Beijing — Starbucks will provide Chinese workers with health insurance that extends coverage to their parents, a unique offering by the coffeehouse chain that may be used by more than 10,000 people to treat conditions such as cancer, heart disease and Alzheimer’s. The new policy is a response to traditional values in China, the company said, as children often care for their parents and grandparents in a society that does not have a comprehensive safety net for the elderly. The plan, covering 30 critical illnesses and some types of surgery, will be available starting in June, executive chairperson Howard Schultz said. "This is the first time we’ve done anything like this, and the reason for that is that it was clear there was an emotionally driven concern among partners about their ability to take care of their parents," Schultz said in an interview in Beijing. "I heard firsthand very emotionally driven, tragic stories about what’s taking place with the parents who got sick, and many...
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