BE greeted by warm and heartfelt smiles of baristas who offer pleasantries and attend to your order upon entering any Starbucks coffeehouse. The coffee chain, which opened its doors in Malaysia in 1998, has more than 4,000 employees in 300 stores across 58 cities. From the start, Starbucks in Malaysia, which is operated by Berjaya Starbucks Coffee Company Sdn Bhd, had set out to create a strong and happy workforce. Starbucks Reserve Bukit Bintang coffee master Mohd Khairul Mohd Rashid, 25, described Starbucks as a healthy workplace environment. “I enjoy the positive environment which is fun and productive. At the end of the day, we feel like one family,” said Mohd Khairul, who also spoke about its culture of prioritising connections. Starbucks partner resources and compliance director June Beh said employees were named as partners. “This way, partners would feel inclusive of the achievements and success we have together,” explained Beh. In 2015, Starbucks Malaysia was named Best Employer by Aon Hewitt for its employee engagement and high performance culture. “One of the most valuable qualities we look for in a partner is good interpersonal skills,” Beh said. “At Starbucks, we believe that the best customer service comes from the heart.” She also said partners were encouraged to develop their skills through various training programmes provided. To keep employees motivated, Starbucks regularly recognises its partners. “We always give partners rewards as well as certificates. Customers can visibly see the apron pins given that certifies their achievement and progression,” said Beh. In November, the coffee chain opened its fourth signing store in Penang, providing extensive career opportunities to people with disabilities. “It is another space for us to explore creating opportunities,” she said, adding that the move showed the inclusion of experiences and perspectives that help create a diverse culture of empowerment at Starbucks Malaysia.