Starbucks shuts more stores: workers to receive training

Starbucks has been closing its stores due to safety concerns. Interim CEO Howard Schultz says, "We are beginning to close stores. This is just the beginning. There are going to be many more." Last week Starbucks said that it was closing 16 of its stores over safety concerns.

 The company said that workers are seeing "seeing firsthand the challenges facing our communities - personal safety, racism, lack of access to healthcare, a growing mental health crisis, rising drug use, and more. They added, "with stores in thousands of communities across the country, we know these challenges can, at times, play out within our stores too."

According to a video by Schultz, the effort to make workers feel safer could result in more closings. Starbucks offers active shooter training and other types of training, along with mental health benefits, access to abortion care, clarity around shifts and store policies, and more, a letter stated. In case it isn't able to create a safe environment in a store, Starbucks will close it permanently, the letter continued. This focus on workers and customer safety is part of Schultz's broader plan as the company tries to fend off a growing unionization drive.

Source: CNN