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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/business/2018/may/20/new-starbucks-policy-allows-nonpaying-guests-use-restrooms
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| New Starbucks policy allows non-paying guests to sit in cafes and use restrooms | |
| (about 17 hours later) | |
| Starbucks has told its employees to allow all guests to use store facilities, including restrooms, regardless of their spending. | Starbucks has told its employees to allow all guests to use store facilities, including restrooms, regardless of their spending. |
| The move comes a month after the coffee giant found itself accused of discriminatory practices, after a store manager in Philadelphia called the police on two black men who asked to use the bathroom without purchasing anything and then refused to leave. | The move comes a month after the coffee giant found itself accused of discriminatory practices, after a store manager in Philadelphia called the police on two black men who asked to use the bathroom without purchasing anything and then refused to leave. |
| The new policy was announced on Saturday in a company-wide letter that stated: “Any person who enters our spaces, including patios, cafes and restrooms, regardless of whether they make a purchase, is considered a customer.” | The new policy was announced on Saturday in a company-wide letter that stated: “Any person who enters our spaces, including patios, cafes and restrooms, regardless of whether they make a purchase, is considered a customer.” |
| Previously, Starbucks employees had been free to exercise judgment about non-paying guests. The company said the new policy would apply to its more than 8,000 company-operated US cafes. It would issue different guidelines for its international stores, it said. | |
| We don’t want to become a public bathroom but we’re going to make the right decision 100% of the time | We don’t want to become a public bathroom but we’re going to make the right decision 100% of the time |
| “We don’t want to become a public bathroom but we’re going to make the right decision 100% of the time and give people the key,” Starbucks’ chairman, Howard Schultz, told attendees of a corporate responsibility conference in Washington, according to the Wall Street Journal. | |
| The Philadelphia store involved in the 12 April incident had signs informing visitors that the bathrooms were for paying customers only. After the police were called on Rashon Nelson and Donte Robinson, the men were arrested and spent hours in jail. | The Philadelphia store involved in the 12 April incident had signs informing visitors that the bathrooms were for paying customers only. After the police were called on Rashon Nelson and Donte Robinson, the men were arrested and spent hours in jail. |
| They were not charged and later reached settlements that included a nominal financial sum and “a commitment to continued listening and dialogue between the parties as a means toward developing specific actions and opportunities”. | They were not charged and later reached settlements that included a nominal financial sum and “a commitment to continued listening and dialogue between the parties as a means toward developing specific actions and opportunities”. |
| “I want to thank Donte and Rashon for their willingness to reconcile,” said Starbucks’ chief executive, Kevin Johnson, announcing the settlement. “Starbucks will continue to take actions that stem from this incident to repair and reaffirm our values and vision for the kind of company we want to be.” | |
| The chain plans to close its company-operated stores next Sunday afternoon, to give employees anti-bias training. In 2015, Starbucks initiated a program to encourage employees to discuss race with customers. The directive was quickly dropped. | The chain plans to close its company-operated stores next Sunday afternoon, to give employees anti-bias training. In 2015, Starbucks initiated a program to encourage employees to discuss race with customers. The directive was quickly dropped. |
| Under the new policy, customers will be able to stay in stores unless they are “behaving in a disruptive manner”. The company has yet to offer guidelines on what constitutes disruptive behaviour or what procedures managers and baristas should follow. | |
| Starbucks employees should call 911 if a situation presents an immediate danger or threat to employee or customer safety, the company said. | Starbucks employees should call 911 if a situation presents an immediate danger or threat to employee or customer safety, the company said. |
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