Starbucks to allow staff to wear BLM apparel after backlash from internal memo
Posted June 12, 2020 7:31 am.
VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – Starbucks is changing course and says it will now allow staff to wear apparel in support of Black Lives Matter.
An internal memo to employees obtained by Buzzfeed earlier this week reported employees were prohibited from wearing anything in support of the movement, adding “Partners are not permitted to wear buttons or pins that advocate a political, religious, or personal issue.”
However, on Friday, Starbucks — the same coffee chain that temporarily closed down hundreds of stores to give staff sensitivity training — issued a statement saying it would now create BLM shirts for employees to wear.
Starbucks says it’s creating t-shirts in support of the Black Lives Matter movement for employees to wear. This comes days after it prohibited workers from wearing their own pins and shirts in support of the movement. (Courtesy Starbucks)
In the meantime, staff are able to wear their own BLM pins or shirts.
“We are so proud of your passionate support of our common humanity,” the statement on behalf of Starbucks partners Roz Brewer, Rossann Williams, and Zing Shaw reads. “We trust you to do what’s right while never forgetting Starbucks is a welcoming third place where all are treated with dignity and respect.”
The partners add, “This movement is a catalyst for change, and right now, it’s telling us a lot of things need to be addressed so we can make space to heal.”
This comes just two days after the coffee chain imposed a ban on workers showing support for "Black Lives Matter." https://t.co/IZkSPHboF3
— Amanda Wawryk (@AmandaWawryk) June 12, 2020
Starbucks drew backlash for its original internal memo, with many on social media firing back at the company.
“Which customers are you worried about offending?” one person writes, while another tweets, “Really? I need a list of all the places that are never getting my money because I can’t support racists. Period.”
Others have taken another tone, reiterating Starbucks’ longtime ban on political logos. Some note the company was just trying to avoid any potential conflict between staff and customers.
