Starbucks is a worldwide specialty coffee retailer with over 74,000 employees and revenues of $4.1 billion for 2003, (Key, 2005, p. 4). Starbucks operates 3,800 coffee shops in more than thirty countries worldwide, with headquarters located in Seattle, Washington, (Key, 2005, p. 4). USA Today reports that Starbucks is 425th on the Fortune 500 list of companies by revenue, with the company also selling coffee-related equipment and accessories as well as a line of premium teas, (List, 2004, p. 1).
Starbucks employs more than 74,000 employees worldwide who are known as ôpartnersö in the organization, a company that was named 34th out of the Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For in 2004, (Fortune, 2004, p. 1). The companyÆs mission statement maintains its commitment to its human resources, including providing a superior work environment and treating all ôpartnersö with respect and dignity. Amid explosive worldwide growth, Gretchen Weber (2005, p. 28) asks of the company, ôCan it find enough quality employees to keep customers coming back for more?ö StarbucksÆ recognizes the value of quality employees in ongoing growth and success. Even the CEO of Starbucks, Jim Donald, makes eight phone calls every morning. Five of them are to five of his 550 Starbucks district managers in North America, the other three are random calls to store employees to thank them and ask them for feedback, (Weber, 2005, p. 28).
Starbucks also puts its money where its mouth is where its ôpartnersö are concerned. Benefits packages are comprehensive and lucrative, and even part-time workers are offered a number of benefits. The company covers 75% of its employees health care costs, pays above minimum-wage salaries, offers same-sex and opposite-sex partner benefits, provides dental and vision coverage, tuition reimbursement, stock options, vacation pay and a 401 plan to its employees, (Weber, 2005, p. 30). All employees are also rewarded with...