Starbucks Baristas: The daily grind
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I took the 30 days and feel guilty (self.starbucksbaristas)
submitted by xikra93
My store is a drive-thru store, and so we are remaining open. For the past couple days I have been debating and weighing my options as best I could. I have honestly lost so much sleep, cried, and had panic attacks because of the decision I've been trying to make. I feel like I'm letting my team down by not coming in, and I feel like I'm letting my family down as well. Everyone else in my household is considered an essential worker (Medical, DMV, and Grocery store) and I feel incredibly guilty for taking the days off.
I just feel that I've made a selfish and weak choice by choosing to stay home. Despite the endless lines, rude and ungrateful customers, and overwhelming sense of dread. I just can't shake the feeling I took the easy way out.
This is me just venting out. I appreciate anyone who takes the time read this.
Edit: I really wanna thank everyone who replied. I wasn't expecting so many to do so. And all of your kind words and wonderful suggestions have really helped put me at ease about my decision. Thank you all so much and please all be safe and well in this tiring time.
I just feel that I've made a selfish and weak choice by choosing to stay home. Despite the endless lines, rude and ungrateful customers, and overwhelming sense of dread. I just can't shake the feeling I took the easy way out.
This is me just venting out. I appreciate anyone who takes the time read this.
Edit: I really wanna thank everyone who replied. I wasn't expecting so many to do so. And all of your kind words and wonderful suggestions have really helped put me at ease about my decision. Thank you all so much and please all be safe and well in this tiring time.
lilBalzac 118 points 3y ago
Don't feel guilty. Period. Full stop. Be safe, be well, thank you.
NOTcreative- 8 points 3y ago
This! We don’t want you to work or even the decision not to work to affect your mental health. Plenty of partners are bored at home wanting to pick up shifts to fill the gaps. Take care of yourself and we’ll see you on the other side!
voigtlandera 38 points 3y ago
Hey I've also been feeling this way. I haven't taken the 30 days yet but for me it's mostly just that I want the extra money. I think the most responsible thing to do right now is to take the 30 days though. This is serious shit and you're taking it seriously. You shouldn't feel bad about that!
colonade17 36 points 3y ago
Not a selfish choice, it's actually opposite. you are making a sacrifice for the good of the whole world by staying inside and minimizing the chance that you are spreading this virus.
jaynaenae 5 points 3y ago
This right here.
sassy7girl 4 points 3y ago
Agreed!!!
USplendid 26 points 3y ago
The only way to combat this pandemic is for everyone to stay at home and stop spreading it.
Starbucks is utilizing their very best Jedi mind-tricks to guilt trip you into continuing to work. Against the recommendations of literally every government agency and world leader on the planet.
Starbucks is utilizing their very best Jedi mind-tricks to guilt trip you into continuing to work. Against the recommendations of literally every government agency and world leader on the planet.
saddestgirl1995 24 points 3y ago
I took my 14 days, which turned into 30 days. I struggled with it for the first couple days, since only 4 other people at my store took it (there’s about 25 partners at my store) . In the end, I realized I did what’s best for me, I’m not stressing myself out being at work, I’m not on the verge of crying on my breaks from all the corona shit happening. Just gotta do you and remind other people to do them and stay in their lanes.
deprellis 21 points 3y ago
I'm gonna spin it for you: you made a selfLESS choice. In the midst of a pandemic, you were allowed to make a choice to stay home which will help make the pandemic be a little less shitty, and you did that.
Im not trying to shit on partners who are working, everyone has their reasons and some may have to work. But don't let corporate guilt you into doing you know isn't right for you. Plenty of higher ups are working remotely or not working at all. Don't let your team guilt you either, we're all being brainwashed and pitted against each other by corporate.
Plus if people in your household are in these essential, high risk professions, going in is pretty risky anyways.
You made the right choice for you. Own that.
Im not trying to shit on partners who are working, everyone has their reasons and some may have to work. But don't let corporate guilt you into doing you know isn't right for you. Plenty of higher ups are working remotely or not working at all. Don't let your team guilt you either, we're all being brainwashed and pitted against each other by corporate.
Plus if people in your household are in these essential, high risk professions, going in is pretty risky anyways.
You made the right choice for you. Own that.
suenologia 10 points 3y ago
i know we all feel a responsibility to our team but thats the same mindset that keeps people from calling out when they’re sick in the first place. Almost every major health organization is saying non-essential employees need to stay home. By taking the 30 you are not only protecting yourself, but you’re protecting your community.
Besides, you said the rest of your household is still working, right? So if one of them were to get it and pass it throughout your house and you took it to work, wouldn’t that be worse? As someone else mentioned, you can use this time to be a team player for your own household and your store will manage. Flattening the curve means limiting the number of people you can spread the virus to, staying home when we have that option is for the good of everyone.
Besides, you said the rest of your household is still working, right? So if one of them were to get it and pass it throughout your house and you took it to work, wouldn’t that be worse? As someone else mentioned, you can use this time to be a team player for your own household and your store will manage. Flattening the curve means limiting the number of people you can spread the virus to, staying home when we have that option is for the good of everyone.
CampLeo 10 points 3y ago
You definitely shouldn't feel guilty, but if you just can't get rid of the feeling then make it up in other ways! If everyone else in your house is essential then take the time off to help them out, get things done around the house that are always hard to find the time for when you're working.
CoffeeChesirecat 6 points 3y ago
I feel the same way and have spent the week (I used sick days because I wasn't in a great place mentally) having anxiety attacks and agonizing over this decision. Mostly everyone in my store took the cat pay, and we feel guilty and like we let our manager down. The choice I made was for the health of compromised family members. Just know you are not alone in how you feel. Let's just hope that by staying home and flattening the curve we are doing the morally right thing. I already can't wait to get back to work.
skidwitch 4 points 3y ago
Please don't feel bad, you're doing the morally right thing for the good of everyone. Thank you for making the choice you did, I know how hard it was. Like others are saying use this time to get things done around the house, do small thoughtful things for the people in your home since we know what their dealing with, pick up a new hobby (I learned to make bread while on medical leave) stay busy and don't let the corporate narrative make you question yourself. You did the right thing
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christinekwine 4 points 3y ago
Nothing to feel guilty about here. You did what’s best for yourself and the community. Our DT stores shouldn’t be open, nor should ANY restaurant drive-thru or takeout at this time, because they are NOT essential.
I feel even worse, having been on LOA and then extending it because of COVID. I had several moments of anxiety and fits of crying. I hate seeing my fellow DT rock stars at my store being bombarded by rude customers and being busier than ever before. It’s ridiculous. There was a line of cars a quarter mile down the highway for my store, and the same with cars completely snakes through the parking lot of a Sbux DT two miles up the road. It’s ridiculous.
End rant. You did the right thing. For yourself and others. Be at peace with it, and find creative ways to spend your time.
I feel even worse, having been on LOA and then extending it because of COVID. I had several moments of anxiety and fits of crying. I hate seeing my fellow DT rock stars at my store being bombarded by rude customers and being busier than ever before. It’s ridiculous. There was a line of cars a quarter mile down the highway for my store, and the same with cars completely snakes through the parking lot of a Sbux DT two miles up the road. It’s ridiculous.
End rant. You did the right thing. For yourself and others. Be at peace with it, and find creative ways to spend your time.
sassy7girl 3 points 3y ago
Everyone is potentially a carrier/ you don’t have to be exhibiting symptoms to be positive. A peep at my vet’s office says she has a friend in CO that just used the Sbux bathroom next door where a Partner has tested positive......so, her friend is now in 14 day quarantine—- it’s a chain reaction that we can’t even imagine/ BREAK THE CHAIN!
Red_Sweet_Tart 3 points 3y ago
Your life, and the peoples lives' around you, are more important than coffee. Starbucks as a company can afford to give their employees some time off in order to help stop the spread of this virus. I promise, you're doing the right thing!
xikra93 [OP] 3 points 3y ago
Thank you all so much. I really appreciate you all for replying and letting me talk things out. Take care out there. Be kind and be safe.
pikaneo 3 points 3y ago
This is what capitalism does to us. Forces us to never once think about our health and safety, as long as we make money for the corporations and scabs up top. You take those days and you should not feel bad for doing so.
pupperoni-pizzas 3 points 3y ago
You were given the option. If the company didn’t want you to take it, they wouldn’t have offered!
drinkliquidclocks 2 points 3y ago
This is really fucked up. That's capitalism for ya... You have a reason to feel guilty, really disturbing to me that you do.
abbigailrayann 2 points 3y ago
I also took the 30 days, and every few days I get a call from manager. It’s almost pointless calls like “just wanted to let you know these are the hours you have for this week, hope you’re feeling okay, etc”. it makes me feel like crap. I got another call yesterday saying that I can come back to work and they’re offering $3+ per hour. i’m REALLY tempted to go back, but after running a fever last week myself, I don’t want to risk it
Seraphimod 0 points 3y ago
Stop answering the calls lol
abbigailrayann 1 points 3y ago
I don’t want to be rude incase it’s an important phone call lol
wontonbitch 2 points 3y ago
Don't worry. I felt guilty too. I love my team and want to support them but ultimately I have too many people at home, especially the little ones, who could be affected if I get sick or carry the virus. I texted one of my co-workers to talk to her about why she decided to stay at work. Ultimately they feel like they'd go mad at home and they have nothing else to occupy their time with, so they opted to stay at work. She's told me the drive thru is constantly busy but they're getting $3 more an hour to work.
Don't feel bad. Just reach out to them and wish them well, let them know you're thinking of them.
Don't feel bad. Just reach out to them and wish them well, let them know you're thinking of them.
ftsktln 2 points 3y ago
I felt the same. My store closed (non DT) and they were moving us to other stores. After one day of being stressed as hell and weighing the option of taking something home to my mom who just started chemo I had to opt out. I felt awful letting down my team and other stores who need the help but after seeing a post of someone who is friends with someone I know getting a doctors order to get tested for the virus and he had a STARBUCKS CUP IN HIS CUP HOLDER. like why in the world if you are having severe enough symptoms to get an order to be tested are you going to a fucking Starbucks for coffee on your way there?! That fucked me up and I had to make the decision to stay home. Don’t feel bad. If any manager or anyone makes you feel bad then it’s on them.
dodonique 2 points 3y ago
You made the right choice for you. That's what matters. Neither choice is the easy way out.
golden_pinky 2 points 3y ago
You made the ethical choice for yourself. Starbucks will still be there and you don't owe any business your health and mental health.
Heartlessroyale 1 points 3y ago
Honestly don’t feel guilty !!! Just pray for those people are still working that they stay healthy. For me I can’t afford not work because law school isn’t gonna pay itself even with the 30 day I won’t be able to do a lot of things !!! But don’t feel selfish !
icequeen3333333 1 points 3y ago
Don't feel guilty. Its hard to always be selfless. You need to take some things for yourself sometimes.
lrkr486 1 points 3y ago
I just feel weird! I haven’t taken more than like 5 days off in a row in years
HipsterWhistle 1 points 3y ago
If you don’t feel safe, you shouldn’t be at work. Full stop. Don’t feel bad, enjoy some relax time.
SunshinenotI 1 points 3y ago
I got sick and had to take the 30... but you know what, us showing up to work really only served to encourage community members to behave poorly. In my last few days, we had so many customers tell us they were only out and about because we were still open, and felt they needed a break from social distancing and staying at home.
LKP95 1 points 3y ago
I understand that it is a difficult decision, but in the end, everyone has to do what's best for them. I know coworkers can feel like a second family but we are all humans who need to think about themselves sometimes. Do what you think you should do for yourself.
nerdheartRN 1 points 3y ago
What? Why would you feel guilty?
I have a 77 yr old diabetic father exposed to the virus.A 29 yr old cousin and her two kids under 10 WITH the virus in NYC.
A good friend who is a ICU nurse and has been exposed but continues to work with positive COVID patients.
Don't you DARE feel guilty. If people want to risk their health for a few more measly bucks, let them do it.
This is a serious pandemic. My state had 13 cases 2 days ago. It now has 18...and over 1200 positive cases.
Don't let corporate play their games and guilt you into working. Want to know how these big corps care for their employees? A local restaurant chain in my state closed down and fired their whole staff.
You do you.
I have a 77 yr old diabetic father exposed to the virus.A 29 yr old cousin and her two kids under 10 WITH the virus in NYC.
A good friend who is a ICU nurse and has been exposed but continues to work with positive COVID patients.
Don't you DARE feel guilty. If people want to risk their health for a few more measly bucks, let them do it.
This is a serious pandemic. My state had 13 cases 2 days ago. It now has 18...and over 1200 positive cases.
Don't let corporate play their games and guilt you into working. Want to know how these big corps care for their employees? A local restaurant chain in my state closed down and fired their whole staff.
You do you.
imaraisin 1 points 3y ago
I’m ok with working, as I can go a month without being put on window as I’m generally known for imploding the window under the strain, but with the amount of borrowed partners showing up, I’ve noticed that the manager has been giving them all the uncovered hours even though they have a guaranteed base pay and anything else is just icing on the cake.
Edit: I mean as in if I don’t have equal access to the hours available, then I’m more likely to fall out sooner than later. Even more so if this continues
Edit: I mean as in if I don’t have equal access to the hours available, then I’m more likely to fall out sooner than later. Even more so if this continues
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