at work to the many inspirational and heartfelt examples of how you are creating memorable moments for one another and our customers. You also see firsthand the challenges facing our communities – personal safety, racism, lack of access to healthcare, a growing mental health crisis, rising drug use, and more. With stores in thousands of communities across the country, we know these challenges can, at times, play out within our stores too. We read every incident report you file – it’s a lot.”
The letter then goes on to read, “We want you to know that creating a safe, welcoming, and kind third place is our top priority. Because simply put, we cannot serve as partners if we don’t first feel safe at work. The question on our minds is: How do we continue to show up for our communities while protecting our partners?”
They also outlined how they intend to put this “robust safety training for all partners, like how to de-escalate situations, active shooter training, mental health first aid training, and our upcoming store training in August.”
The Starbucks letter also detailed the company’s “clear policies and procedures, like our Third Place Policy, Addressing Disruptive Behaviors procedure, when to call 911, how to engage local community resources or social services to support customers in need, protest preparedness, customer restriction procedures, and more.”
The letter comes to a close, “We hear the challenges facing you in stores, and we all have a lot more to still figure out – but we know we’ll get there because YOU have shown us, time and again, that our stores can be a place of hope, optimism, and community for all. As we move forward, we will continue learning together and share regular updates on this important work.”
What are your thoughts on Starbucks? Do you feel secure when visiting their coffee shops?
