Starbucks Coffee Company (NASDAQ: SBUX) announced a new incentive rewards program for hourly coffeehouse workers, allowing baristas and shift supervisors to earn quarterly bonuses based on store performance metrics.

The program enables eligible hourly partners to earn up to $1,200 annually through $300 quarterly bonuses when their locations meet sales, operational and customer service targets. The company stated this is in addition to existing base pay and benefits.

Starbucks will expand tip opportunities across more payment channels, including Mobile Order & Pay and Scan & Pay transactions. The company indicated the combined bonus and expanded tipping options could increase eligible partner compensation by approximately 5-8%.

The coffee chain will transition all U.S. partners to weekly pay schedules, responding to employee feedback from those not already receiving weekly compensation. Currently, some partners receive pay on different schedules.

Starbucks plans to add coffeehouse coach positions across U.S. locations. These full-time management roles will work alongside coffeehouse leaders to maintain store operations and support the company's goal of filling 90% of retail leadership positions internally.

The company reported investing more than $500 million in additional staffing hours and expanded rosters since launching its Back to Starbucks transformation. Starbucks stated it receives more than 1 million job applications annually in the U.S. and that coffeehouse partner retention reached record levels, with turnover nearly half the industry average.

The incentive program rollout will begin in July 2026 across U.S. coffeehouses. At approximately 5% of U.S. locations where partners have union representation, the program will be subject to collective bargaining requirements under federal law.

Starbucks currently offers average total compensation valued at more than $30 per hour for hourly partners, including healthcare, stock awards, college tuition coverage and flexible leave policies available to part-time workers averaging 20 or more hours weekly.