A Starbucks barista quit her job after her manager asked her to reschedule putting down her family dog so she wouldn't miss her shift
"I can't reschedule when I put my dog down for Starbucks," Auralee Smith, who worked at the company for over two years, told her boss in a text.
news.yahoo.comStarbucks closing 16 stores due to crime concerns, reverses bathroom decision
Coffee chain Starbucks is closing 16 locations – including six around its home city of Seattle - due to safety concerns at the stores and revisiting its open bathroom policy. The closures were based on the number of crime-related complaints logged at each store and whether efforts to lower the number of incidents worked, the Seattle Times reported. The safety concerns included drug use, theft and assault. “With stores in thousands of communities across the country, we know these challenges can, at times, play out within our stores too. Other options include adjusting store formats, furniture layouts, hours of operations, staffing or new security measures, such as bathroom symptoms.
mlive.comStarbucks is closing 16 stores across Los Angeles, Portland, Seattle, and other cities due to a high frequency of 'challenging incidents' — see the list
Starbucks says the closures are in advance of moving the stores to new locations where conditions will be safer for customers and employees.
news.yahoo.com‘I wanted to make this job worth having:’ Michigan Starbucks workers join the union fight
The formal reason for her termination was in response to a disagreement with another shift supervisor almost two months earlier. Eight weeks after her termination Whitbeck’s store went on to win its election and legitimatized the union she helped build. “Instead of like turning us away from it, that has burned the fire underneath us,” said Emily Grasel, shift supervisor in East Lansing. In response to MLive’s request for comment on Whitbeck’s termination Starbucks sent the following statements:“Hannah is no longer with Starbucks for safety and security policy violation. In Michigan, 15.2% of wage and salary workers were union members in 2020, up from 13.6% in 2019.
mlive.comFour more Starbucks unionize in Lansing, Flint
The Clinton Township store within the mall at Partridge Creek was among the five stores holding union elections in Michigan on Thursday. Clinton Township was among four of the five stores voted to unionize including locations in East Lansing, Lansing and Flint. Related: Four Ann Arbor Starbucks stores vote to unionizeEmployees at the Partridge Creek location started crying and cheering after the vote tallied eight to three in favor of the union. Momentum picked up quickly throughout the state shortly after employees in Buffalo, New York became the first to unionize at Starbucks in December. Their store in East Lansing was the only group to vote unanimously to unionize on Thursday.
mlive.comFour Ann Arbor Starbucks stores vote to unionize
Four Starbucks stores across Ann Arbor voted to unionize on Tuesday, June 7. The Seattle-based coffee giant has sought unsuccessfully to prohibit Starbucks workers from organizing their stores individually, arguing that all locations in an area should be required to vote together. A shortened work schedule was among the “100 little things” that added up to Ann Arbor barista Elizabeth Blackwell signing her union petition card. The Ann Arbor stores have received community support from both county commissioners and the University of Michigan The Graduate Employees’ Organization, who attended the watch party in solidarity. And if it doesn’t then we’re going to do something about that.”The following locations voted in favor of unionization:4585 Washtenaw Ave, Ann Arbor MI, 48108300 South Main Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48104120 S. Zeeb Road, Suite 101 in Ann Arbor MI, 48103222 S State, Ann Arbor, MI 48104More on MLive:Ann Arbor-area Starbucks union drive gets support from Washtenaw County leadersRemote work boomerangs tech workers back home to MichiganMichigan sends out absentee ballots soon.
mlive.comWalgreens taps Starbucks exec Brewer as its new CEO
FILE - Starbucks COO Roz Brewer talks about the proposed redesign of a Starbucks store in New Jersey as she speaks Wednesday, March 20, 2019, during the company's annual shareholders meeting in Seattle. Walgreens has tapped Roz Brewer as its new CEO, which will make her the only Black woman currently leading a Fortune 500 company. Brewer will take over as Walgreens CEO on March 15, 2021 after a little more than three years as Starbucks' chief operating officer. At Starbucks, Brewer revamped stores, taking out clutter and cutting down on administrative work so employees could focus on customers and speed up service. Prior to joining Starbucks, Brewer served as president and CEO of Sam’s Club, the members-only warehouse channel of Walmart Inc. She also grew membership and improved merchandise there.
Starbucks' recovery, solid in China, still slow in the US
Starbucks said its business in China, its second-largest market after the U.S., has largely recovered, with same-store sales up 5% in the first quarter. Starbucks said it’s seeing fewer customers in China, but they’re spending more when they visit. The company opened almost 160 stores in China during the first quarter, for a total of more than 4,800. But in the U.S., same-store sales were down 5% for the quarter despite the holiday drinks that usually draw customers. Starbucks said it's confident U.S. same-store sales will rise between 5% and 10% in its fiscal second quarter as the pandemic's impact continues to fade.
Xi asks Starbucks' Schultz to help repair US-China ties
Xi is asking former CEO Howard Schultz of Starbucks to help repair U.S.-Chinese relations that have plunged to their lowest level in decades amid a tariff war and tension over technology and security. (AP Photo/Andy Wong, File)BEIJING – President Xi Jinping is asking former CEO Howard Schultz of Starbucks to help repair U.S.-Chinese relations that have plunged to their lowest level in decades amid a tariff war and tension over technology and security. A letter from Xi to Schultz reported Friday by the official Xinhua News Agency was a rare direct communication from China's paramount leader to a foreign business figure. In a statement issued Friday, Schultz didn't directly address Xi's request to help repair relations, instead saying it was “a great honor” to receive the letter from China's president. The Cabinet press office didn’t immediately respond to questions about what Xi wanted Schultz to do and whether he contacted other American business leaders.
Starbucks targets new market, in coffee exporting Laos
BANGKOK – Starbucks said Monday it plans to open an outlet in Laos as it expands its network of more than 10,000 stores in Asian countries. “We are pleased to introduce the Starbucks brand into Laos, which further builds on our 20 year relationship with Starbucks to grow the coffee industry across Asia,” said Michael Wu, Chairman and Managing Director, Maxim’s Caterers Limited. Before the coronavirus pandemic hit, Laos was drawing growing numbers of foreign tourists, with more than 4 million visiting in 2018. “We will take a thoughtful approach to driving sustainable growth in Laos and look forward to contributing to the country’s vibrant coffee culture," Starbucks said. Starbucks said it was monitoring the coronavirus situation but is still aiming at an opening in summer 2021.
More companies pledge to give workers time to vote
Walmart says it will give its 1.5 million U.S. workers up to three hours paid time off to vote. Then, he formed A Day for Democracy, which asks employers to give workers time off to vote and distribute voter registration information. Once this election is over, Paladjian plans to advocate for a federal election holiday. A little over 400 companies participated last time; Time to Vote says 700 have joined so far this year. Gilbert said even if people vote early, they can still take time on Election Day to drive people to polls, work at polling stations or provide child care so someone else can vote in person.
Starbucks extends offer of free coffee to frontline workers through May 31
DETROIT – Starbucks is extending its offer of free brewed coffee for first responders and front-line workers through May 31. That includes police officers, firefighters, paramedics, doctors, nurses, hospital and medical staff and medical researchers. The coffee giant has already served more than 1 million cups of free coffee to first responders of the coronavirus outbreak. Also, customers looking to recognize the heroes in their lives ahead of National Nurses Week and National Law Enforcement Week in May can choose from specially designed Starbucks gift cards, available in digital form.
These hilarious tweets about Target are making moms everywhere feel seen
We get that there are much bigger problems in the world, but we couldn’t help but laugh at some of these hilarious posts people are making about how much they’re missing Target. If you’re a Target lover, we feel confident you will enjoy these posts just as much as we do. — Rory (@rcdaly95) March 31, 2020I had a dream that I went to target & woke up thinking my dream was real. Now I'm upset #imisstarget — KCB (@kaseytheginge) October 31, 2014I miss the days of wandering aimlessly through the aisles of Target. #TARGET pic.twitter.com/KuPF3EAblD — jess (@jess_arabie) April 3, 2020Getting dressed up to go to #Target cause that’s one of the only places I’m allowed to go in this free world.
The McRib is back, but why doesn't McDonald's sell it year-round?
(CNN) - McDonald's McRib is back again. For example, when the weather turns colder, Starbucks customers habitually get excited about Pumpkin Spice Lattes. When Starbucks announced the return of the Pumpkin Spice Latte last year, it also unveiled the Teavana Pumpkin Spice Chai Tea Latte. And Chernev pointed out that seasonal menu items mean brands have something new to talk about every quarter. Hottovy explained that sales typically rise for a short time when companies unveil seasonal items.