Starbucks has implemented a new policy that allows anyone to sit in their lobby or use the restrooms, without being required to buy anything. The sudden change comes a month after two African-Americans who did not buy anything were arrested inside a Philadelphia Starbucks.
NBC News reported that corporate executives said that the prior policy was loose and unclear, leaving the decision over whether certain people could sit in the store or use the restrooms up to the store manager. Starbucks is now telling its employees to consider anyone who walks into the store a customer, whether they make a purchase or not.
Starbucks' new policy allows anyone to loiter in their stores
Starbucks is now saying anyone can use their cafes, patio seating or restrooms without having to make a purchase. However, they have said workers should still call police if someone is seen as a safety threat. Starbucks released a statement saying they want everyone to feel welcome in their stores.
The two black men were arrested at a Philadelphia store, as they were waiting for a person to arrive for a meeting. Store employees denied one of the men access to the restrooms because he had not made a purchase. Police were eventually called and the two men -- Rashon Nelson and Donte Robinson -- were arrested and forced to spend several hours in jail until they were eventually released.
Starbucks working to recover from latest fiasco
The incident was caught on video and has become a black eye for the coffee chain, which considers itself a socially conscious company. After the incident, Starbucks announced that they would close over 8,000 stores for “racial-bias” training for staff.
The two men who were arrested eventually settled with Starbucks for an unknown amount of money and an offer of a free college education.
The Hill reported that Starbucks executive chairman Howard Schultz said that they would give everyone a bathroom key because they don’t want to give anyone the impression that Starbucks sees them as “less than” someone else.
The announcement of this new policy was also made during a discussion at the Atlantic Council in Washington.
It’s unclear whether this new bathroom policy, along with Starbucks' attempt at “racial bias” training, will change the culture of the company for the better. According to Inc, the policy is still under a 90-day review, so it could be reversed. For now, it's unclear whether it will be a permanent change.
