Starbucks closed 1,100 Canadian locations on Monday June 11 afternoon for a day of training “designed to address implicit bias, promote conscious inclusion, and ensure everyone inside a Starbucks store feels safe and welcome.”.
The company says the training involved sharing experiences and listening to experts. It focused on how employees can help everyone feel like they belong.
The move came after a manager in a Philadelphia branch of the chain called police to arrest two black men who were sitting in the store as they waited for a third person to arrive.
Donte Robinson and Rashon Nelson sued Starbucks and reached an out-of-court settlement, where the coffee chain agree to create a $200,000 grant for entrepreneurs.
Starbucks then closed its 8,000 locations in the U.S. on May 29 to conduct racial bias training.
