Giving Compass' Take:

• Starbucks is building more inclusive practices for their company starting with a half day of racial bias training for all store employees. However, the company is still being criticized for policy changes.

• How can other corporations and big businesses learn lessons of inclusivity from Starbuck's mistakes? What more can they  do besides bathroom policy changes and a racial bias training to keep working toward a more inclusive company? 

• Read about the controversial arrest at Starbucks that jump started these policy changes.

Starbucks is working hard to show its listening to consumers these days. After last month’s arrest of two black patrons, on charges of trespassing at an upper-end Philadelphia store and public protesters accusing the corporation of supporting racism, CEO Kevin Johnson announced a number of procedural changes that he hoped would mend the discord.

The first step, the company announced, would be to enroll all Starbucks partners in a half-day of training to address “racial bias” behavior. All 800 Starbucks-run stores will be closed for a half-day on Tuesday, May 29 as a result.

The second, announced last week, would be to open its bathrooms and patron facilities at large, to the public and to rescind the company policy of requiring a purchase before using the washroom.

While the policies seem fairly practical steps for stores that on average serve 500 patrons a day (2013), and that number is still growing), there’s been plenty of criticism and pushback for both changes.

First, when it comes to addressing social biases, say experts, a half-day training likely won’t be enough. Reforming attitudes takes time and repeat training.

But the corporation has also received a fair amount of criticism for its policy change restroom use. In fact, if Starbucks management found the discussion about race relations to be uncomfortable, it may be nothing compared to addressing social mores and consumers’ discomfort about sharing that sacred space with everyone on the street.

What is interesting is that this isn’t entirely a new transition for Starbucks.  New York Times writer Josh Korman points out that New York City Starbucks bathrooms were open to the public until November 2011, when the company changed its policy and began converting some facilities to employee-only access.

Read the full article about starbucks bathroom policies by Jan Lee at TriplePundit