American coffeehouse chain and coffee retailer Starbucks will pay its employees for the next 30 days, regardless of whether they choose to stay at home, to ensure any staff that come into work are not doing so because of financial pressures, and to help prevent the spread of Covid-19 (Coronavirus).
In addition to the existing sick pay and personal time off benefits, the organisation will continue to pay employees from 21 March to 19 April if they choose to stay at home, regardless of whether they have been exposed to Coronavirus or not.
The organisation is also offering 'service pay', an additional $3 (£2.59) per hour for shifts worked in the same 30-day period, and a hardship fund for employees experiencing financial difficulties. The business will also add temporary food discounts for all employees.
Starbucks has also expanded its Care@Work program, set to provide support for employees needing help with childcare options during school closures. This will now provide parents with 20 days of backup care, and the option to use out-of-network caregivers, with a reimbursement of up to $125 (£107.94) per day.
Rossann Williams, executive vice president at Starbucks, said: “Together, we have successfully navigated many challenges throughout our history, and managing Covid-19 will be no different. You have my word, we will continue to stay true to our mission and values, making the right decisions even when it’s hard, and caring for [employees] and our customers.”
