Starbucks to Hire 1,600 Employees by Year-End... Efforts to Improve Partner Working Conditions

Starbucks Byuldabang partners' high five.

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Hye-sun] Starbucks Coffee Korea plans to hire over 1,600 baristas by the end of this year. The company will also improve the working environment for its partners.

Starbucks Coffee Korea announced on the 17th, "In addition to ongoing regional recruitment, we will expand nationwide hiring to secure talent and enhance store operation efficiency."

Along with recruitment, the company is reviewing improvements to the wage system for store managers and baristas. This includes differentiated hourly wages based on baristas' tenure and job competency, wage increases for store managers, and improvements to incentive operation standards.

Furthermore, due to inaccurate forecasts of customer visits and sales by time slot and store size during seasonal promotions or new product launches?caused by COVID-19 spread and uncertain internal and external factors?store partners experienced confusion and increased workload. To overcome this, a company-wide task force (TF) team will be established.

The TF team will work from the event planning stage to proactively prevent anticipated difficulties for store partners, continuously develop refined sales forecasts, enhance operational accuracy through dual sequential notifications, and establish a real-time support system for issues that arise.

The status of the 'Partner Happiness Council,' the representative organization of partners, will also be strengthened. The number of 60 representatives elected regionally will be increased to diversify communication channels for partners nationwide. At the same time, the company plans to increase company-wide authority and budget to listen to field opinions and promptly implement improvement measures.

Renovation of back rooms, which serve as office workspaces and rest areas for partners within stores, is also underway. Since 2019, Starbucks has introduced new rest areas in new stores and has been improving existing stores through renovations since last year. Currently, including new and renovated stores, about 560 stores?accounting for 35% of all operating stores?have new rest areas equipped with partner-only refrigerators, microwaves, sofas, and tables.

To accelerate improvements in rest areas at the remaining stores, a status survey of all stores will be completed this month, with plans to finish replacing rest areas in all stores by next year.

Additionally, through organizational restructuring, Starbucks will establish a Talent Acquisition Team dedicated to recruitment and an 'F&E Team (Facility and Equipment)' focused on store environment improvements, intensifying efforts to enhance partners' working conditions.

The hourly wage for Starbucks baristas is 9,200 KRW, with weekly holiday pay included in the monthly hourly wage. Overtime, late-night, and holiday work allowances are paid separately. Other benefits include meal subsidies, performance bonuses, holiday bonuses, various leaves (annual, year-round, family event), long-term service awards, welfare points, birthday gifts, condolence support funds, medical expenses, coffee beans, and beverages. Partners can also use affiliated resort facilities, receive discounts at Starbucks and Shinsegae Group affiliates, and access benefits such as child education expenses, pregnancy and childbirth packages, maternity leave for expectant mothers, and scholarships from Hanyang Cyber University.

Baristas and supervisors can be promoted to assistant store managers and store managers after a specified tenure through internal training and selection evaluations, growing into leaders who manage stores.

Starbucks offers various educational programs both online and offline to develop expertise in areas such as coffee mastery, coffee equipment, and service. Partners interested can participate anytime. Outstanding partners selected annually receive incentives and support to grow as global coffee experts, including opportunities to visit coffee farms and headquarters and interact with Starbucks partners from various countries.