“Encouraging managers not to rely entirely on the automated software is the best thing they can do. But I’m doubtful of how many managers will actually do it,” she said, because of the wide variation in how managers at different stores treat their employees.
Why? Because it gets to the point that a company may, on the whole be trying to do the right thing, and may have progressive policies, etc., but - at the end of the day - it is individual middle managers who most directly impact the conditions that workers experience.
I doubt this point will resonate with the left'ish wing folks who consider all business owners evil, blab about "capitalist oppressors" and want a wholesale adoption of socialist (or psuedo-socialist) policies, but this is the truth. Companies are not inherently evil, and companies can - and do - choose to try to do right by their employees... but enforcing consistent application of a policy related to working conditions is just as a difficult as enforcing consistent application of any policy in a large organization.
The question then, to me, is whether or not Starbucks can find a way to ensure that this policy is actually adhered to. And at any rate, good on them for at least making the attempt.