Bruce Horovitz

USA TODAY

Don't be shocked if your favorite Starbucks barista shows up with tattoos and a nose stud Monday.

That's the day when Starbucks will relax its domestic dress code policy after months of internal discussion, debate and wrangling, the company announced Thursday in a letter to employees.

The move, which impacts about 135,000 U.S. employees, has been widely anticipated after the coffee giant announced in September that it was reviewing not only its dress code but a host of employee policies. The company also announced that beginning Jan. 1, 2015, it will raise barista pay — though it didn't say how much. Also, beginning Jan. 1, baristas who were previously allowed one free beverage on their shifts also will be able to select a free food item.

But it's the new dress code policy that raised the most eyebrows and social media chatter Thursday. The company's strong and influential base of Millennial employees and customers has been widely unhappy with the previous dress code that essentially required employees with tattoos to cover them up with clothing, bandages or make-up. A number of employees had created Facebook pages and blogs objecting to the policy. While Starbucks has taken relatively liberal stands on issues varying from same-sex marriage to gun bans, its dress code seemed somewhat old-fashioned.

"We want to build a company where self-expression, empowerment and inclusion are nurtured," said COO Troy Alstead in his letter to employees.

Here are the key dress code changes:

• Tattoos. Tattoos now will be allowed, except on the face or throat. Previously, no tattoos were permitted to be visible.

• Piercings. Employees will now be allowed to wear "small" nose studs — though the company was not specific on how small. But the number of piercings per ear is still limited to two. Also, ear gauging — larger piercings of the earlobe — will now be permitted.

• Pants. Starbucks workers will now be able to wear black, denim jeans. Previously, they could not wear any jeans. But blue jeans still will not be permitted. "The Starbucks uniform is black, green and white, and we're going to stay with that," says spokeswoman Laurel Harper.

• Shirts. Shirts now can be untucked — but only if the midsection doesn't show (even when employees bend or reach). Previously, all shirts had to be tucked-in.

• Accessories. Employees can now wear small scarves, neckties or bow ties in any color. They were previously not allowed.

• Badges. Name badges can now include small doodles and be personalized. Previously, they could only have a name.

• Jewelry. This is one case where the rules are getting tougher. Watches, wristbands and bracelets will no longer be permitted on employees "This is to bring us in line with food safety guidelines," says Harper.

One culture guru says Starbucks is still behind the times with its new dress code policy because, he says, it's already outdated. "Starbucks is thinking analog in the digital world," says futurist Watts Wacker, who notes that in just one year, Millennials will pass Baby Boomers as the largest portion of the workforce. "Social media will have a field day with this."