Washington Business Winter 2019 | Washington Business | Page 18

washington business Of Note Starbucks Sustainability Effort Includes Removing Plastic Straws from All Stores by 2020 By 2020, Starbucks’ 28,000 stores will no longer offer plastic straws to custom- e r s, t h e c o m p a ny announced last year. Instead, the com- pany will feature a new cup design with a straw-less lid to replace single-use plastic straws. The new, recy- clable lid is already in use at some Starbucks stores for cold drinks. “For our partners and customers, this is a significant milestone to achieve our global aspiration of sustainable coffee, served to our customers in more sustainable ways,” Kevin Johnson, president and chief executive officer for Starbucks, said in a statement. The news comes just a few months after the company’s shareholder meeting where Starbucks executives announced a $10 million investment to create recyclable and compostable cups for its stores. During the same meeting, it was also announced that the company has reached gender pay equity at its stores in the United States and is working on a solution for its stores around the world. Special Olympics USA Games in Seattle Mark 50th Anniversary of Competitions It was a week of intense competition as athletes of all ages and all abilities took part in the 50th Special Olympics USA Games at the University of Washington. The games kicked off July 1 with an opening ceremony in Husky Stadium and concluded with honoring the athletes and their families, generous sponsors and the thousands of volunteers July 6. Payroll Deductions for Washington’s Paid Family and Medical Leave Program Began Jan. 1. The state Employment Security Department (ESD) is urging employers and their employees to be in compliance for the first phase of Washington’s new Paid Family and Medical Leave program. Administered by ESD, Paid Family and Medical Leave is a statewide insurance program passed by the Legislature in 2017. It will be funded by premiums paid by both employees and many employers beginning Jan. 1, 2019. Eligible employees are entitled to up to 12 weeks beginning Jan. 1, 2020, if they: • Welcome a new child into their family • Need to recover from a serious illness or injury • Need to take care of an ill or ailing relative • Have certain military-connected events If workers experience multiple events in a given year they may be eligible to receive up to 16 weeks, or up to 18 weeks if the employee experiences a serious health condition with a pregnancy that results in incapacity. More information on the program can be found here: http://bit.ly/PFML-Employees. Contact AWB Government Affairs Director Bob Battles at [email protected] or 360.943.1600 to learn more about the program. 18 association of washington business Aside from winning medals, the week’s events had a deeper goal of fostering an inclusive environment for people of all abilities. “The 2018 Special Olympics USA Games will showcase the abilities of athletes with intellectual disabilities, promote the ideals of acceptance and inclusion through sport, and celebrate the transformative power of Special Olympics,” said Beth Knox, president and CEO of 2018 Special Olympics USA Games. Throughout the week, athletes of all ages competed in sports from stand-up paddleboard to soccer and track to bocce ball. AWB member Microsoft was the presenting sponsor of the games. PACCAR, Amazon and other members were also among the many sponsors that made the games and the experience for athletes and families exceptional.