Be All You Can Be At Starbucks
By Sam Lewis
By 2018, coffee chain plans to hire more than 10,000 U.S. military veterans
The world’s largest coffee chain, Starbucks, announced on Wednesday, Nov 6 that it will be hiring at least 10,000 U.S. military veterans along with spouses of active military members in the next five years. Accompanying the announcement, the company says five new and existing Starbucks locations on or near military bases will share a part or each sale, ten cents, with non-profit organizations focused on helping veterans become part of the country’s workforce. The company’s minimum annual donation will total $100,000
The move by Starbucks mimics many companies, like Walmart and AT&T, that have committed to hiring veterans who have served in Afghanistan and Iraq. As part of a work opportunity program, companies are able to hire veterans of different skill levels which allows them to claim up $9,600 in tax credits by year’s end. AT&T is one company doing the same. On the same day as Starbucks’ announcement, the telecommunications company announced it was aiming to double its hiring of veterans goal, up to 10,000 over the next five years as part of its dedication to being an equal opportunity employer.
The announcement comes before the Veterans Day holiday on Nov 11 as Starbucks tries to grow and support its mentoring program through the Armed Forces Network. For the Seattle-based coffee chain, specialize recruiters will match skills of veterans and active military spouses with jobs within the company. “This demographic represents one of the most underutilized talent pools in our country,” says former U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates, who is currently a director at Starbucks. The company’s CEO, Howard Schultz, isn’t just looking for bus boys and baristas. Starbucks is looking for employees to fill positions in all aspects of the company, “from leading teams, to building and managing complex, global, supply chains,” says Schultz. Gates adds about veterans, “They bring an understanding of other cultures and they're accustomed to working with diverse and international partners.”
Starbucks has nearly 20,000 locations across the globe, and employs around 134,000 people in the U.S. By reaching out to hire active military members’ spouses and veterans, Starbucks is doing its part to ensure veterans are not only treated well, but are able to meaningfully contribute to society once their service is complete. With thousands of active military members becoming veterans each year, the idea of positively impacting the workforce of the country they once defended is a welcomed change to the previous notion of military veterans.
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