Employee Relations Plan: Starbucks, Inc. Most companies assert to prospective employees that the corporation offers excellent benefits and a good salary. But few corporations make such assertions part of its corporate, core mission statement. According to Starbucks, the motto of the international, Seattle-based coffee company is that "Our success depends on your success." This statement is not simply directed at Starbuck's customers, but to its employees as well. (Starbucks, "Job Center," Official Website, 2004)

What does this effusive corporate motto and mission statement really mean? Starbucks is unique as a franchise restaurant in that it offers a variety of employment opportunities, such as retail store manager, as advertised upon the Internet. Despite jokes about the shame being a barista after graduating from a prestigious university, the Starbucks Support Center in Seattle credibly offers "career opportunities span a wide range of functions and departments, including not only openings behind the coffee bar and register, but also in Starbuck's accounting, finance, information technology, sales and supply chain management departments." (Starbucks, "Job Center," Official Website, 2004)

Employee rights and employee relations

When designing elements of its employee relations program from the organization's point-of-view, Starbuck's policy implications were clear. The goals of the program were, according to the company's first mission statement, "provide a great work environment and treat each other with respect and dignity." (Starbucks, "Mission Statement," Official Website, 2004)

Thus, even before discussing its customer relationships the company of Starbucks is concerned with how its treatment of its employees supports its corporate goals. This comes not only out of sheer altruism, but a belief that a loyal employee is a good employee and ultimately the considerable cost of training an employee will pay off it the employee stays. Unlike McDonald's Starbucks requires a better trained employee and has an extensive orientation and training process. For accomplished baristas, there is also a management component to the training program,...

Thus may result in more short-term costs, but the costs and benefits of implementing and maintaining the plan are less, given the higher-end nature of the quality and service expected of customers at the franchise.
Federal, state, and foreign regulatory compliance

Starbucks Coffee Company is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer, in compliance with United States federal regulations. This means that all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, national origin, gender, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, or marital status. Beyond this, however, Starbucks has a strong commitment to diversity that extends beyond mere legal compliance. At Starbucks we believe that teams that are more diverse are more effective," Dija, a district manager is quoted as saying on the part of the website entitled "The Starbucks Experience." (2004)

The notable presence of Starbucks employee quotations all over the website further reinforces Starbuck's image as an employee-friendly company that cares what its employees thinks, and whom it employs. Its second mission statement as a company is that diversity is critical and key to making a great company. "We strive to create a workplace in which every partner's voice is heard and in which all our partners will succeed while learning from one another. We believe that building understanding, respect, and appreciation for different people contributes to our growth and to the growth of our partners." (Starbucks, "The Starbucks Experience," Official Website, 2004)

This is also true of its community relations. "By working with qualified diverse suppliers, Starbucks has regularly met and exceeded its goals for purchases with women and minority-owned suppliers." (Starbucks, "Community Relations," Official Website, 2004) Starbucks is an international company as well, and states that it remains "highly respectful of the culture and traditions of the countries in which we do business," according…