One of the companies I interact with a lot is Starbucks. They are at every corner, and it is so convenient to get coffee fast. We all know Starbucks is an American multinational chain of coffeehouses and roastery. Starbucks is seen to be the major coffeehouse chain. As of September 2020, the company has 32 660 stores in 83 countries. The company is focusing on leading the business with ethical practices and having a safe atmosphere. Their ethics standards apply to all partners, independent contractors, third parties, and workers that interact with the brand.
As of my research, Starbucks empowers all partners to make decisions that impact their reputation. They want to make sure that everyone takes responsibility for their Starbucks Mission and acts ethically in all situations. So, let’s dig in…
Starbucks’ core values require compliance with the law as well as ethical conduct. If those standards haven`t been met, every employee can talk to a manager, call a 24/7 Ethics and Compliance Helpline or Webline and ask for help, ask a question, or address the issue in general. All of this is anonymous so nobody can experience pressure or get into a conflict with another employee, supervisor, etc. Starbucks does not tolerate retaliation against or the victimization of any partner who raises concerns or questions regarding a potential violation of the Standards of Business Conduct or any Starbucks policy that he or she reasonably believes to have occurred. For an employee is important to know that their opinion matters, and it has value.
In their workplace environment, every employee must be treated with respect and dignity. This means that all partners are entitled to work in an environment that is free of harassment, bullying, and discrimination. Such as unwelcome remarks, gestures of physical contact, verbal or physical abuse, threats, and many more. At Starbucks each employee has equal opportunities for promotion, the decisions are based solely on job-related criteria. The company is stimulating employees’ growth in their career paths. Another significant ethical principal
Diversity is a big aspect of the company`s ethical code. Starbucks actively creates and promotes an environment that is inclusive of all people and their unique abilities, strengths, and differences, and promotes diversity as a strategic and competitive business advantage for the company. As they continue to grow, they embrace diversity in every aspect of their business. They respect diversity in each worker, customer and supplier, and all others with whom they interact. The goal for them is to be one of the most inclusive companies globally, working toward full equity, inclusion, and accessibility for those whose lives we touch.
Some of the ethical principles of Starbucks are similar to mine, therefore I chose it as an example. Growing up we were taught what is right and wrong by our parents. Without even realizing we were developing our ethical principles. You meet new friends they also influence, and you change. You relocate and embrace different beliefs. Thus, personal ethical principles influence us a lot in our everyday activities. They describe you as a person, that`s why is important to understand them. I am glad Starbucks is taking ethical principles seriously and thrives as a global leader in the HR department.
As good as they are to their employees, their social responsibility is even better. The social responsibility strategy is based on three pillars – Community, Ethical Sourcing, and Environment.
To have a positive impact on the communities, Starbucks develops community stores that partner with local nonprofits. The nonprofits these stores work with offer services aimed to meet the needs of the communities they’re located in. Starbucks in turn donates $0.05 to $0.15 per transaction to the nonprofit partner. Starbucks has pledged to hire at least 10,000 veterans and military by 2021 and focuses on diversity and inclusion In the workplace as we spoke above… The company also provides training opportunities for youth in their communities and has even developed the Starbucks Foundation a 501c3 whose goal is to strengthen those communities further. These are just a few of their many community-centric initiatives. When a company puts people first and focuses on making positive changes for the communities they work with and serve, consumers notice.
The second pillar, Ethical Sourcing dictates the way that Starbucks purchases its products. The company is committed to ensuring that their coffee, tea, cocoa, and manufactured goods are responsibly and ethically produced and purchased. They say their “success is linked to the success of the farmers and suppliers who grow and produce [their] products,” and so they only purchase those products from farms and manufacturers that adhere to a certain standard of ethical treatment.
Starbucks refers to the planet as their “most important business partner” and takes a comprehensive approach to reducing their environmental impact. To do this, they build Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified stores that are committed to recycling and conserving water, and energy and pursue strategies that address climate change on a global level. Generally, Starbucks tries to be as environmentally friendly as possible in every aspect of their operations.
Hands down Starbucks is trying to do everything by the book. The only thing I can recommend improving their social responsibilities is to encourage healthy competition by providing employee-chosen rewards for funds raised or volunteer hours. Promote volunteerism among the employees. Volunteering makes a world of difference; Starbucks can find a way to reward employees who decide to enroll and volunteer in social programs. For example, they can allow them to take paid time off to volunteer on specific dates.
Another thing that might help is to educate the employees. They need to be involved and informed every step of the way. They need to understand the issues your company is addressing, why you’re doing it, and exactly how. You can answer their questions by carrying out meetings and sending out informative memos. This will help them answer any customer inquiries and motivate them to join the cause.
This writing is very detailed and informative. I am not a Starbucks customer I am impressed with how they transact their business and how they treat their people. It is said that the people are the greatest asset of an organization and Starbucks seems to be operating their organization with that understanding.
I agree with you that keeping the employees informed is important because the employees are the face of the company and the first line of contact with the customer. Keeping them informed and educated can only serve the company well. An employee should always be able to field questions from customers in an informed and transparent way especially if it will not include future or past litigation or mar create a public relations nightmare for the company.
I like getting Starbucks often and this makes me love the company even more. Knowing that they treat their customers with respect and the workplace is treated highly shows how much they legitimately respect their workers as much as they do their customers. As you mentioned, they “treat their employees as a community and when there are any complaints they can contact a manager or an Ethics and Compliance Hotline.” This statement goes to show how companies can really respect their employees and make sure that everything falls under a good ethical standard. One point that you mentioned in your suggestions, is suggesting the employees be educated and involved. I too believe this is really important since it will boost employee morale and help allow them to understand the issues and goals the company is addressing.
Antoniya, I agree with your post. Today’s society, unlike the past, thrives on diversity. It should not matter what race, gender or sexual preference one prefers to be recognized as; they are not indicators of skill level. Starbucks has opened its doors to a talented and creative workforce through the decision to not limit it’s intake. Starbucks hires individuals on the basis of capability to perform well, and the ability to adhere to the code of conduct.
I completely agree! One of the main reasons I prefer Starbucks is its financial contribution to hundreds of non-profit, community organizations and causes I care about. During the pandemic, the company donated millions to help Covid-19. Another one of the main reasons is diversity training. I remember reading on the news in 2018, there was an incident at a Starbucks in Philadelphia where the manager called the police on two African American businessmen. They didn’t order anything but they were just waiting for somebody and didn’t cause any trouble. Soon after, Starbucks shut down all 8,000 stores across the nation for mandatory anti-bias training. Their dedication to the community is something that often goes unnoticed. They even published reports and data proving their donations and training.