Starbucks is changing the dress code it requires of workers inside its coffee shops, requiring black shirts and either denim or khaki pants in a bid to emphasize the green aprons employees wear behind the counter, the company said on Monday.
The dress code, which had been rumored among workers for weeks, will be in effect on May 12. The Seattle-based coffee shop giant said that it plans to make a new line of branded T-shirts, with each employee receiving two shirts at no cost.
“We’re evolving our dress code in all stores to focus on simplified color options that allow our iconic green apron to shine and create a sense of familiarity for our customers, no matter which store they visit across North America,” the company said.
Starbucks said in its announcement that its employees, which the company calls “partners,” “are the face of the brand.” And it noted the green apron is an important company symbol.
The company will require employees to wear either short- or long-sleeved crewneck, collared or button-up shirts. Employees can wear khaki pants or black or blue denim.
“By updating our dress code, we can deliver a more consistent coffeehouse experience that will also bring simpler and clearer guidance to our partners,” the company said. In doing so, workers can “focus on what matters most, crafting great beverages and fostering connections with customers.”
The move is the latest in a long string of changes at the chain in the six months since Brian Niccol arrived as CEO. That includes the return of handwritten names on cups, requirements that only paying customers use restrooms, more comfortable seats in stores, corporate and management changes, among other things.
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