Starbucks Baristas: The daily grind
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Important info for fellow Canadian "Partners". (self.starbucksbaristas)
submitted by Onemoagain
TLDR at the bottom.
Hi all, I'm making this post as a sort of PSA as many stores are starting to move towards reopening. This isn't meant to be a blast at the company. They have given you some form of financial stability over the last months. But everyone needs to stay safe and stay financially safe too.
‼️‼️.‼️**Here's the short of it: it will be less financially rewarding for you to return to work in unsafe conditions (serving customers at less than 2m, interacting with each other, no plexi, handling cards/money, taking public transit/carpool), than if you remained on LOA and applied for the CERB (the famous 2000$/month).**‼️‼️‼️ Math and details below
Edited to add:
CERB application and eligibility page- $1
And Details for subsidies and incentives for "essential workers"- $1
For this to be comparable to the CERB you would have to actually be working 25hrs/week. We probably won't actually be getting that if we reopen, but that's just speculation.
It will be safer and more financially rewarding to stay on LOA and get 2000$/month from the government.
First off, it is important that you consider the financial implications for yourself, and those that you are financially beholden to (roommates, loved ones... landlords...).
Now, let's say you go back to work. Your store will be operating with smaller operational hours, which means YOU WILL HAVE LESS HOURS AVAILABLE.
Starbucks has offered to cover the Catastrophe Pay until mid May. They have also offered a 3$/hr Hazard pay bonus for those who return to work. Minimum wage is also going up mid-may (yaaay... happy May Day). So your hourly wage while working would be 16$/h.
So with those numbers, some simple math. Lets say you are currently being covered for a weekly average of 25 hours.
25 hours over 4 weeks (1 month) = 100 hours. Now, being generous, lets say you actually work those full 100 hours.
100hrs x 16$ = 1600$ before taxes. This money is taxable, and there are other amounts that are held back too (insurance etc).
so lets say, 1600$ being very generous for most of you I would imagine. It is there for better to stay on LOA and receive the CERB than to return.
You have to make less than 1000$/month to be eligible for CERB, have made 5000$ last year, and are losing income /have lost income because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
You wont qualify until your CATpay runs out either.
I've spoken to an agent at the Employment Insurance/CERB hotline, one Debby Golac, she assures me that if starbucks is offering us a voluntary return to work, considering the dangerous circumstances due to covid-19, we are eligible for CERB if we chose not to return when the catastrophe pay ends. I am assured of this.
​
Secondly, the health concerns!
Many stores have announced their safety measures.
The masks have been posted around. Made from tshirts, light passes through... kinda sketchy. Fine, maybe there aren't enough masks. Then we stay closed and stay safe right?
And besides, masks only protect others. So what if our customers aren't wearing masks?
Well, there will be minimized customer interaction apparently: No customers will enter the store, tables to be put at the entrance for a makeshift handoff.
But the handoff barista will still be within 2m of the customer, will have to handle their payment method and will not have any form of plexiglass type shielding to protect them. Seems sketchy.
Then there's the fact that partners will have to interact with each other in stores, thus potentially sharing the virus and spreading it back to their boroughs and homes and to the store.
All in all, this doesn't seem super safe or financially reasonable for most partners.
**TLDR**:
Since this is reddit, I'm going to be more aggressive than on my local city facebook group. Starbucks claims to be looking out for their partners, and claims to be opening to "Serve our local communities". The managers in my district have framed the voluntary return as an individual choice. While that is technically true, it takes away from the very communal issue that we are faced with, both as citizens with a civic duty and as workers with conflicting interests to our employers'.
**AS OF THE END OF CAT PAY, YOU ARE ELIGIBLE FOR CERB. Don't go back to work- whether they say it's safe or not. Better safe than sorry. Better to make more than your actual revenu while not even working! FREE FUCKING MONEY! NO HEALTH RISK! CIVIC DUTIES FULFILLED!**
​
Ask your managers the proper questions, the hard questions. Don't look out for their interests first and you and your community's second! stay financially and healthily safe!
Hi all, I'm making this post as a sort of PSA as many stores are starting to move towards reopening. This isn't meant to be a blast at the company. They have given you some form of financial stability over the last months. But everyone needs to stay safe and stay financially safe too.
‼️‼️.‼️**Here's the short of it: it will be less financially rewarding for you to return to work in unsafe conditions (serving customers at less than 2m, interacting with each other, no plexi, handling cards/money, taking public transit/carpool), than if you remained on LOA and applied for the CERB (the famous 2000$/month).**‼️‼️‼️ Math and details below
Edited to add:
CERB application and eligibility page- $1
And Details for subsidies and incentives for "essential workers"- $1
For this to be comparable to the CERB you would have to actually be working 25hrs/week. We probably won't actually be getting that if we reopen, but that's just speculation.
It will be safer and more financially rewarding to stay on LOA and get 2000$/month from the government.
First off, it is important that you consider the financial implications for yourself, and those that you are financially beholden to (roommates, loved ones... landlords...).
Now, let's say you go back to work. Your store will be operating with smaller operational hours, which means YOU WILL HAVE LESS HOURS AVAILABLE.
Starbucks has offered to cover the Catastrophe Pay until mid May. They have also offered a 3$/hr Hazard pay bonus for those who return to work. Minimum wage is also going up mid-may (yaaay... happy May Day). So your hourly wage while working would be 16$/h.
So with those numbers, some simple math. Lets say you are currently being covered for a weekly average of 25 hours.
25 hours over 4 weeks (1 month) = 100 hours. Now, being generous, lets say you actually work those full 100 hours.
100hrs x 16$ = 1600$ before taxes. This money is taxable, and there are other amounts that are held back too (insurance etc).
so lets say, 1600$ being very generous for most of you I would imagine. It is there for better to stay on LOA and receive the CERB than to return.
You have to make less than 1000$/month to be eligible for CERB, have made 5000$ last year, and are losing income /have lost income because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
You wont qualify until your CATpay runs out either.
I've spoken to an agent at the Employment Insurance/CERB hotline, one Debby Golac, she assures me that if starbucks is offering us a voluntary return to work, considering the dangerous circumstances due to covid-19, we are eligible for CERB if we chose not to return when the catastrophe pay ends. I am assured of this.
​
Secondly, the health concerns!
Many stores have announced their safety measures.
The masks have been posted around. Made from tshirts, light passes through... kinda sketchy. Fine, maybe there aren't enough masks. Then we stay closed and stay safe right?
And besides, masks only protect others. So what if our customers aren't wearing masks?
Well, there will be minimized customer interaction apparently: No customers will enter the store, tables to be put at the entrance for a makeshift handoff.
But the handoff barista will still be within 2m of the customer, will have to handle their payment method and will not have any form of plexiglass type shielding to protect them. Seems sketchy.
Then there's the fact that partners will have to interact with each other in stores, thus potentially sharing the virus and spreading it back to their boroughs and homes and to the store.
All in all, this doesn't seem super safe or financially reasonable for most partners.
**TLDR**:
Since this is reddit, I'm going to be more aggressive than on my local city facebook group. Starbucks claims to be looking out for their partners, and claims to be opening to "Serve our local communities". The managers in my district have framed the voluntary return as an individual choice. While that is technically true, it takes away from the very communal issue that we are faced with, both as citizens with a civic duty and as workers with conflicting interests to our employers'.
**AS OF THE END OF CAT PAY, YOU ARE ELIGIBLE FOR CERB. Don't go back to work- whether they say it's safe or not. Better safe than sorry. Better to make more than your actual revenu while not even working! FREE FUCKING MONEY! NO HEALTH RISK! CIVIC DUTIES FULFILLED!**
​
Ask your managers the proper questions, the hard questions. Don't look out for their interests first and you and your community's second! stay financially and healthily safe!
Onemoagain [OP] 15 points 3y ago
Let me know if you're interested in helping with any kind of worker's organizing. We need to look out for our rights and our interests. They ARE opposed to our employer's. We've seen this with coverage issues, we've seen this wage increases (or the lack there of... fucking minimum wage? Really?). We've seen this with the fact that they're slinging an incredibly expensive product that is coming for dirt cheap from the global south.
They might be woke... but y'all... we know they're getting broke.
​
Oh and Kevin Johnson, the CEO, is part of Trump's "Economic revival" group. No surprise there, he's up there with every other CEO. That doesn't mean he's better than the others, he's just as bad as the others.
They might be woke... but y'all... we know they're getting broke.
​
Oh and Kevin Johnson, the CEO, is part of Trump's "Economic revival" group. No surprise there, he's up there with every other CEO. That doesn't mean he's better than the others, he's just as bad as the others.
[deleted] 4 points 3y ago
[deleted]
Onemoagain [OP] 3 points 3y ago
I mean yeah. When you have the money Starbucks has, you'll do a lot to keep your oppressed workers even more oppressed (PS it's not us, so much as it is them).
I believe the astroturfing claims for sure.
I believe the astroturfing claims for sure.
[deleted] 6 points 3y ago
[deleted]
Onemoagain [OP] 1 points 3y ago
Share this post with your local stores groups if you feel brave enough. Ill give you my name and district if I have to. I've been on a non-payed medical LOA for four months going on five here, so I've got nothing to lose at this point. I just want as many people to look out for THEIR WORKING CLASS interests as possible, instead of renouncing them for the sake of some BS company.
As I said in my post, many managers in my area at least are framing this voluntary return as an "individual choice that must be respected". This pandemic isn't an individual issue, it's a communal one. Some managers are framing this situation like "Well we're going to have to reopen eventually so why not now??". To that I say, duh, let us return when we actually *have* to- in June or whenever our LOA is done.
Otherwhise, if you're brave enough, I'd love to see more starbucks workers fighting to keep our stores closed. Have those hard conversations with your managers, and even your DM. I posted this same message to a local Montreal Starbucks Partner group and my DM saw it and called me to "see how I was doing" and it gave me an "in" to kinda go off on her in all respect.
anyways, good luck, stay safe.
As I said in my post, many managers in my area at least are framing this voluntary return as an "individual choice that must be respected". This pandemic isn't an individual issue, it's a communal one. Some managers are framing this situation like "Well we're going to have to reopen eventually so why not now??". To that I say, duh, let us return when we actually *have* to- in June or whenever our LOA is done.
Otherwhise, if you're brave enough, I'd love to see more starbucks workers fighting to keep our stores closed. Have those hard conversations with your managers, and even your DM. I posted this same message to a local Montreal Starbucks Partner group and my DM saw it and called me to "see how I was doing" and it gave me an "in" to kinda go off on her in all respect.
anyways, good luck, stay safe.
kaprairiegirl 3 points 3y ago
I am high risk. A doctor advised me not to return to work. I offered to provide my SM a doctor's note. My SM told me that Starbucks had enough precautions in place to keep me safe and said it was my decision to return, regardless of a doctor's note. She didn't offer me an LOA and told me a doctor's note wouldn't be enough to extend my CAT pay until June 14, which frankly is bullshit...
So I told her I'm not returning, so I guess I quit and am ineligible now for CERB?
My doctor thought it was hilarious that Starbucks deems themselves essential to frontline workers who are more than capable of making their own coffee. She also said Starbucks is a high exposure risk to COVID and that CEOs shouldn't have a say in what is essential. It should be up to public health.
My husband and I will have to cutback without my income but we'll survive. I realize others aren't so lucky.
Starbucks isn't laying people off because they don't want us to qualify for EI or the CERB, they want to force people back to work regardless of risk.
So I told her I'm not returning, so I guess I quit and am ineligible now for CERB?
My doctor thought it was hilarious that Starbucks deems themselves essential to frontline workers who are more than capable of making their own coffee. She also said Starbucks is a high exposure risk to COVID and that CEOs shouldn't have a say in what is essential. It should be up to public health.
My husband and I will have to cutback without my income but we'll survive. I realize others aren't so lucky.
Starbucks isn't laying people off because they don't want us to qualify for EI or the CERB, they want to force people back to work regardless of risk.
Onemoagain [OP] 3 points 3y ago
You are NOT eligible if you quit. Either stand your ground until they fire you, or force them to give you the LOA because of safety reasons, but do not quit.
Fuck this trash company lmao. PM me their number, Ill call your fucking call them and chew them out dear lord XD
Fuck this trash company lmao. PM me their number, Ill call your fucking call them and chew them out dear lord XD
kaprairiegirl 2 points 3y ago
In the end, my SM didn't accept the fact that I decided not to return. She told me to stay on until May 17 until the CAT pay runs out and then reassess the situation. There is still no LOA being offered.
Also, Canada hasn't released the details about the essential employee top up. I keep checking the website every day.
All of us at our store are invited to a zoom call with our DM tomorrow who is supposed to answer our questions about safety... even though she is not an expert in public health.
Also, Canada hasn't released the details about the essential employee top up. I keep checking the website every day.
All of us at our store are invited to a zoom call with our DM tomorrow who is supposed to answer our questions about safety... even though she is not an expert in public health.
Onemoagain [OP] 1 points 3y ago
It's so incredibly frustrating OMG!
Basically all of the information I posted about the company's stance is now incorrect because they've completely backpeddled. They're just straight up gaslighting us at this point.
My DMs boss, dunno his official position, was on a provincial Q&A that I was asking questions on. He kept trying to frame our general questions about being reticent on returning post 17/5/2020 into "case by case" and was trying to isolate people into single calls.
He told me on a personal call that after the 17th they would be "accepting resignations" and wouldn't comment generally on LOAs or continued employment. I tried to sight the company mission statement about partners relating to dignity and respect. He was like "ok well now you're entering into opinions and value judgments. Like yeh that's what a fucking mission statement is!
Anyways, his stance was basically that "our measures are completely safe, they've been "tested and proven effective" (he couldn't provide data or test results or details) and so they don't really consider a refusal to return due to the virus legitimate after the 17th.
But at any rate, the DMs and SMs are still giving contradictory information to what my big regional boss, Loic, gave me and to each other too. Its all fucked....
We have another conference call and I'm going to push for a writen official statement on what the conditons of returning to work are.
Basically all of the information I posted about the company's stance is now incorrect because they've completely backpeddled. They're just straight up gaslighting us at this point.
My DMs boss, dunno his official position, was on a provincial Q&A that I was asking questions on. He kept trying to frame our general questions about being reticent on returning post 17/5/2020 into "case by case" and was trying to isolate people into single calls.
He told me on a personal call that after the 17th they would be "accepting resignations" and wouldn't comment generally on LOAs or continued employment. I tried to sight the company mission statement about partners relating to dignity and respect. He was like "ok well now you're entering into opinions and value judgments. Like yeh that's what a fucking mission statement is!
Anyways, his stance was basically that "our measures are completely safe, they've been "tested and proven effective" (he couldn't provide data or test results or details) and so they don't really consider a refusal to return due to the virus legitimate after the 17th.
But at any rate, the DMs and SMs are still giving contradictory information to what my big regional boss, Loic, gave me and to each other too. Its all fucked....
We have another conference call and I'm going to push for a writen official statement on what the conditons of returning to work are.
Saoirse_Says 2 points 3y ago
There are certain contexts in which you can receive it you quit an unsafe job. I'm not sure though you should check the fine print!
-dys-functional 2 points 3y ago
My manager said it's not optional anymore, but because I'm immunocompromised, I need to get back after may 17.
Onemoagain [OP] 2 points 3y ago
Thats absolutely terrible. I hope for your sake especially, and your colleagues too, that you guys find a way to make that more humane for yourselves. Organise if you can. Good luck stay safe.
sweetangel622 2 points 3y ago
I don’t want to go back to work but I also don’t want to get fired.
Onemoagain [OP] 2 points 3y ago
Why would you get fired? In my area at least, my DM has offered an unpaid LOA for those who feel unsafe to work during the pandemic.
If you wouldn't mind providing more information, that I will keep anonymous, so that I can bring this up to my DM. She has contacted me since I have started speaking up and maintains that Starbucks is "looking out for it's employees" and has "its employees best interests, safety and employment at heart". So a somewhat precise testimony of poor and callus management elsewhere in the country would be helpful for others in your situation.
I'd also like to do as much as I can to help- whether that be me calling up your DM as "a customer" to complain about the way theyre treating their employees or some other shit that I could do for you. We need to work together and keep eachother PAYED and SAFE.
If you wouldn't mind providing more information, that I will keep anonymous, so that I can bring this up to my DM. She has contacted me since I have started speaking up and maintains that Starbucks is "looking out for it's employees" and has "its employees best interests, safety and employment at heart". So a somewhat precise testimony of poor and callus management elsewhere in the country would be helpful for others in your situation.
I'd also like to do as much as I can to help- whether that be me calling up your DM as "a customer" to complain about the way theyre treating their employees or some other shit that I could do for you. We need to work together and keep eachother PAYED and SAFE.
sweetangel622 2 points 3y ago
I’d get fired if I just didn’t show up. I haven’t heard about unpaid LOA at all.
Onemoagain [OP] 2 points 3y ago
Ask about it definitely.
Are you in Canada? From what we were told here in Greater Montreal was that return to work right now was entirely voluntary. What exactly did they tell you? If you want, share as much info with me in private messages. Maybe I can help you, but very likely your experience could help myself and others.
My pipe dream right now is to see at least one region in Canada unionized. That'd be fucking choice. Canada, or Québec at least, has better protections for employees trying to unionize than the US. My thinking is if one region can, than it would embolden other regions to try, and soften the later response. Montreal is pretty working class, but it seems that Starbucks doesn't attract that many class conscious people and makes spreading this kinda thing hard.
Anyways. No pressure but like some pressure :D
Stay safe and stay payed! Dear god stay payed...
Are you in Canada? From what we were told here in Greater Montreal was that return to work right now was entirely voluntary. What exactly did they tell you? If you want, share as much info with me in private messages. Maybe I can help you, but very likely your experience could help myself and others.
My pipe dream right now is to see at least one region in Canada unionized. That'd be fucking choice. Canada, or Québec at least, has better protections for employees trying to unionize than the US. My thinking is if one region can, than it would embolden other regions to try, and soften the later response. Montreal is pretty working class, but it seems that Starbucks doesn't attract that many class conscious people and makes spreading this kinda thing hard.
Anyways. No pressure but like some pressure :D
Stay safe and stay payed! Dear god stay payed...
orange_hibiscus 1 points 3y ago
I earn 1400$ a month on cat pay, and earned less than 5000$ last year, so what are my options when CAT pay ends? Am I just screwed?
Onemoagain [OP] 1 points 3y ago
Yep, unless you go back to work...
Eat up your vacation hours first if you can though, thats an option.
Eat up your vacation hours first if you can though, thats an option.
Saoirse_Says 1 points 3y ago
Man woulda been nice if I didn't get fired back in October lol. But you are good for advocating for folks eh.
Onemoagain [OP] 1 points 3y ago
Oh shit, why'd you get fired?? Sad to hear it.
Saoirse_Says 2 points 3y ago
I'd been written up for being lateish to work a couple of times (usually punched in on time but not like fully emotionally "ready" for work) and then missed the first half of a Sunday morning shift because I'd forgotten I had it (schedule was really inconsistent and sparse like 4 hours a week max but I had one week with two shifts). Was going through some stuff at the time so I wasn't really focused on giving my all at work I guess.
Onemoagain [OP] 1 points 3y ago
Lol lame that someone downvoted you for your testimony. I upvoted to restore balance to your real and internet karma :p
But that fucking sucks to hear. Someone's probably going to get on their high horse with some shit like "Well just be on time". Fuck outta here with that shit, we've all been late on multiple occasions, lets not pretend like we haven't. Getting fired over small things like that is horseshit. We should take you at your word that it was these few mistakes and stand with you in that injustice.
ON the bright side, at least you found a way out of this cult lol.
But that fucking sucks to hear. Someone's probably going to get on their high horse with some shit like "Well just be on time". Fuck outta here with that shit, we've all been late on multiple occasions, lets not pretend like we haven't. Getting fired over small things like that is horseshit. We should take you at your word that it was these few mistakes and stand with you in that injustice.
ON the bright side, at least you found a way out of this cult lol.
sneeze_trigger 1 points 3y ago
This is very valuable info for me. My husband works for Starbucks. I am an essential worker in a moderate risk facility, but my hours were just tremendously reduced because my boss is not human, but rather an animated pile of garbage. I have been crying daily at the prospect of forcing him back into work just to pay the bills.
Anyway, thank you. Communication from the company has been fucking zero, so it's nice to know that he can potentially stay home for longer and still bring in an income. Thank the gods.
Anyway, thank you. Communication from the company has been fucking zero, so it's nice to know that he can potentially stay home for longer and still bring in an income. Thank the gods.
Onemoagain [OP] 1 points 3y ago
Awesome, glad I could help. It seems like you both have your heads on straight, but I want to reiterate that it's important to not put ourselves at risk of illness for some overpriced coffee. Keep staying safe!
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