Starbucks to close 8,000 U.S. stores for diversity, inclusion training

More than 8,000 Starbucks stories and offices across the United States will close on Tuesday afternoon to host education and training sessions for employees on race, bias, diversity and inclusion.

Last week, it shared a preview of its May 29 curriculum, noting this will set the foundation for a longer-term anti-bias, diversity, equity and inclusion effort. It worked with advisors and experts to come up with the content, which includes a toolkit for each store that allows employees to learn together in small, self-guided groups. The initial training will focus on understanding racial bias and the history of public accommodations in the United States, with future trainings addressing all aspects of bias and experiences, according to a press release.

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In Canada, Starbucks will close its company-operated stores and offices on the afternoon of June 11 for an employee training session to address “implicit bias, promote conscious inclusion and ensure everyone inside a Starbucks store feels safe and welcome,” according to a letter written by Michael Conway, president of Starbucks Canada, to employees.

“Our hope is that these learning sessions and discussions will make a difference within and beyond our stores,” said Rosann Williams, executive vice-president of U.S. retail, in a note to employees. “After May 29, we will make the curriculum available to the public and share it with the regions as well as our licensed and business partners.

“Starbucks is a company built on nurturing the human spirit, and it’s on us to harness our scale and expertise to do right by the communities we serve. May 29 isn’t a solution, it’s a first step. By educating ourselves on understanding bias and how it affects our lives and the lives of the people we encounter and serve, we renew our commitment to making the third place welcoming and safe for everyone.”

Starbucks noted it will share the training content and curriculum with other organizations and individuals interested in training their employees.

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