Starbucks Canada Invests in Comprehensive Total Wellness for its Partners at a Critical Time

More than 20,000 Canadian partners (employees) and their families now have access to LifeWorks total suite of mental, financial, physical and lifestyle wellness services

Starbucks Canada this week is making LifeWorks, a leading digital wellness platform and app, available to all 24,000 Canadian partners (employees) and their family members, offering access to critical support services including uncapped short-term 24/7 counselling sessions and financial advice at a time when it is needed most.

LifeWorks’ total wellbeing platform goes significantly beyond the traditional Employee Assistance Program (EAP). It includes rewards and recognition, proactive advice, and easy-to-use learning modules and assessment tools. The platform also provides more comprehensive mental, physical, social and financial health resource that better meets the individual needs of partners. Importantly, Starbucks is making LifeWorks available to all partners, including those working fewer than 20-hours a week who may not be eligible for benefits.

“Caring for partners is fundamental to who we are at our core as a company,” says Cara Beck, Starbucks Canada’s vice president of Partner Resources. “We know that now, more than ever, we have a responsibility as a company to do more to support partners wherever they are on their wellness journey. Our commitment is unwavering.”

Canadians have faced so much change over the last several months navigating the global pandemic and struggles with uncertainty have heightened mental health concerns. A recent survey by Statistics Canada  found 88 per cent of Canadians have experienced at least one symptom of anxiety since physical distancing began.* And, according to a monthly Mental Health Index™ report from Morneau Shepell, who developed the LifeWorks platform, Canadians’ mental health has been on the decline for the past four consecutive months.**

“The LifeWorks platform provides support for mental, physical, social and financial wellbeing. If any one of these four pillars falters, it can negatively affect the others,” said Neil King, President, LifeWorks and Executive Vice President, Morneau Shepell. “Canadians across all industries are struggling with their mental health right now, which is why it is so critical that we approach wellbeing in a holistic way.”

LifeWorks is one more step in Starbucks commitment to supporting partners and breaking the stigma around mental health. In 2016, Starbucks Canada introduced an unprecedented $5,000 mental health benefit, which for three consecutive years has been the single most-used benefit behind drug coverage among Canadian benefits-eligible partners. Earlier this year, Starbucks also provided all partners with free subscriptions to the meditation app Headspace to make mental health support even more accessible and to improve partners’ overall wellbeing in a long-lasting, positive way.

And, this month, the company will begin dedicated mental health training for Canadian store managers to enable these leaders with the tools and knowledge to guide their teams at any stage of a mental health crisis. This additional in-store support means retail partners can feel comfortable talking to their leaders about their mental health challenges and be able to easily find resources specific to their needs.

Click here to learn more about Starbucks Canada’s commitment to break the stigma around mental health.

*Source: Statistics Canada
**Source: Morneau Shepell