'Our partners have and always will hold the power to inform, inspire and influence the future of Starbucks'
Starbucks Canada is providing a new benefit for transgender workers.
The coffee giant recently launched a Partner Choice Benefit for staff who work a minimum of 20 hours per week.
Under the program, benefits-enrolled employees in Canada can now select either a Health Spending Account (HSA) or Personal Wellness Account (PWA), each of which comes with an annual set amount of funds that can be put toward a variety of out-of-pocket expenses.
Starting Oct. 1, the PWA eligible expenses list will include services related to name and gender marker changes for transgender, non-binary and gender non-conforming partners; and fitness/sports equipment and fitness apps.
The change is inspired by feedback from workers, said Lori Digulla, president and general manager, Starbucks Canada.
“Starbucks is proud of our 50-year history and tradition of listening, learning, and investing our success back into our partners. Our partners have and always will hold the power to inform, inspire, and influence the future of Starbucks.
“We understand that no two partners are the same. This is why we strive to offer customizable options to support their personal wellness – however they choose to define it.”
Earlier this year, the federal government started reviewing the diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) recommendations of the task force it appointed in 2021 to strengthen and modernize its 1986 Employment Equity Act. The task force recommended that Black and 2SLGBT+ employees be added to the list of designated groups targeted for EDI policy by the act.
Starbucks’ HSA option can cover out-of-pocket medical and dental expenses not covered under extended health and dental care plans.
Starbucks is also offering workers the following benefits:
In a report released earlier this year, employers were urged to improve their support for LGBTQ+ business travellers as reports suggest they get insufficient pre-trip guidance from businesses. Only 15% of US and 11% of Canadian business travellers who have disclosed they are LGBTQ+ said their employers provided information on LGBTQ+ rights of the country they're visiting, according to the report.
