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Starbucks extends coronavirus café closures, catastrophe pay and benefits, until May 3Starbucks extends coronavirus café closures, catastrophe pay and benefits, until May 3

In a letter from executive vice president Rossann Williams, Starbucks details its latest coronavirus-related updates for customers and employees

Joanna Fantozzi, Senior Editor

April 2, 2020

3 Min Read
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Joanna Fantozzi

In response to the worsening coronavirus crisis across the country, Starbucks has announced that they will be extending all café closures, as well as catastrophe pay and other benefits for employees, through May 3, according to a letter to employees from executive vice president Rossann Williams. Originally, café closures, which were announced on March 21, were supposed to last “at least two weeks,” while sick, elderly, or at-risk employees could initially receive up to 14 days of catastrophe pay if affected by the pandemic. Starbucks will also be extending their $3 per hour “Service Pay” raises for all in-store employees through May 3.

“We will also continue other temporarily expanded benefits for partners, whether they are working a shift or not, like childcare support through Care@Work and our expanded food and beverage benefit and discounts,” Williams continued in the letter.

In addition to helping out employees with special benefits, the letter from Williams also stipulated that the company will again be ramping up sanitation procedures and shifting operational procedures to adjust to the “new normal” during the COVID-19 crisis. Starbucks is providing wellness checks for employees before every shift and sending thermometers to company-operated stores for employees who want extra assurance as they come into work.

Related:Starbucks implements $3 pay raise for all working employees during coronavirus crisis

The company is also “looking into” providing “non-medical-grade masks” as options for employees who come into work, though Williams clarified that they would not be sourcing medical-grade masks due to the nationwide shortage in hospitals.

Other adjustments are meant to ease service adjustments as Starbucks is operating on a delivery and drive-thru model-only. They are looking into adding a store entryway handoff for customers to mitigate traffic at drive-thru lines for select stores. 

“After May 3, we do intend to slowly begin to adjust back to more normal operating models and benefits plans, recognizing that the COVID-19 situation in each community is still incredibly different and fluid,” Williams said in the letter.

On the philanthropic side of the company, Starbucks has also announced that the Starbucks Foundation has donated more than $3 million to support “community response efforts globally” to COVID-19, including funds being raised for the COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund in support of the World Health Organization, $250,000 being contributed to local nonprofits in Starbucks’ hometown of Seattle, and another $250,000 donated to nonprofits in New York City, which has the nation’s highest rate of coronavirus.

Related:Starbucks closes cafes, limits orders to delivery and drive-thru

“This critical funding will help with unforeseen expenses for medical and cleaning supplies, additional staff and overtime to help care for more than 300 children in shelter who no longer have school to go to each day, and curb the threat of the virus by helping more families move out of shelter and into housing,” Marty Hartman, Executive Director, Mary’s Place, a nonprofit shelter organization based in Seattle, and recipient of a donation from Starbucks.

In addition to this long list of charitable donations, Starbucks also announced that it will be providing a free, tall brewed coffee to front-line responders, including healthcare workers and emergency responders.

For our most up-to-date coverage, visit the coronavirus homepage.

Contact Joanna Fantozzi at [email protected]

Follow her on Twitter: @JoannaFantozzi

About the Author

Joanna Fantozzi

Senior Editor

Joanna Fantozzi is a Senior Editor for Nation’s Restaurant News and Restaurant Hospitality. She has more than seven years of experience writing about the restaurant and hospitality industry. Her editorial coverage ranges from profiles of independent restaurants around the country to breaking news and insights into some of the biggest brands in food and beverage, including Starbucks, Domino’s, and Papa John’s.  

Joanna holds a bachelor’s degree in English literature and creative writing from The College of New Jersey and a master’s degree in arts and culture journalism from the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY. Prior to joining Informa’s Restaurants and Food Group in 2018, she was a freelance food, culture, and lifestyle writer, and has previously held editorial positions at Insider (formerly known as Business Insider) and The Daily Meal. Joanna’s work can also be found in The New York Times, Forbes, Vice, The New York Daily News, and Parents Magazine. 

Her areas of expertise include restaurant industry news, restaurant operator solutions and innovations, and political/cultural issues.

Joanna Fantozzi has been a moderator and event facilitator at both Informa’s MUFSO and Restaurants Rise industry events. 

Joanna Fantozzi’s experience:

Senior Editor, Informa Restaurant & Food Group (August 2021-present)

Associate Editor, Informa Restaurant & Food Group (July 2019-August 2021)

Assistant Editor, Informa Restaurant & Food Group (Oct. 2018-July 2019)

Freelance Food & Lifestyle Reporter (Feb. 2018-Oct. 2018)

Food & Lifestyle Reporter, Insider (June 2017-Feb. 2018)

News Editor, The Daily Meal (Jan. 2014- June 2017)

Staff Reporter, Straus News (Jan. 2013-Dec. 2013)

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