Starbucks gives workers stock grants, bonuses amid company turnaround effort

Starbucks announced that nearly 200,000 employees worldwide are receiving new stock grants as the coffee giant rolls out additional rewards tied to company performance and customer tipping.

The Seattle-based company announced that eligible full- and part-time workers, whom Starbucks calls “partners,” received new Bean Stock grants on Nov. 11. The annual stock grants are part of a program that lets employees share in the company’s ownership.

About 130,000 employees also have stock grants from previous years vesting this month, according to a release from the company’s chief partner and chief operating officers. More than 2 million workers have received roughly $2.75 billion in pre-tax gains through the Bean Stock program since 1991.

More than 80% of eligible hourly employees at North American stores will receive a payout on Nov. 13 through its new “Best of Starbucks Reward” program, Starbucks reported.

Other Starbucks incentives

The incentive program, announced earlier this year, lets eligible baristas and shift supervisors earn up to $300 per quarter when their stores meet certain sales, operational, and customer-service goals.

In addition to stock awards and bonuses, Starbucks reported that customers have tipped workers more than $22 million through expanded digital tipping options introduced in July. Tipping through those channels has more than doubled.

The expanded compensation programs are part of the company’s broader “Back to Starbucks” strategy, which aims to improve store performance and employee experience.

The company highlighted several benefits it offers eligible workers, including health coverage, tuition assistance through Arizona State University, paid parental leave, and internal promotion opportunities.

Starbucks said nearly 95% of employees receive their preferred schedules and noted its hourly turnover rate is about half the retail industry average.

The announcement comes as Starbucks continues efforts to retain workers and improve operations across its coffeehouses, while also navigating labor negotiations at unionized stores.

The company noted that bonus payouts, weekly pay, and expanded tipping options at unionized U.S. locations remain subject to collective bargaining agreements.

Starbucks’ previous closures, layoffs, and business moves

Starbucks announced the closure of five stores across western and eastern Washington and also eight headquartered jobs in early October. The retail closures were part of 250 closures nationwide.

In May 2026, the company announced another 61 corporate employees were laid off and that the company was in the preliminary steps to hire or move 2,000 workers to a new headquarters in Nashville.

On the same day as those layoffs, former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz publicly criticized Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson, arguing Seattle’s business climate has turned hostile, in an op-ed in The Wall Street Journal.

This followed layoffs affecting 900 non-retail jobs in 2025.

Also, in September 2025, Seattle’s Starbucks Reserve Roastery abruptly closed. According to employees, they received no prior warning until they arrived at work and found a closure notice on the building’s door.

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