Starbucks boosting pay and relaxing dress code for workers; gives OK to tattoos

Seattle – Starbucks Coffee Co. is increasing the pay and relaxing the dress code of its U.S. store employees to allow for tattoos and other forms of self-expression to show.



Starting in Jan. 2015, Starbucks will increase starting pay for new employees as well as wages for existing workers and shift supervisors. It did not specify the amount of the increases. Going forward, the pay of all workers and shift supervisors—regardless of their tenure— will be reviewed annually.



Starbucks’ dress code has long been considered one of the most conservative in its segment. But starting on Oct. 20, Starbucks store employees will be allowed to wear colored ties, untucked shirts, neck scarves, and black denim. And in a big change, visible tatoos will also be allowed.



“Tattoos are allowed, but not on your face or throat,” the company’s updated dress code policy reads. “Treat tattoos as you treat speech—you can’t swear, make hateful comments or lewd jokes in the workplace, neither can your tattoos."



In another change, workers will be entitled to choose one free food item, per shift, from the pastry or ready-to-eat case.



In other new benefits, employees will be provided more time for conversations with managers, and employee who perform above expectations will be eligible for a Barista Trainer premium as well as the chance to be one of 28,000 partners of the quarter, who will receive an annual bonus.