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Inside Starbucks’ Latest Policy Change: A Fresh Uniform, a Familiar Fight
Plus: Empathy vs. Understanding & How to Tell The Difference
Notable Daily
April 17, 2025
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Inside Starbucks’ Latest Policy Change: A Fresh Uniform, a Familiar Fight
Empathy vs. Understanding & How to Tell The Difference
Why Isolation is the worst for your health
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Inside Starbucks’ Latest Policy Change: A Fresh Uniform, a Familiar Fight
Starting May 12, Starbucks baristas across North America will be required to follow a new, more uniform dress code. Employees must wear solid black shirts—either short or long-sleeved, crew-neck, collared, or button-up—paired with khaki, black, or blue denim bottoms. To ease the transition, Starbucks will provide two branded T-shirts to each partner at no cost.
The company says the change is designed to reinforce brand consistency and highlight the iconic green apron, all part of a larger effort under CEO Laxman Narasimhan to refine the in-store experience. Other recent updates include simplifying the menu, reintroducing handwritten names on cups, and bringing back self-serve milk and sugar stations.
But not everyone is on board. Starbucks Workers United, the union representing employees at over 550 stores, says the dress code was imposed without completing contract negotiations. Union representatives argue the company should be prioritizing issues like staffing levels and guaranteed hours instead of focusing on uniforms.
Key Takeaways:
1. Starbucks Aims for Brand Consistency
The new dress code is part of a broader initiative to deliver a more unified customer experience across locations.
2. Employees Get Branded Apparel
Each barista will receive two branded shirts to meet the updated dress guidelines, at no personal cost.
3. Pushback from the Union
Starbucks Workers United is criticizing the timing and unilateral rollout of the policy, citing unresolved labor negotiations and more pressing workplace concerns.
Why It Matters: This move signals Starbucks’ ongoing attempt to modernize and rebrand its in-store experience, but it’s also highlighting a deeper tension between corporate branding and employee voices. As the company seeks to deliver consistency across its locations, it risks alienating workers who are asking for more input and better working conditions. How Starbucks navigates this balance will impact not just its brand, but its internal culture moving forward.
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