Starbucks Benefits: A Guide to Perks and Rewards

Starbucks Benefits, Perks and Rewards To Know

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The globally famous Starbucks coffeehouse chain has always been more than just a coffee place. Besides the amazing smells and tastes of coffee inside Starbucks, there are many other benefits for the people working there and their followers. 

Through this comprehensive guide, we shall be revealing an exclusive look at the perks and rewards that Starbucks benefits reveal as the most distinguishable ones through which we will establish more of the world of Starbucks and how to prepare the medicine ball Starbucks coffee is the treat delight for all the coffee lovers. 

Read on and find out how Starbucks enhances value to your life for being a lover of coffee an employee there at Starbucks, or just the sheer thirst of being thirsty.

Top 11 Starbucks Benefits All Employees Should Know About

These are some of the 8 benefits that might easily sway you one way or the other. Starbucks has long been a leader in employee perks especially that which benefit its part-timers. We have all their major benefits broken down here so you can make a decision.

  • Starbucks Employee Discount

Their employee discount comes in at a very solid 30% off.

That means you get that discount on all beverages when you’re not working as well as retail merchandise.

This discount is good at ANY Starbucks location on the days you’re not working.

But perhaps the coolest Starbucks employee perk is you get a FREE 1-pound bag of coffee or box of 12 K-Cups EVERY week, Tazo tea, and VIA Ready Brew packets to take home.

Plus, when you’re on shift, you’ll score free coffee drinks (up to 4) PLUS a free food item each shift.

  • Health Benefits (Even For Part-Time Work)

Starbucks health chart

Starbucks health chart

If you opt into one of the health plans that are above, Starbucks will share the costs of health benefits for you and your family.

Typically the Silver Plan only costs employees $40 per paycheck, Starbucks says, which is significantly less than other retailers.

The best part is the above health benefits are also available for part-time roles.

Just log at least 20 hours per week and you’re eligible.

Also, mind this term as you’ve to be employed for 90 days before you become eligible.

  • Free Tuition to Arizona St. University

The Starbucks College Achievement Plan steers free tuition to part-time and full-time Starbucks employees at Arizona State University via its 4-year online bachelor’s degree program.

Starbucks will actually “reimburse any tuition costs not covered by need-based financial aid directly in your paycheck near the end of the semester.”

Pretty awesome.

The only thing the program doesn’t cover is the cost of books or any special course fees.

Important note: if you work at a “licensed Starbucks” — like in a grocery store — you’re NOT eligible. You have to work at a standalone Starbucks location.

  • Maternity Leave

100 percent of the 6 weeks paid maternity leave is extended to all eligible mothers employed for a minimum of 20 hours per week.

The same 6-week paid leave is extended to adoptions as well as fostered parent situations if they are applicable.

As for non-store Starbucks employees who are staffed, however, at the corporate office, it has been extended to 12 weeks paid.

  • Almost Free “Backup” Child Care

In 2018, Starbucks rolled out the Care@Work program that enables the bridging of childcare gaps for parents.

It offers parents 10 subsidized “backup care days” a year.

Parents pay only $5 per day per kid for childcare, and Starbucks picks up the rest on as many as 10 days in any calendar.

Would rather have in-home child care? Starbucks will provide it for just $1 per hour and they’ll pick up the rest of the charge.

  • Starbucks Senior Care

While Child Care is always top of mind for young parents, Senior Care is another legitimate concern. Starbucks has available resources to assist you in future planning for your loved one including a Senior Care Advisor who can be helpful.

Provided free for Starbucks employees, and in case you decide to take over the Senior Caregiver support cost, then you will have to pay out of your pocket as much as a maximum of $1 for in-home visits.

  • Starbucks Stock Investment Plan

The benefit of stock ownership in one of the world’s largest coffee companies is not something that should be limited to just those people who work inside its corporate office.

All employees are eligible to participate in Starbucks Stock Investment Plan where money is deducted from your paycheck and Starbucks stock is purchased at a discounted rate under your name. 

What happens here is that the pay for each quarter with the discounted stock will be withheld and bought on the final day. Program registration and status changes can be made within the first two weeks of March, June, September, and December. 

  • Paid Time Off

Retail Starbucks employees become eligible to begin accruing paid vacation after 12 months of continuous service.

Paid vacation for part-time employees will generate 1 hour for every 30 hours worked.

Salaried Starbucks employees rate 2 days per year for every July 1 and January 1 with earnings of 1 personal day.

It’s worth noting that vacation benefits vary by location, position, and length of employment.

  • Good Commuter Perks

Starbucks has you more than covered if you buy transit passes for getting to your job.

They offer “pretax payroll deductions” through which anyone meeting the criteria can have their commuter costs “made up” by the employer.

These deductions reduce your taxable income, which means you’ll owe less tax than making up for the cost incurred during your daily commute.

  • Solid 401(k) Savings Plan

All Starbucks employees are entitled to throw money in a 401(k) retirement plan after working for 90 days.

They cleverly call it their Future Roast 401(k), and you’re allowed to add up to $17,000 per year – even more if you’re over the age of 50.

The nice part is, that Starbucks will match your contribution on the first 4% and will often bump this up to 6%.

It’s free money, you might as well take advantage of this benefit if you can.

Paternity and Maternity Leave

When a new member is introduced to the family, one may take time off. To even make it better for you, Starbucks will cater to the paychecks that you missed at such a time when the family was expanding.

Expands Family – Compensation

Adoption, Surrogacy, and Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) Coverage — Starbucks may pay for or reimburse you for certain adoption, surrogacy, and Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) expenses tied to growing your family. 

The reimbursement is more than generous as Starbucks will be covering up to $30,000 of expenses per couple distributed as $10,000 payouts per every single instance of adoption, surrogacy, or IUI.

  • Financial Assistance

In case conditions become difficult with you, Starbucks will assist you with the needs related to disease or death in your family, or natural calamities that may come upon you.

This has proved to be very helpful for the Starbucks employees who lost homes due to any kind of unexpected incidences like fire or flood occurred, or any tragically it will be possible they lost their partner. 

These expenses are being covered through the Caring Unites Partners (CUP) Fund, which is an ongoing pooled fund gathering contributions from other Starbucks employees. For example, on each purchase at Starbucks, the Starbucks employee may round up the check to the nearest dollar where the difference goes to CUP. 

In reciprocation, employees in need apply for grants which never get paid back. You can also directly contribute to the fund via PayPal by transferring funds to DonationsCUPFundUS@starbucks.com. 

If you would like to request a grant, please contact us at (888) 728-9411 in Starbucks Employee Contact Center.

Explore more: Starbucks Partner Hours: Detailed Guide to Benefits, Use, Application, and Tips for Maximizing Your Experience

Perks for Starbucks Employees

Apart from the various offerings that are given to the employees, there are a nice lot of lighter perks attached as well that very much contribute. Here’s the whole list:

Free Spotify Premium

Instead of paying the $9.99 monthly subscription fee on Spotify Premium, you get it free because in Starbucks you’re a part of the team. Even your Spotify subscription will be integrated with the Starbucks App which gives you access to in-store playlists.

Free & discount Starbucks

You’ll get 30% off all beverages, merchandise, and food at Starbucks. And if you are working in a company-owned store, you’ll get 3 complimentary handcrafted beverages one on a break in your shift and the others a half-hour before and a half hour after your shift. Besides, during every shift, you will enjoy one free pastry or grab-n-go food item. Additionally, each week you will go home with a pound of ground coffee or a box of tea —on the house.

Starbucks Fitness Credit

You can request up to $240 per year as a reimbursement for fitness events in which you’ve participated.

Employee Recognition & Partner Resources

For example, Starbucks rewards excellent employees through its Employee Recognition Programs to help you drive your career upward via excellent work ethics and positive attitudes. 

You will also connect to Starbucks Partner Networks, great opportunities to meet with and learn from fellow partners at all levels across the entire company.

Starbucks Employee Shopping Discounts

You can get significant discounts through the expansive Starbucks affiliate network, which provides preferred pricing on more than 30,000 products in categories like Electronics, Home Appliances, Food, Groceries, Travel, Fitness, and more. 

You can also take a lot of free courses through Community Online Academy (COA) on topics that suit your interest. Perhaps one of the most significant benefits of this program is a $650-$7,200 credit after home acquisition.

Starbucks Elite Athlete Program

These include some national or internationally-ranked athletes among the 380,000 employees at Starbucks. In a competition, the employees are given a credit into their monthly paycheck towards any cost brought about to feature in such a competition like registration fees, equipment, or travel. Each May, Starbucks opens the application process to all athletes, even at the amateur level.

Starbucks Gift Matching

If you’ve donated $25 or more, you may be eligible for gift matching from Starbucks. National felt that Starbucks should match the contributions made by their employees to certified nonprofits, including matching the employee’s contribution of a dollar-for-dollar match up to $1,000 per year that the employee personally donates and full-time credit for volunteering at $5 per volunteer hour properly tracked in the Community Champion Portal.

Rewards Cups 

The reward cups of Starbucks are half-filled. In the last year, Starbucks’ coffee chain has given us mugs that are half grande, and half empty. Amongst grande perks: In April 2022, Starbucks began to issue 25 bonus Stars to members who bring in their reusable cups, plus 10 cents off their drink. But, by the same token, in the same year, Starbucks ceased affixing those peel-off “Star Reward” stickers to its bags of coffee sold at retail. This took away from members one convenient way to earn points.

Marketing perk: 

These two changes could perhaps be combined into one short-term perk. Instead of Stars, the bags of Starbucks coffee sold in the supermarket could have peel-off tickets with 15% discounts to buy Starbucks reusable cups. Members can learn from these coupons the perks earned by reusing the cups and feel it’s a fair trade.   

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Starbucks Benefits for Customers

1. Starbucks Rewards Program

The Starbucks Rewards Program is a game-changer if you’re a regular at Starbucks. With every purchase, earn stars that can be redeemed for free drinks and food, to even merchandise. It is free rewards for picking up your favorites, and even better value for your favored beverages.

2. Mobile Order & Pay

Save time with Starbucks Mobile Order & Pay. Just place your order and pay in the app, then pick it up at your selected store. No more waiting in line — just order, pay, and go.

3. Relaxed Environment and Free Wi-Fi

Starbucks has a relaxed environment and offers free Wi-Fi. Whether working from this place or just enjoying spare time with close acquaintances, Starbucks offers one a relaxed environment both for healthy relaxation and official work.

4. Seasonal Drinks and Menu as per the Customer’s Wish

Starbucks spices it up with seasonal specials like the famous Pumpkin Spice Latte. Apart from that, you are guaranteed to get whatever it is that you want as much customization can be done on your drink as you desire.

FAQ

What are the new benefits for Starbucks?

Starbucks raising non-union barista pay by 3%, adding new benefits. Starbucks announced Monday the company is adding new benefits for its hourly employees in 2024 to include, at least, 3% (or 4-5%, based on tenure), wage improvements for all company-run stores along with scheduling and PTO improvements, also career mobility opportunities.

How good are Starbuck’s benefits?

Starbucks hourly partners in large numbers have long bickered about the company’s return on investment into the benefits sector but inarguably always received some of the best benefits offerings and industry-leading perks for decades – which includes comprehensive access to medical, dental, and vision coverage options for eligible partners and their families, to industry-leading gender-affirming care, and Family Expansion Reimbursement Assistance benefits.

How many free drinks do Starbucks baristas get?

1 free bag of coffee or box of tea per week. Unlimited free drinks during shifts.

How does Starbucks benefit customers?

Starbucks nurtured a culture where customers felt they belonged to a group of loyalists. The company’s special access rewards program for its loyalists features free drinks, birthday bites as well as early first shots at new products.

How does Starbucks’s reward system work?

Earning Stars

Earn 1 Star per $1 spent when you scan your member barcode in the app, then pay with cash, credit/debit cards, or mobile wallets at participating stores. Or earn 1 Star per $1 spent when you link a payment method and pay directly through the app.

What is the purpose of the Starbucks loyalty program?

Members earn ‘Stars’ on every purchase made through the registered Starbucks Card or Starbucks mobile app. The program has been made keeping in view several types of interaction to create a long-standing, buy-again customer.

When did Starbucks start its rewards program?

2009

A Gold loyalty program would follow later that year after Starbucks Card Rewards made its debut in the spring of 2008. The programs merged in 2009 to create My Starbucks Rewards, with the welcome, green, and gold levels. Now integrated into our mobile app, the program is still sweetening the experience for customers.

Does Starbucks still have reward levels?

This program has 2 tiers: Green Tier – You get this status automatically once you join. Gold Tier – You get this status after you’ve earned 300 Stars in a year since your first Star. To maintain your Gold status, you need to earn another 300 Stars in the following year.

How do you get free refills at Starbucks?

A free refill on brewed hot or iced coffee or tea (limited to one refill, and excludes bottled beverages and brewed Teavana® teas) is available to Starbucks Rewards™ members who have purchased the applicable beverage with their registered Starbucks Card or registered Starbucks Card in the app (transaction must occur at the same participating store).

Starbucks Benefits – Final Thoughts

With nearly 34,000 locations and more than 10 times as many employees, Starbucks depends heavily on its workforce. 

One major commitment to the health and wellness of its team members has been a significant initiative by company management over the years, and it certainly filters down to team member benefits. 

Having built up inspiring and principled infrastructures for employee growth, Starbucks could recruit, develop, and retain some of the best industry people as well as help its workers realize their career dreams. 

Therefore, Starbucks’s employee benefits program is one of the best in the business and counted among many reasons for the overall success enjoyed by the company.

 

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