Case1

Starbuck’s HR Practices Ensure Its Brew Is a Winner

Question 1

What HR practices do you believe are most critical for starbucks to maintain the coffee experience and customer service it's known for as the company expands in the United States and abroad?

Solution 1.Starbucks believes that the key to company success is its employees, called partners. 2. At starbucks the value-and-treat-employees-right approach is part of the company culture. 3. One of the company’s six guiding principles is “to provide a great work environment and treat each other with respect and dignity.”

4.As a result of the important role of starbucks’ paartners, the company emphasizes selecting the right new employees, training them ,and rewarding and retaining employees with above-minimum salaries.

5.Job fairs,in-store advertisements,a cpmpany Web site,and employee referrals are used to recruit new employees.

6.Managers are provided with interview guidelines that are used to question job candidates to determine whether they have the skills and behaviors necessary for the position.

7.Although 85 percent of its employees are part-time, they are still eligible for full-time benefits if they work 240 hours a quarter.

8.Less than 30 percent of part-time workers in the United States receive health care, paid sick leave, or eligibility for bonuses or stock options.

9. Starbucks provides all employees and their same-sex or opposite-sex partners comprehensive health benefits that include medical, dental, and vision care as well as tuition reimbursement, stock options, vacation, and the 401(k) retirement plan.

10.Partners also receive a free pound of coffee each week.

11.All new U.S. employees start their jobs in paid training called “First Impressions”

Question 2

Do you think the culture and HR practices that appear to effective at Starbucks