While Starbucks has reopened more than 85 per cent of its U.S. locations, shortened hours have affected many workers and prompted the chain to provide unpaid leave to allow them to receive unemployment insurance.

“Your feedback has been critical as we consider how to best support partners who are not getting the hours they need, including implementing a new COVID-19 Leave of Absence policy for partners who prefer to take an unpaid leave through Sept. 30 and accrue up to 20 hours per week toward benefits eligibility,” Rossann Williams, EVP and president of U.S. company-operated business and Canada, wrote last week in a letter to employees. Taking the leave will encourage workers to investigate federal COVID-19 and state unemployment insurance to which they might be entitled, such as $600 a week of unemployment assistance under the CARES Act, Fast Casual reported.