Starbucks made a huge mistake after banning its employees from supporting the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement by wearing pins and attire.
Now, the company is announcing that it will allow baristas to wear supportive attire and has even taken the extra step to create 250,000 company-backed BLM t-shirts for employees to wear.
“We’re designing new t-shirts with the graphic below to demonstrate our allyship and show we stand together in unity,” read a statement from Starbucks. “Until these arrive, we’ve heard you want to show your support, so just be you. Wear your BLM pin or t-shirt. We are so proud of your passionate support of our common humanity.”
The popular coffee franchise changed its policy quickly after they received backlash from several customers. A boycott of the company ignited online and the stock price saw a decrease.
Customers first became aware of the ban from a BuzzFeed article stating that Starbucks wouldn’t let employees wear gear that supports Black Lives Matter because it is political or could incite violence.
The article revealed a hypocrisy in Starbucks policies.
“The company explicitly stated that Black Lives Matter attire was prohibited from the lists of things employees can wear due to its dress code policy, which also includes any type of political, religious, or personal accessories or clothing. However, as many employees noted to BuzzFeed News, Starbucks not only exempts buttons and attire celebrating LGBTQ rights and marriage equality, but hands them out.”
With Starbucks’ swift policy change, its becoming more evident that consumer dollars matter and when BLM supporters use that power, change happens.
