Say what you will about Starbucks, they do a lot of the heavy lifting on the arduous path of progress. From initiatives to hire 10,000 refugees worldwide to a recent commitment (and $10 million) to develop a recyclable, compostable cup to then-CEO Charles Schultz going on national television to actively speak out against then-Republican presidential nominee What’s His Face, the ubiquitous green mermaid has put its money where its mouth is on social issues time and time again, even when it meant boycotts. Stupid, stupid boycotts.

And on Wednesday, Starbucks continues to find themselves on the right side of history with the announcement that they have achieved 100 percent pay equity for all genders and races in similar roles in the United States.

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According to Starbucks chief partner officer Lucy Helm, reaching 100 percent pay equity has been roughly 10 years in the making. Helm, who discussed the announcement at Starbucks 2018 Annual Meeting of Shareholders on Wednesday in Seattle, states that “the company will now work ‘with deliberate speed’ toward closing the gender pay gap for all partners in company-operated markets worldwide,” according to a press release.

In their push for pay equity globally, Starbucks will work with the Billie Jean King Leadership Initiative, the National Partners for Women & Families, and the American Association of University Women to encourage other multinational companies to follow suit “by sharing the principles and tools the company uses.”

For more information on Starbucks’ announcement, the full press release can be found here.

Zac Cadwalader is the news editor at Sprudge Media Network and a staff writer based in Dallas. Read more Zac Cadwalader on Sprudge.

*top image via Starbucks

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