The Choice is Yours: Starbucks Canada introduces new Partner Choice benefit for greater flexibility and personalization

At Starbucks, our Partner promise is to bridge to a better future. We are proud to offer meaningful benefits for hourly employees across the country, and we are constantly expanding benefits and supports– directly inspired by collaboration with our partners.  

The latest example of direct partner feedback in action is the launch of the Partner Choice Benefit. In addition to providing industry-leading financial, mental, physical and lifestyle benefits to partners who work a minimum of only 20 hours per week, benefits-enrolled partners in Canada can now select either a Health Spending Account (HSA) or Personal Wellness Account (PWA), each which comes with an annual set amount of funds that can be put toward a variety of out-of-pocket expenses. Some partners may find an HSA more appealing, which can cover out-of-pocket medical and dental expenses not covered under Extended Health and Dental Care plans, while some partners may opt for the PWA. And, based on partner feedback, the PWA will have even more options available to partners. New this year starting October 1, 2024, the PWA eligible expenses list now includes: services related to name and gender marker changes for transgender, non-binary and gender non-conforming partners; fitness/sports equipment and fitness apps. Another example of partner feedback in action.

“Starbucks is proud of our 50-year history and tradition of listening, learning, and investing our success back into our partners,” says Lori Digulla, president and general manager, Starbucks Canada. ” Our partners have and always will hold the power to inform, inspire, and influence the future of Starbucks.

We understand that no two partners are the same. This is why we strive to offer customizable options to support their personal wellness – however they choose to define it.”

Total Rewards For The Total You

Helping partners bridge to a better future also means supporting partners in their growth and aspirations – at Starbucks and beyond. To do this, we offer a competitive and industry-leading Total Rewards and benefit offering that supports our partners’ mental, physical, lifestyle, and financial wellbeing. These four pillars reflect our holistic approach to health, safety, and wellness, the flexible and meaningful support we provide throughout our partners’ journeys at Starbucks Canada. Here are some of the benefits that eligible* partners can access:  

Mental

We are committed to reducing stigma, creating safe environments, and providing meaningful tools to ensure partners feel seen, heard, and supported. These benefits include:

• Extended mental health benefits up to $5k
• Access to the Headspace App
• TELUS Health EAP counselling sessions available 24/7

Physical

We believe investing in partner health means designing and providing benefits that are meaningful, relevant, and accessible to partners and their families. These benefits include:

• Extended health and dental coverage
• Life, AD&D and critical illness insurance
• TELUS Health - wellbeing assessments

Lifestyle

We want our partners to thrive at work and at home. This starts with supporting their growth and aspirations at work, and in their day-to-day lives. These benefits include:

• Family Expansion Reimbursement
• TELUS Health Health Coaching
• TELUS Health Perks, Discounts & eGift Cards

Financial

We call ourselves partners because we believe that success is best when it is shared. That means investing in our partners’ financial well-being, so they can thrive as partners and as individuals. These benefits include:

• Future Savings Plan (RRSP/DPSP) with up to 5% company match
• Manulife PlanRight® Advisor
• Tuition Reimbursement
• CUP Fund
• TELUS Health Financial + Legal support services

Bean Stock or Leadership Stock

For more information, please visit https://www.starbucksbenefits.com/en/home-ca-en/

*LEGAL DISLCAIMER: For any store already covered by a collective bargaining agreement (CBA) at the announcement of this change on July 24, 2023, the CBA will dictate the terms and conditions of employment for those represented partners. If at the announcement of this change a store was certified with a union but not yet covered by a CBA, or if a store had an application for certification pending, then the change will not be implemented in such stores due to the statutory freeze period; this will apply until there is a CBA in place, after which time the CBA will dictate the terms and conditions of employment for the represented partners. Connect with your DM if you have questions, or visit https://one.starbuckscanada.ca/.