Starbucks Baristas: The daily grind
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Is every store like this? (Advice needed!) (self.starbucksbaristas)
submitted by baristathrowaway2019
Hello fellow baristas!! I have a question to see if I’m crazy, or if I’m not. I’m using a throwaway account cuz my main has too many posts that show my general location, and I don’t want to get anyone in trouble. If my post breaks any rules, don’t hesitate to take it down, but please DM me where I can go for help
So I’ve been working here for about a year and a half. My location is known as the “bad” one- its right in the middle of a low income area thats got issues with drug abusers. Like, its a policy here not to push down on the trash in the bathroom due to how many people have gotten stabbed by needles. In my year and a half here, we’ve had four managers. The most recent one, we’ve had the longest, for about six months. The shortest manager lasted a day and a half.
The latest manager has done some great things for our store. We finally got newer equipment, our backroom now has some level of organization to it, and she’s overall helped this place really look up! The problem though, is she’s a bit too nice. As in, she’s laid back on many policies and as a result, everyone’s she’s hired doesn’t do a great job of anything.
I’m one of four people left from before she got here. The one who trained me recently left, and I quickly realized she and I were the only ones who actually cared about keeping things cleaned. Now I’m the only one. Not exaggerating- when I come back from my two days off, the dishes will be coffee stained, the walls have syrup all over them, there will be flies everywhere... its so bad. I literally just cleaned the drains, I dont know when they last were cleaned cuz there was a half inch of grey gunk on them.
My manager stopped ordering magic erasers, and no one else wants to take two extra seconds to scrub, so i bought my own and bring them in every shift. I also realized no one had been rinsing the whip tops and the springs were black. I brought in some tools for those too. All the new hires hate me because I keep correcting them on how to clean stuff, and the manager got to the point where she told me to stop doing the SS’s job and mind my own business.
But I can’t take it anymore. If I don’t clean, the place looks like a disaster. I went on leave for a few weeks at one point and there were maggots in the trash bin when I came back. There’s roaches now, and my manager won’t respond to my texts about it.
Is my store the only one like this, or is this normal? My district manager and manager don’t care. Who do I contact to get things fixed here? How can I get people held accountable for keeping this place clean?
So I’ve been working here for about a year and a half. My location is known as the “bad” one- its right in the middle of a low income area thats got issues with drug abusers. Like, its a policy here not to push down on the trash in the bathroom due to how many people have gotten stabbed by needles. In my year and a half here, we’ve had four managers. The most recent one, we’ve had the longest, for about six months. The shortest manager lasted a day and a half.
The latest manager has done some great things for our store. We finally got newer equipment, our backroom now has some level of organization to it, and she’s overall helped this place really look up! The problem though, is she’s a bit too nice. As in, she’s laid back on many policies and as a result, everyone’s she’s hired doesn’t do a great job of anything.
I’m one of four people left from before she got here. The one who trained me recently left, and I quickly realized she and I were the only ones who actually cared about keeping things cleaned. Now I’m the only one. Not exaggerating- when I come back from my two days off, the dishes will be coffee stained, the walls have syrup all over them, there will be flies everywhere... its so bad. I literally just cleaned the drains, I dont know when they last were cleaned cuz there was a half inch of grey gunk on them.
My manager stopped ordering magic erasers, and no one else wants to take two extra seconds to scrub, so i bought my own and bring them in every shift. I also realized no one had been rinsing the whip tops and the springs were black. I brought in some tools for those too. All the new hires hate me because I keep correcting them on how to clean stuff, and the manager got to the point where she told me to stop doing the SS’s job and mind my own business.
But I can’t take it anymore. If I don’t clean, the place looks like a disaster. I went on leave for a few weeks at one point and there were maggots in the trash bin when I came back. There’s roaches now, and my manager won’t respond to my texts about it.
Is my store the only one like this, or is this normal? My district manager and manager don’t care. Who do I contact to get things fixed here? How can I get people held accountable for keeping this place clean?
EvenTheKitchenSink 10 points 3y ago
Yea that’s not normal. You should probably tell the district manager or call corporate
baristathrowaway2019 [OP] 2 points 3y ago
DM doesnt care, and also hates me in particular
boxinghamster16 2 points 3y ago
So sorry to hear your store is like this. Definitely not the case at every store. I wish I could be more help. Does QUASA not stop in your store?
baristathrowaway2019 [OP] 1 points 3y ago
Is that the people who come in occasionally to tell us to clean our drains? Cuz that happens a lot
boxinghamster16 2 points 3y ago
Yes that would be them.😂😂 I'm surprised nothing else is happening then.
baristathrowaway2019 [OP] 1 points 3y ago
I was told theres no longer a score, or even a pass/fail. Just giving us a list of things to fix. And we always get told to clean the drains, and a bunch of other cleaning stuff. The ASM will clean up right then, but then it’ll go right back to awful.
boxinghamster16 1 points 3y ago
Dude i'm so sorry. Sounds like an awful situation. Makes me appreciate my store to hear that kinda stuff though. My starbucks is crazy about keeping things clean. Maybe see if you can transfer if there are other stores in the area would be the only other thing I'd say.
Vonri 1 points 3y ago
Idk if you’ll still check this or if it matters at this point, but TAKE PHOTOS of everything. Take photos of the walls, the machine parts that are gross, the cockroaches, and if you can, fine reviews online for that store that discuss how gross the place is. That will bring it to attention for any management that cares.
Even the worst managers might soften up if you approach the conversation right.
“Hey DM do you have a minute to talk? Can we go somewhere private?”
—(The privacy bit is important because it places the significance on the conversation it deserves, any less and they will just think you are offhandedly complaining and whining)
“(Insert bitchy comment here because they hate you) —Wow, you better not be quitting.”
“Oh no of course not! I love working here!” (Respond to the negativity with some comment about how much you love Starbucks. Give off the most innocent and positive vibe as you can)
Start of the conversation with something good about the place and how you want to help Starbucks be the best it can be and that you have every interest in doing what is best for the store. This will lower the DM’s guard and if you can, throw in a compliment to their management style. Even if you hate them, just do this.
*(It’s the art of sucking up to get what you want, use it)*
Cue evidence and reviews. Bring everything you can to this part. Gross them the hell out.
Definitely talk about how this will be bad for sales and the image of Starbucks. Discuss liability and how you don’t want anybody to get sick. All as innocently as possible.
Those two points are very important because the management is likely reviewed for sales performance and corporate Starbucks absolutely does not want a lawsuit or damaged brand.
If all this still doesn’t kick the DM into taking this seriously, calmly ask for a number that you can call to report this. If they still bitch at you, again respond with positivity.
You’ll have to have this difficult conversation first before calling a higher power here. Possibly attempt to discreetly record it depending on the laws in your state so if they try to get you fired you have evidence to show that you were only trying to do what was best for Starbucks.
Even the worst managers might soften up if you approach the conversation right.
“Hey DM do you have a minute to talk? Can we go somewhere private?”
—(The privacy bit is important because it places the significance on the conversation it deserves, any less and they will just think you are offhandedly complaining and whining)
“(Insert bitchy comment here because they hate you) —Wow, you better not be quitting.”
“Oh no of course not! I love working here!” (Respond to the negativity with some comment about how much you love Starbucks. Give off the most innocent and positive vibe as you can)
Start of the conversation with something good about the place and how you want to help Starbucks be the best it can be and that you have every interest in doing what is best for the store. This will lower the DM’s guard and if you can, throw in a compliment to their management style. Even if you hate them, just do this.
*(It’s the art of sucking up to get what you want, use it)*
Cue evidence and reviews. Bring everything you can to this part. Gross them the hell out.
Definitely talk about how this will be bad for sales and the image of Starbucks. Discuss liability and how you don’t want anybody to get sick. All as innocently as possible.
Those two points are very important because the management is likely reviewed for sales performance and corporate Starbucks absolutely does not want a lawsuit or damaged brand.
If all this still doesn’t kick the DM into taking this seriously, calmly ask for a number that you can call to report this. If they still bitch at you, again respond with positivity.
You’ll have to have this difficult conversation first before calling a higher power here. Possibly attempt to discreetly record it depending on the laws in your state so if they try to get you fired you have evidence to show that you were only trying to do what was best for Starbucks.
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