Starbucks announced it has reached complete pay equity among all of its U.S. employees, of all races and genders, who do similar work.
“Roughly 10 years ago we began serious work to ensure women and men—of all ethnicities and races—are compensated fairly at Starbucks,” said Lucy Helm, chief partner officer at Starbucks, in a statement. “This accomplishment is the result of years of work and commitment.”
The announcement is significant given the continuing wage disparity in the foodservice industry.
For example, male kitchen managers at fast-casual operations made an average of $57,222 in 2017, according to the recent Gecko Hospitality Salary Survey Report. Their female counterparts made just over 60% of that—$35,080—the report found.
Starbucks is now working with others to spread pay equity internationally, at its units around the globe and in other areas as well.
"The UN Foundation looks forward to engaging with Starbucks and other leaders—in the private and public sectors—to change policies, expectations and the status quo to reward the contributions of women and men equally,” Kathy Calvin, president and CEO of the United Nations Foundation, said in a statement. “It is past time to end discrimination against women."
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