Starbucks has promised to hire 10,000 refugees globally over the next five years, in response to US President Donald Trump’s recent immigration ban which temporarily bars refugees access to the US and banning entry for anyone from seven majority Muslim countries.
“We are developing plans to hire 10,000 of them over five years in the 75 countries around the world where Starbucks does business,” he told employees in a strongly-worded note.
He added that the move was to make clear the company “will neither stand by, nor stand silent, as the uncertainty around the new administration’s actions grows with each passing day.”
Schultz said the recruitment would begin in the US primarily for refugees who had served as interpreters for the US military.
Silicon Valley long-term residents including Facebook, Google and Tesla have also made public statements, while Airbnb is offering free accommodation to people affected by the travel restrictions and unable to get into the US.
Immigration lawyers also took time off work to go to the airport to offer their services for free to those facing immigration issues at passport control.
The move lead to support and backlash on social media. The hashtag #BoycottStarbucks was trending on Twitter Monday morning with people praising and condemning the company’s move.
Rebecca joined the HRreview editorial team in January 2016. After graduating from the University of Sheffield Hallam in 2013 with a BA in English Literature, Rebecca has spent five years working in print and online journalism in Manchester and London. In the past she has been part of the editorial teams at Sleeper and Dezeen and has founded her own arts collective.