How Starbucks Raised the Bar for Taking Action Against Discrimination
Coffeehouses have been a bustling social hub since the 17th century. It’s where people go to discuss business, news, politics, and personal affairs, read, and of course, drink coffee. People from all walks of life can be found at various coffee shops throughout America, enjoying the placid atmosphere and the company of others. But for two black men, a recent trip to the coffeehouse proved to be unpleasant experience that landed them in police custody.
By now you’re probably aware of the events that led to two black men being arrested at a Philadelphia Starbucks store in April. Upon catching wind of the situation that was anything but brotherly in the “City of Brotherly Love,” the Seattle-based company made quick work of trying to rectify the “reprehensible” damage caused from viral videos captured by customers who were in the store during the arrest. After the CEO issued a public and personal apology for the incident, the company announced it would be closing 8,000-plus stores for an afternoon to conduct racial-bias training for more than 175,000 employees. Starbucks made good on their promise by carrying out the training last week, and even made their agenda available to the public. The employee training cost the coffee giant an estimated $12 million in profit losses, but could ultimately prove beneficial by shining light on elements of humanity and humility within the company. Quick action also helped Starbucks set a precedent for the way businesses should respond to matters of discriminatory nature.
So, what’s the take away from this unfortunate incident? It’s that discrimination is a problem in America and it needs to be addressed throughout businesses with the same fervor and intensity as it has been by Starbucks. We have to hold each other accountable— individuals and businesses alike— to put an end to discrimination. Who knows— having a simple talk with your employees about treating everyone with equal respect might save you lots of time, money, and grief— because you never know when the actions of your employees might land your business on the wrong end of a viral video.
