Starbucks partners are encouraged to be themselves and express themselves in their own ways. Starbucks has implemented a rule inside their partner guide stating that partners may only have one facial piercing the size of a quarter. Myself and others believe this is limiting our ability to express ourselves.

Starbucks appears hypocritical and limiting over their rule with reasons being facial piercings have no impact on food safety, allows other forms of expression aside from facial piercings, and threatens write ups for insubordination. In addition, Starbucks claims the connections baristas and customers have are imperative to the job and my personal accounts with customer connections involving my piercings directly and have positively impacted my interactions with customers

Starbucks has no reason under food safety laws to restrict the amount of facial piercings a partner can have. There are no stated reasons under the cdc food regulations that do not allow facial piercings.

Next, Starbucks allows colored hair, starbucks approved pins of non discriminatory value, and bright colored shirts. These expressions are just as if not more extravagant than facial piercings and should be deemed unprofessional if facial piercings are not allowed. Starbucks shows to be hypocritical in their rules on unprofessional presentation and 3rd place values.

Starbucks has threatened write ups and documented coaching about facial piercings even if the baristas has no other signs of insubordinate behavior. Starbucks then ignores other more pressing matters such as preserving the third place and other food safety dress code concerns.

Lastly, Starbucks claims that customer connections are one of the most important aspects of their company. I have personally created extensive amounts of connections through my personal expression of facial piercings. I have been able to connect with people who have been wanting to get the piercings I have, people who are interested in the process, and people interested in the effects of my form of expression.

In conclusion, Starbucks should remove their restriction of facial piercings and allow partners to fully express themselves while also connecting with customers at the same time.