Starbucks Will Start Paying Employees to Volunteer 20 Hours a Week

According to CNNMoney , Starbucks is testing a program that will allow some employees to spend half of their workweek at a local nonprofit. With the help of Points of Light, a nonprofit volunteering group, Starbucks picked 36 Starbucks Service Fellows in 13 cities for the pilot program. For six months, the fellows will spend no less than 20 hours a week working for Starbucks and up to 20 hours per week at a local nonprofit organization that aligns with Starbucks' philanthropic priorities. These include supporting refugees, veterans, and military families and youth, along with eliminating hunger and protecting the environment. Virginia Tenpenny, vice president of Global Social Impact at Starbucks, said the coffee retailer sees the program as a way to keep employees happy.