Come spring and Starbucks employees will enjoy double the paid parental leave benefits they were enjoying till now. Some employees may see the paid parental leave increase by three times.
Birth mothers can now enjoy 18 weeks of paid leave compared to the earlier six weeks. Parents who adopt a baby or bring home a child through surrogacy, or opt for long-term foster care, will be able to enjoy up to 12 weeks of paid leave at 100 per cent of their average pay.
However, only employees who put in an average of 20 hours of work per week are eligible for these benefits.
Starbucks is witnessing positive changes ever since Brian Niccol was appointed CEO about five months ago. Niccol entered the company just when it had been facing challenges posed by low profits, dipping footfall and unionisation activities. Determined to turn around the fortune of the coffee chain, Niccol has been endeavouring to increase profitability and improve the working environment for the employees. His focus has been to make the environment transparent and improve the speed of decision-making. The decision to double paid parental leave was based on feedback received from the employees and interactions that Niccol has had with the workers.
The coffee major is also working on bettering its scheduling. This will ensure that there is sufficient staff at the right times, and also to ensure that employees are able to receive a minimum of 24 hours of work every week. The chain is also serious about choosing internally for 90 per cent of retail leadership vacancies. Starbucks is already bearing the tuition fees of its employees and contributing to their career growth.
