It’s honestly really nice to see an SM saying this. I got passed over for a promotion to shift and I felt like a jerk telling my boss I was going to have to continue being really particular about my hours in order for my other hustles to remain sustainable because I can’t afford my bills on a barista paycheck. Let alone hitting some of my larger financial goals in order to move into something resembling stability.

Sometimes it’s difficult knowing how people above me on the food chain feel about things. So thanks. I hope corporate reassesses how they’re approaching things because I WANT to be with this company for a long while but at this point my goal at the end of next year is to no longer have to financially rely on it, just in case.

Can we? Working until midnight on Thanksgiving really put the idea in my head

Man, this makes me really sad. SO many people are leaving. People that have been partners for YEARS. This sucks ass

Hey, so I'm just a customer, but I keep up on stuff like this because this is not the only company that does stuff like this. Wage theft, for example, is bigger than all other forms of theft in the United States, so that should give you an indication of how much your company cares about you.

There are probably some excellent books on unions (and union busting) so if you are curious I would look there.) Unfortunately, it's unlikely to get a whole district to keep their mouths shut but that should still be a goal.

I am writing this though to say, IF you are going to quit, talk to your coworkers. Talk to other Starbucks workers at other stores. If you can coordinate a walk out in your district where a good chunk of employees are okay with being fired because they are already to leave Starbucks, then make your leaving *count.*

Disrupt the stores ability to work. Possibly arrange pickets after the fact. And this is where the unionizing a district could occur: figure out a good head, a good leader, who can come up with a list of demands.

And that IS something you can talk about here:

It's clear you want the hours promised to you, or at least hours you can live on.A liveable wage. Not being short staffed.

That IS something that can be arranged here because it's all public knowledge. And then, in the meantime, figure out who's willing to quit and coordinate the walkout. Look to your state's labor laws in terms of legality of being fired. Sadly, unemployment will be worth very little to you, but if you can last without a job, definitely make the company have to pay into the unemployment system.

And finally, this next part cannot be done by any of you but can be done by any friends not connected to you (not that ones that comie visit you at the store or, as an extra layer of protection, aren't connected to you on social media: flyers. Flyer bomb the shit out of the cars in your parking lot once or twice a day explaining to customers via their windshield why what Starbucks is doing is unsustainable, and against what they want the customers to think. Encourage them to call corporate about labor shortages. Encourage them to raise a drink (I meant a stink!) about customer satisfaction recovery cards each and every time because the wait was too long. Make those Karens work *for you!*

Editing for typos. Sorry about that guys

Adding: this could gain momentum-- enough people walk out and picket, then suddenly more other employees join your picket line. Look to your city's bylaws (or ask r/legaladviceofftopic) to check local peaceable assembly laws and see if you need a permit.

In terms of flyers, if the property is private, a person can be asked to leave. Even if cops come, the person should be warned that if they come back they will be charged with tresspass. I think this is unlikely but just keep it in mind that you might need several people to do flyers on different days.

And, if you're just going to quit and can't form a walk out, hand out flyers at the drive through. Hopefully your SM is on your side but if not prepare to be sent home. But maybe you can hand out enough, especially during happy hours :)

This could’ve been about my store. A shift broke down in the back room the other day, people are calling out because they’re over worked, we’re having to borrow partners so our regular partners don’t go into overtime and our connections are getting worse.

Can you shed light on the not giving people enough hours ? I moved to a new city and my SM promised a 5 day work week and I’m getting 2-3 days ... out of the 5 I said I can work

Now I am in a new town and my boyfriend is flipping the fuck out, and now my work life and outside life are steadily going down the drain

It’s a great idea. I’m fed up with Starbucks. I had to stay two hours later than scheduled on Christmas Eve and missed my family’s celebration. I’ve been sick since then calling in because I can barely walk and my managers are pissed at me. I’m on the brink of quitting.

Damn I didn’t realize how bad it has gotten. I’m a partner at a store that has experienced exponential growth, but didn’t realize this was going on.

My DM was complaining that customer connection scores are dropping and just refuses to see the connection between staffing and morale and baristas earning enough to pay their bills. He talks about how great the 3% raise is, but it doesn't matter if you have 10% fewer hours.

Unionize!!!!!!!!!

Posts like these have become too common. Let's all strike or something, get a union

I agree. I’m a fellow barista. Starbucks is great and as a barista I want to move up but the possibility of that for me with my disabilities that I use the insurance for make that hard. Which requires me to not make enough money to support myself. Which is why I had to cut hours to pick up another job. Simply because starbucks only does 5&8 shifts like anywhere else..... i would work more hours but the hours don’t fit into my schedule as I also am trying to go to college.... because I need to afford myself. As an adult... (19.)I’m creeking bones like an old man at this point, the work I try to get done while I’m there is unbelievable our store can be a mess at times or super slow. It depends on the days and how many people call off that day (sometimes like 1-4 people will) like nearly everyday...

In just a barista so I understand even tho my manager does have district down his back he is still give everyone around 30 hr. My store talked about a union but we dont think other store would jump on the wagon. We want to unionize becuse of the short staff at night we are lucky to get out before 11 on weekdays 12 on weekends

UNIONIZE

I totally understand this...I’ve been asking for full time hours, still don’t get them, finishing my degree online, and on food assistance and not able to pay my basic bills....I talked to my SM about this and she mentioned the SSV role and haven’t heard since. I travel 30min to get to my store and the option of transferring has been pretty shut down.

When I was partner, I loved the job...but I definitely quit my manager, in large part because of labor and hours issues.

When I was asking for a raise they pushed me all the up to regional manager. The regional told me they had to talk with the people above then.
I was a shift lead at the time and I asked them how much is this 1 dollar raise costing them? pushing it past regional manager can’t be cheep.

Starbucks rather pull teeth out then give a raise or better hours. There gonna ask Howard to comeback again.

I was working a 40 hr week job 154 hrs of PTO was their 5 years and decided to try SB, now I'm onmy getting 21 hrs to 25 .. making 500 a paycheck when I use to make 708 because of 401k .. been their 3 months and I'm so discouraged and disappointed.. I'm making it barely because my husband makes more then by alot .. so I completely understand ladies and gentlemen

I also work in a college town so jobs are scarce here. Everyone at my store wants to quit but has nowhere to go. They want to pick up another job despite being full time college students because they can’t pay their bills. Everyone is stressing and people are getting sick. And most of the people are home for the break so we’re even more understaffed

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Let start by acknowledging that Starbucks is fast food place. Also acknowledging that minimum wage is designed for those with no skills and usually living at home. Lastly that no one guarantee anyone minimum hours. Ultimately it's management job to maximize maximum profit for the owners aka shareholders. If you do not like that ceo is going to make 50 mil than get together with big number of shareholders and vote current board out. Otherwise stop complaining and get to work or find another job. I guarantee that no one will be missing you as another person will take over your place. That is right right, plenty of people are looking for a job and willing to work the hours that Starbucks will give them.