Virtually every Starbucks location in America is transitioning to drive-thru-only to help curb the spread of the novel coronavirus. In a press release sent on March 20, Starbucks announced that the policy would be put in place for at least two weeks and will supersede the chain’s original COVID-19 response, of making its cafes to-go only.
Many locations went so far as to remove seats and tables entirely to discourage lingering, but it wasn’t enough to keep crowds from forming. “Our cafes in some areas are experiencing high traffic, and we need to do more to prevent the spread of this virus,” Starbucks executive VP Rossann Williams said in a statement sent to employees.
A major exception to the new policy is that certain locations inside hospitals and health care centers — where exhausted doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals presumably need their caffeine fix as they battle the pandemic — will remain open.
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The announcement also promises that “Starbucks will pay all partners for the next 30 days, whether they choose to come to work or not,” a provision that improves on Starbucks’ existing sick-leave policies. That policy — unfortunately, a minority among major fast-food chains and food brands — previously announced an extension of “catastrophe pay” to employees effected by the pandemic, including those who received a positive diagnosis or had possibly been exposed to the virus.
It's hard to say. In the topsy-turvy logic of this crisis, businesses shutting down so that workers can stay home and not interact physically with anyone but their family is an important goal to...
It's hard to say. In the topsy-turvy logic of this crisis, businesses shutting down so that workers can stay home and not interact physically with anyone but their family is an important goal to reduce contagion. So there is an argument that you should cooperate with the government-ordered recession, even though it's horrible, by avoiding doing any unnecessary business until the crisis is over. Having someone else make coffee instead of doing it yourself certainly seems unnecessary?
Buying gift cards is one suggestion. I don't think Starbucks needs it through. Starbucks can borrow money and people will want coffee again after this is over. I would worry more about smaller businesses that will go under unless the government does something big for them.
Maybe we should start another topic to talk about charities to support and ways to volunteer that either don't conflict with the goal of avoiding contagion, or should be done anyway because it's worth the risk.
From the article:
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I'm gonna say yes. Food prep is honestly a super clean profession, and I really want my favorite restaurants to be around when all is said and done
It's hard to say. In the topsy-turvy logic of this crisis, businesses shutting down so that workers can stay home and not interact physically with anyone but their family is an important goal to reduce contagion. So there is an argument that you should cooperate with the government-ordered recession, even though it's horrible, by avoiding doing any unnecessary business until the crisis is over. Having someone else make coffee instead of doing it yourself certainly seems unnecessary?
Buying gift cards is one suggestion. I don't think Starbucks needs it through. Starbucks can borrow money and people will want coffee again after this is over. I would worry more about smaller businesses that will go under unless the government does something big for them.
Maybe we should start another topic to talk about charities to support and ways to volunteer that either don't conflict with the goal of avoiding contagion, or should be done anyway because it's worth the risk.