Starbucks Baristas: The daily grind
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I just want to know I'm not alone... (self.starbucksbaristas)
submitted by Ithaca_Alexandria
TL;DR: Manager has always sucked at scheduling, but with these green beans and hour cuts seasoned partners are being pushed to their limits.
It started in June. We were so happy that all our high school and some college baristas were finally graduating! They worked hard and deserved it.
In total, by August, we were going to be losing 9 to 10 baristas, but then some of the green beans left as well. This caused my SM and ASM to grow desperate. Anyone who had okay availability was hired (meaning she's only rejected two applicants in her replacement hiring).
Although we are fully "staffed" and supposedly getting those extra 8 hours of labor a day (or was it a week?), I have never felt so much dread going into work the last two months. We were able to make up for the short comings of the baristas who were just not getting it by having more seasoned baristas stay over to stock or run a ten.
We received a new Regional Manager in October as well. She cracked down on a number of things and one of them was our habit of overscheduling. Many baristas are already looking at other jobs because the short shifts they're allowed are stressful and seem fruitless.
I know there isn't a way to get those hours now, so really I want some company in this misery. So thank you for your time and hopefully, someday, we can all be a little more optimistic.
It started in June. We were so happy that all our high school and some college baristas were finally graduating! They worked hard and deserved it.
In total, by August, we were going to be losing 9 to 10 baristas, but then some of the green beans left as well. This caused my SM and ASM to grow desperate. Anyone who had okay availability was hired (meaning she's only rejected two applicants in her replacement hiring).
Although we are fully "staffed" and supposedly getting those extra 8 hours of labor a day (or was it a week?), I have never felt so much dread going into work the last two months. We were able to make up for the short comings of the baristas who were just not getting it by having more seasoned baristas stay over to stock or run a ten.
We received a new Regional Manager in October as well. She cracked down on a number of things and one of them was our habit of overscheduling. Many baristas are already looking at other jobs because the short shifts they're allowed are stressful and seem fruitless.
I know there isn't a way to get those hours now, so really I want some company in this misery. So thank you for your time and hopefully, someday, we can all be a little more optimistic.
BunniBunzzzzz 11 points 3y ago
We went through something similar. Corporate was wanting (at least our area) to have a total of 150% availability or something like that. The only people who applied are high school kids that don't know anything and since they had such a limited availability, my manager hired like 20 new kids when we already had like 15 people. Of course, we couldn't over schedual so now people like me, who got 40 hours a week and who relied on getting those hours, are now forced to find a second job because we've been cut to an average of 15 - 20 a week. It sucks. I actually kind of liked my job and I hate that I might have to replace it
Ithaca_Alexandria [OP] 6 points 3y ago
It seems very hypocritical of them to say they want to pay for all these benefits and uplift us to recommending our jobs, but also to expect these things of us. As of late, I have thought about getting a second job as well. They want to help us with mental health as well, but I have yet to meet someome who is totally happy working two jobs for a significant amount of time.
BunniBunzzzzz 7 points 3y ago
The reason I started working at starbucks was because when I started I was promised 40 hours a week at least so I could finally NOT work 2 jobs for once. But then like a couple months after that they were cut. Yeah, I don't believe a word about them caring about employees and their mental health
Ithaca_Alexandria [OP] 3 points 3y ago
Exactly the same reason my friend was able to convince me! When I took my shift lead position, the job description specifically said willing to work 40 hours. I had been telling my SM for over 6 months that I needed the raise and hours.
Well, if they keep making claims and not doing anything about it than there's a potential for it to become like Pennsylvania or wherever that happened. We already had an ex partner drive their car through a store last year because of mental health issues.
Well, if they keep making claims and not doing anything about it than there's a potential for it to become like Pennsylvania or wherever that happened. We already had an ex partner drive their car through a store last year because of mental health issues.
BunniBunzzzzz 2 points 3y ago
Yeah, that's really not okay. I'm really tired of them lying about things like the amount of hours or caring for their barista's mental health when they don't. I was even told I was going to be an SSV! I had THREE interviews and my SM said I had the job back in like September. I have yet to be trained and have been given various excuses as to why and even though I keep pestering about it because it's hard on some of the other SSV that I'm not trained, she still won't train me for some reason.
PurpleTIEFighter 6 points 3y ago
I love getting scheduled for a shift a week while my transfer is in limbo. It's fantastic and not at all stressing me out - but that's alright, it's fine, I wasn't promised a set number of hours when I was hired\*.
\*this is a lie. I was. And now I'm pulling anywhere from five to fifteen hours a week. Mostly five tho while our store still keeps hiring new baristas though it can't possibly give us all the labor we need. I give up.
\*this is a lie. I was. And now I'm pulling anywhere from five to fifteen hours a week. Mostly five tho while our store still keeps hiring new baristas though it can't possibly give us all the labor we need. I give up.
Jezi_Belle_ 5 points 3y ago
A lot of this is familiar to me. I got hired in September along with a glut of new people, but I still haven't been trained properly for much of anything. I did the computer training because we got a deadline set for when we had to have it done, but I've still never touched cold or hot bar. I'm great on POS and can handle ovens if we're not super busy, but that's it.
And to top it all off, while I've got open availability, I'm averaging 9-10 hours a week. I'm living with my parents and not paying any bills but old credit cards and my cell phone and I still can't cover everything.
I'm okay with the sparse hours now because my fiance is going to be visiting for the holidays, but after the first of the year, I'm gonna have to have a come to Jesus meeting with my SM. I really enjoy this job, but I can make $2/hr more at Target, probably clear at least 20-30 hours and not have nearly as much to do.
And to top it all off, while I've got open availability, I'm averaging 9-10 hours a week. I'm living with my parents and not paying any bills but old credit cards and my cell phone and I still can't cover everything.
I'm okay with the sparse hours now because my fiance is going to be visiting for the holidays, but after the first of the year, I'm gonna have to have a come to Jesus meeting with my SM. I really enjoy this job, but I can make $2/hr more at Target, probably clear at least 20-30 hours and not have nearly as much to do.
Ithaca_Alexandria [OP] 2 points 3y ago
Yes! We have some people like that as well. As a shift lead, I feel terrible that it has happened to some of our slower green beans (like this is their first job or they've worked other jobs for 20+ years). I was told yesterday that there is not more training hours for the year in our district along with the hour cuts.
I can't work shoulder to shoulder with struggling baristas to build their confidence in the most stressful time of the year. There's no way I'm going to bring drive times like this without sounding like a slave driver.
I felt terrible when one started to talk to me about becoming a shift lead in the future as well... I couldn't be mean to tell him that it might not be worth it to him with how long he might have to wait.
I hope your store manager listens to you, but in times like these you should never feel guilty to be selfish. You gotta eat too.
I can't work shoulder to shoulder with struggling baristas to build their confidence in the most stressful time of the year. There's no way I'm going to bring drive times like this without sounding like a slave driver.
I felt terrible when one started to talk to me about becoming a shift lead in the future as well... I couldn't be mean to tell him that it might not be worth it to him with how long he might have to wait.
I hope your store manager listens to you, but in times like these you should never feel guilty to be selfish. You gotta eat too.
jackissosick 5 points 3y ago
My store went through the exact same thing. For a while it was hell to go to work. Now everyone except 2 is competent and everything is pretty much okay
Ithaca_Alexandria [OP] 4 points 3y ago
I'm hopeful things will begin to even out! It's great to see an optimistic side of things.
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