Starbucks Expands Paid Parental Leave for U.S. Workers

Overview

• Starbucks' new policy triples paid leave for birth parents from 6 weeks to 18 weeks and doubles leave for non-birth parents to 12 weeks.
• Eligibility for the expanded benefit requires employees to work an average of at least 20 hours per week.
• The decision followed employee feedback and is part of CEO Brian Niccol's broader effort to improve worker satisfaction and company performance.
• The updated policy places Starbucks among a small percentage of U.S. companies offering extensive paid parental leave, particularly in the retail sector.
• The company is also focusing on additional initiatives, including filling 90% of retail leadership roles internally and improving scheduling practices for employees.