Starbucks’ Human Resource Management Practices(USE AS GUIDE ONLY) / Starbucks’ Human Resource Management Practices(USE AS GUIDE ONLY)

Starbucks’ Human Resource Management Practices(USE AS GUIDE ONLY)

Starbucks’ Human Resource Management Practices(USE AS GUIDE ONLY)

Preview document (3 of 17 pages)

STARBUCKS’ HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PRACTICES

Starbucks’ Human Resource Management Practices
STARBUCKS’ HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PRACTICES
Abstract

The Starbucks Corporation utilizes its human resources practices and policies as a strategy to
gain competitive advantage and drive the overall success of the company and its globalization
efforts. The purpose of this research paper is to analyze Starbucks’ recruiting practices,
training structures, and overall human resource management strategies in order to give insight
into how the Seattle-based coffee company stands out from its competitors and remains a
successful enterprise in spite of the challenges facing it.
STARBUCKS’ HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PRACTICES
Starbucks’ Human Resource Management Practices
The Starbucks Corporation sees its employees as a key part of its view of itself as a
business serving the community; its employees are vital for its growth, helping the business
grow and thrive (“Working at Starbucks,” n.d.). To work at Starbucks is much like working
with friends, its website claims; the company understands appreciates, respects, and includes
different kinds of people. It is a company that also embraces diversity. Starbucks provides
all employees and their same-sex or opposite sex-partners comprehensive health benefits
that include medical, dental, and vision care as well as tuition reimbursement, stock options,
vacation, and the 401 (k) retirement plan (Noe, Hollenbeck, Gerhart & Wright, 2010).
Starbucks is also company that practices open communication. It keeps employees or
“partners” frequently informed, its senior leaders frequently holding “Open Forum” events to
answer employee questions and mitigate issues or concerns. Starbucks believes that it is
important to hire those not just for the ability to be trained in cafe work and customer
satisfaction, but also those with an aptitude for social consciousness. Its mission is to inspire
and nurture the human spirit “one person, one cup, and one neighborhood at a time” (“Our
Mission,” n.d.). The company is well-known for its ethical sourcing of coffee from farmers
all over the globe and environmental leadership (by 2015 all its cups will be reusable or
recyclable). It is also renowned for its community involvement through volunteer work in
neighborhoods where stores are located (Noe et al., 2010).
Performance Management, Benefits, and Customer Satisfaction
Starbucks has offered a variety of training programs to provide employees sufficient
knowledge of the company’s values and how to foster it amongst their customers. According to
Obloga (2011), “First Impressions” has given insight to baristas as how to interact with
customers in terms of service principles. Employees are made aware of the company’s