For the first time in over a year, Starbucks employees are striking in several states across the United States. Workers in cities such as Seattle, Chicago and Los Angeles have ceased operations, seeking greater benefits. Beginning on December 20, 2024, many baristas gathered outside Starbucks stores to protest. But they’re not the only ones to do this—Amazon warehouse workers and drivers have staged similar strikes, although the company refuses to recognize their efforts. Large companies such as Starbucks and Amazon wouldn’t have to deal with these strikes if they merely prioritized the needs of their workforce over profits. Whether multi-billion or trillion, corporations must acknowledge the essential nature of their employees. Such companies will always need a reliable workforce to operate, and nothing will change this.
The ignorance of larger corporations to their workers’ struggles has caused a great amount of dissatisfaction among employees across the United States. According to statistics compiled by Flair, a human resources and recruiting app, work-life balance and job security were primary concerns for many, with 63% of employees reporting discontent. Because a majority of these employees likely come from corporations such as Starbucks and Amazon, it is clear: while many workers have expressed dissatisfaction, little has been done to relieve their complaints. Moreover, many employees may still be reeling from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Thus, they may need benefits, such as wage increases. According to data from the Transamerica Institute collected in March 2024, 51% of large companies have not fully recovered from the pandemic’s effects. This statistic is undoubtedly reflected among many company workers. Due to this, large companies should do more with their profits to accommodate their workforce.
Going further, the recent Starbucks and Amazon strikes are two of many occurring in the past few years, showing the need for large corporations to recognize the needs of their employees. In 2023, agreements were made between the United Auto Workers union after strikes against companies such as Ford and General Motors, with the Associated Press citing 33% increases in wages and 11% raises. Moreover, the Associated Press also describes strikes against Kaiser Permanente in 2023, held by unions representing 85,000 workers. These strikes also increased the workers’ wages by 22% over four years. Many everyday workers are dissatisfied with how major corporations treat them. Strikes from both last year and this year—such as those against Starbucks and Amazon, and those organized by the United Auto Workers union and health care unions—plainly show how such dissatisfaction has reached a boiling point. If major corporations were to provide their workers with the benefits and treatment they deserve, this might never be a problem.
It should be noted that companies that more thoroughly accommodate their workers are more efficient than companies that do not. In a study done by Flair, it was found that a company outshines its competitors by 20% when its workers are satisfied. Moreover, a 27% cutback on absenteeism occurred in companies with satisfied employees. This data suggests that by prioritizing a workforce’s needs, a company can attain greater profitability—a winning scenario for all businesses.
The strikes organized by Amazon and Starbucks employees are held for good reason. As corporations neglect their workforce, employee activism has increased. Despite large corporations’ profits, many workers do not receive the pay or benefits they deserve. A large percentage of employees in the U.S. report dissatisfaction in the workplace, while policies barely change. This cannot continue, and the continuous cycle of renegotiating company contracts must change for the better. By helping their workforce, corporations can still achieve greater profitability. Although many business systems aren’t perfect, large businesses must do their part to accommodate their employees.
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