Partner hub:
Beginning May 4, we will re-open as many stores as we can with modified operations and best in class safety measures, and intend for any partner who is healthy and well to come back to work. We will make time the first week of May to reconnect as a team and welcome back our partners. And we'll do this in a way that only Starbucks can – celebrating each other, making time for training across our new formats and safety protocols and re-immersing in our mission and purpose as a team.

To support our partners, we will extend Service Pay through the end of May with an additional $3 per hour for anyone who is healthy and choosing to work, and we will similarly extend Catastrophe Pay for partners who have been diagnosed or exposed to COVID-19, so they can stay home and self-isolate. We will continue our expanded Food/Beverage benefit and expanded Care@Work benefit with 20 backup days. All other benefits like Lyra for free mental health support, paid sick leave, paid time off, and more are always available, whether you are working or being supported with Catastrophe Pay. We will also continue to have Catastrophe Pay available for partners whose stores have to close, or stay closed, during May. And in order to ensure partners are paid for their average baseline hours, we will make Catastrophe Pay available to help close the gap between hours worked on Service Pay and average baseline hours through May 31.

For those partners whom the CDC has identified as at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19, or partners who live with a health care worker who works with COVID-19 patients, I encourage you to connect with your leader in the coming weeks so we can better understand your specific circumstances and how we can best help you manage your situation. That could include placing you in a lower risk environment (i.e. delivery only store), identifying resources and benefits to support you, or extending Catastrophe Pay until the end of May, if that's what you need. We will similarly provide Catastrophe Pay until the end of May for partners navigating childcare challenges. Everyone's situation is different and always evolving, and we want to help you make the right decision for you.

As we re-open stores and have work available, we will no longer be able to offer Catastrophe Pay to partners who are unwilling to work after May 3. These partners will have the option to utilize their remaining vacation or sick leave, apply for unpaid leave, or evaluate eligibility for assistance based on the CARES Act (or any state mandates). We also expect to phase out Catastrophe Pay and Service Pay in June as we return to our normal operations, pay and benefits. We will share additional details in the coming week, once we have them finalized."

Yes. But to my understanding, it’s only for those who are sick or homeschooling.

My store manager had a conference meeting and said that catastrophe ends on May 4th and stores will be opening back up. I’m sure there will be certain opening and safety procedures depending on how your area is, but to my understanding it’s not being extended. Things can change though. But this is just what I was told by my store manager.

Ooohh but we’re going to be able to get that extra three dollars? o: