Starbucks is implementing a new dress code for workers across its North American stores next month, as the coffee giant aims to refresh its store image and boost business under CEO Brian Niccol.
As part of the updated dress code, effective May 12, employees will be required to wear solid black short-sleeve or long-sleeve shirts, which can either be a crew neck, collared or button-up style. Employees may also wear bottoms in any shade of khaki, black or blue denim.
Each employee will also get two company-branded T-shirts for free, according to Starbucks.
Starbucks said this change will “create a sense of familiarity” for customers while helping the company “deliver a more consistent coffeehouse experience that will also bring simpler and clearer guidance to our partners.”
This was the latest change made under Niccol, who took over in September and subsequently launched a “Back to Starbucks” strategy aimed at reverting the company back to its coffee house roots. Niccol is not only working to boost profitability, but to improve the work environment after the company faced years of growing pressure from unionization campaigns nationwide and consecutive disappointing fiscal quarters as traffic declined.
