Starbucks Baristas: The daily grind
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Grande Rant: Sick Policy (self.starbucksbaristas)
submitted by eye-brows
So this is a bit old, but a couple of weeks ago I had the stomach flu and you better believe I was SICK. Side note: I’ve worked at Starbs for 2+ years, only called out sick one day before this incident.
I threw up about an hour and a half before my shift and immediately texted my SM. He was basically like “this is short notice so text anyone who isn’t on the schedule and if they can’t come in you’re coming in”. I had to go to work and handle people’s money and food! I went home after a little over two hours because someone said they could work the rest of my shift (badass who worked 12 hours, fucking shout out to her). Still sick two days later, still had to work. The only way I could work is by not eating at least 5 hours before my shift and not eating during my shift. I was sick and hangry and exhausted.
Last week, I get sick with a head cold. One barista was free to cover on a day where I felt like I was gonna drop (had worked 4+ days being sick and it was getting to me), SM gets her to cover his shift so he can go out with his wife. While I’m making drinks, having completely lost my voice and have a fever.
I don’t blame my boss really but Jesus Christ, Starbucks needs to get its shit together about accommodating sick workers. I didn’t even want to miss work but I felt super uncomfortable making peoples drinks when I had the stomach flu. I’d be pissed if I was a customer and saw a pale-ass barista.
I threw up about an hour and a half before my shift and immediately texted my SM. He was basically like “this is short notice so text anyone who isn’t on the schedule and if they can’t come in you’re coming in”. I had to go to work and handle people’s money and food! I went home after a little over two hours because someone said they could work the rest of my shift (badass who worked 12 hours, fucking shout out to her). Still sick two days later, still had to work. The only way I could work is by not eating at least 5 hours before my shift and not eating during my shift. I was sick and hangry and exhausted.
Last week, I get sick with a head cold. One barista was free to cover on a day where I felt like I was gonna drop (had worked 4+ days being sick and it was getting to me), SM gets her to cover his shift so he can go out with his wife. While I’m making drinks, having completely lost my voice and have a fever.
I don’t blame my boss really but Jesus Christ, Starbucks needs to get its shit together about accommodating sick workers. I didn’t even want to miss work but I felt super uncomfortable making peoples drinks when I had the stomach flu. I’d be pissed if I was a customer and saw a pale-ass barista.
ohnosetoes 6 points 5y ago
They CANNOT make you work sick. If you have texts, send screenshots to your DM. That’s unacceptable and your DM should have the information. If that happens to you again say you won’t be coming in, and you suggest they start looking for coverage from another store in the district, but that you’ll do your best to reach out around your store. Your SM has more resources than you, and should be in contact with other SM’s that are able to support in case of a sudden illness on your SM’s team. If not, they aren’t networking properly and that does not boil down to your responsibility ever if you’re sick. The store is their problem, they should be in there if a partner is ill. Your SM is not legally allowed to ask you to come in if you are throwing up, have diarrhea, or have a fever. It’s against both health code and the illness policy both you and your SM signed, stating that you will not work ill or allow another partner to do so.
eye-brows [OP] 1 points 5y ago
thanks! If I wasn’t leaving Starbucks forever in two weeks I would definitely follow this advice. But yeah, I was throwing up + had diarrhea and I just felt so guilty and worried (almost had a full blown panic attack) because I didn’t want to get customers sick or straight up vomit in the store
CRushXIII 1 points 4y ago
I see I'm late to the game, but I just want to say...leaving or not this things need to be reported to the DM AND the PRC.
These kinds of moments will happen again and again until someone calls the bullshit.
Just think of the future baristas that work under that SM...
No one should be forced to work sick, it's in the handbook.
These kinds of moments will happen again and again until someone calls the bullshit.
Just think of the future baristas that work under that SM...
No one should be forced to work sick, it's in the handbook.
MrDragon7656 3 points 5y ago
Actually do blame your sm, it's not your job to find replacements it's theirs
GhostRecon1845 2 points 5y ago
Well you’re not supposed to work when you’re sick at all. It’s a policy for a reason and it’s right in the training.
Someone decided to tough out a sickness at my work and got my, 3 baristas, another shift and I all sick for almost a week.
If you’re worried that your SM won’t believe you I would go get a dr note for proof and talk to your DM about it. Document all your conversations so you cover your own ass.
Someone decided to tough out a sickness at my work and got my, 3 baristas, another shift and I all sick for almost a week.
If you’re worried that your SM won’t believe you I would go get a dr note for proof and talk to your DM about it. Document all your conversations so you cover your own ass.
alind1130 1 points 4y ago
The illness policy is that if you have sick time to cover your shift, the store manager must find coverage for you otherwise you must find your own coverage.
eye-brows [OP] 1 points 4y ago
I had sick time. My boss just thought it was better to have a partner who spent the better half of her morning vomiting/shitting her brains out than to have no partner at all.
alind1130 2 points 4y ago
Thats bs. I’m sorry you had to work like that! This might be worth mentioning to your DM so this manager doesn’t do that to other partners also.
LovePugs924 1 points 5y ago
Just disregard whatever bullshit answer your SM has come up with and say your not coming in at all. They already know when you called that they might have to cover the shift themselves. And no a doctor's note is not required by law, only required if you need reasonable accommodation. You can bring one if you feel the need to prove your illness. But otherwise don't need it.
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