Why Starbucks staffs at least 15 stores with only women

Why Starbucks staffs at least 15 stores with only women

What you probably already know: Starbucks has opened at least 15 women-only stores in India over the last several years as a way to combat violence against store employees while also empowering women to access gainful employment.

Why? Only about 20% of women of working age in India participate in the workforce, and the wage gap is considerable, with women making 34% less than their male counterparts. At the same time, violence against women and girls in India is on the rise, with an 87% increase in reported incidents of violent crime in the last decade.

What it means: For Starbucks, that presented a significant challenge as it aims to increase its footprint across the country with its joint venture, Tata Starbucks. So the company turned to a creative solution: Stores staffed only by women. “What our partners have said is that, to advance women in India, we need the retail industry to create pathways of opportunity and group benefits that are specific to our female partners,” said Starbucks Chief Partner Officer Sara Kelly at an event in Seattle last week.

What happens now? The company has achieved 100% pay equity in the country and offers childcare assistance and flexible working hours for its employees there. In addition to the benefits, Kelly said the company also provides transportation services so their female employees can get safely to work, even late at night. This is about equitable access to opportunity, Kelly said, and it’s important big employers like Starbucks step up and show how it can be done.

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