In an open letter to the coffee chain’s partners, Howard Schultz pledged a number of actions, positioning these in response to “the Executive Order that President Trump issued on Friday, effectively banning people from several predominantly Muslim countries from entering the United States, including refugees fleeing wars”.
The pledge that has received the most attention is to hire 10,000 refugees (among 65 million recognised by the UN) over the course of five years, in the 75 countries around the world where Starbucks does business. Schultz wrote: “We have a long history of hiring young people looking for opportunities and a pathway to a new life around the world. This is why we are doubling down on this commitment by working with our equity market employees as well as joint venture and licensed market partners in a concerted effort to welcome and seek opportunities for those fleeing war, violence, persecution and discrimination.”
The other pledges were:
- continued financial support and other services to employees and potential hires who are part of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)
- continued investment in Mexico and support for their partners, customers and their families there
- continued support for the Affordable Care Act: Starbucks provides access to health insurance under it.
