Starbucks Expands Paid Parental Leave for U.S. Workers

The coffee giant will offer up to 18 weeks of fully paid leave for birth parents and 12 weeks for non-birth parents starting in March 2025.

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.