Starbucks Canada closing stores briefly in June for race sensitivity training
Posted May 4, 2018 9:00 am.
Last Updated May 4, 2018 11:59 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
TORONTO, ON. (NEWS 1130) – Starbucks Canada is following in the steps of its US counterpart by announcing it will close all of its stores for a portion of the day on Jun. 11. The coffee chain says it’s so staff can participate in a training session to address “implicit bias.”
This goal of this race training is to prevent discrimination at any location and the company says it will involve 1,095 locations and about 20,000 employees.
“We must never be complacent in our desire to be inclusive and to live our Mission and Values in every community we serve. It’s also important that our partners are supported and have the clarity they need to create a culture of warmth and belonging every time,” reads part of the statement released by Starbucks Canada.
The training is the result of the arrest of two black men at a Starbucks in Philadelphia last month.
The store’s management eventually apologized and this week the pair reached a financial settlement with the company. The details were not released, instead, it was announced both sides had agreed to work “to develop specific actions and opportunities.”
Starbucks also agreed to pay for their college educations.
In addition to that, Donte Robinson and Rashon Nelson struck a deal with the City of Philadelphia for a $1 each.
Protests broke out following their arrests that spurred claims of racial bias.
The two are turning this into a positive as the city also has agreed to work with them and a non-profit organization to fund a $200,000 grant to help high school students develop their entrepreneurial skills.
Starbucks locations in the US are closing on May 29.
