Starbucks Gives Workers Bonuses and Better Tips to Fix Business Problems

Starbucks is giving its coffee makers extra money to help turn around its struggling business. The world's largest coffee chain announced it will pay bonuses to baristas (coffee makers) and expand tipping options across all stores.

The company is facing tough times with declining sales (when fewer people buy their products) and unhappy workers. To fix these problems, Starbucks is trying a new approach: taking better care of its employees.

What Starbucks is doing: • Giving cash bonuses to all baristas and shift supervisors • Allowing customers to tip workers at drive-through locations • Expanding digital tipping through the Starbucks app • Investing in better training programs for new employees

This move comes as Starbucks struggles to attract customers back to its stores. The company has been losing business to cheaper competitors and dealing with long wait times that frustrate customers. By paying workers more, Starbucks hopes happier employees will provide better service and bring customers back.

The bonuses will be paid out quarterly (every three months) based on store performance. Workers at busier, more profitable stores could earn larger bonuses. The expanded tipping is expected to add $200-400 per month to workers' paychecks.

This strategy could help Starbucks stock (shares of ownership in the company) recover from recent losses. When companies treat workers better, it often leads to better business results and higher stock prices.

This is an AI-generated summary. Read the original article at: https://www.cnbc.com/2026/04/02/starbucks-to-award-bonuses-to-baristas-expand-tipping.html