Starbucks Baristas: The daily grind
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Anyone else having a really stressful week? (self.starbucksbaristas)
submitted by bbun223
Between our cafe opening to the public, summer launch (and summer weather) we got absolutely slammed this week. I had 2 partners leave in tears today because of how busy and stressful the floor was. It makes me feel like I’m failing as a shift supervisor. I’m trying so hard to be positive and check in with everyone but I’m running myself into the ground every shift it feels like. I worked a 9 hour day and only ever got my lunch break,...which I only took 15 min of because they were struggling on the floor and it didn’t feel right sitting down while 3 people were serving 40 plus customers every half. I made sure everyone got their breaks before I did. I couldn’t even do any of my ssv duties until half an hour before close.... I was literally on bar all evening because the 2 other partners are green beans and not strong on bar. All I did for hours was make frap after frap while stressing about everything being dirty and empty and all of my duties I still didn’t do. I’m just so drained from this job. And on top of it having to deal with the cafe being open, being yelled at for not having colour changing cups, the phone ringing all day for the cups, being out of guava, matcha, AND venti cups, customers loitering in groups on our patio, large groups trying to walk into the cafe....It’s just been a lot. We aren’t being staffed accordingly. Partners are calling out. This all just feels really not worth it.
keeendle 13 points 3y ago
You sound like a compassionate shift supervisor who really cares about the wellbeing of your partners and the store. You did the very best you could AND you supported newer partners instead of leaving them to fend for themselves. It sounds like you did the best you could in this shitty situation and I’m sorry your store/the company did you a dirty this week by not giving you the support you needed.
I hope things can smooth out as business picks up and more hours become available. This week was definitely rough on my store too.
I hope things can smooth out as business picks up and more hours become available. This week was definitely rough on my store too.
bbun223 [OP] 3 points 3y ago
Thank you for your kind words! Coming on reddit makes me feel less alone in what I’m going through at work.
Flappadingo 6 points 3y ago
BB you are a sweet soul who cares.
I couldn’t do it anymore. Before a fucking pandemic I was running myself into the ground to take care of my people.
Then I watched as the pandemic and corporate just railed my staff.
I couldn’t go back to that. Not for barely above minimum wage with both hands tied behind my back by stupid policies and dangerous decisions.
Only you know if it’s worth it. No one will save you. No one in corp cares. Your SM if he or she is good is doing the same to him herself. And if she’s he is BAD doesn’t care either.
Take care of YOU.
I couldn’t do it anymore. Before a fucking pandemic I was running myself into the ground to take care of my people.
Then I watched as the pandemic and corporate just railed my staff.
I couldn’t go back to that. Not for barely above minimum wage with both hands tied behind my back by stupid policies and dangerous decisions.
Only you know if it’s worth it. No one will save you. No one in corp cares. Your SM if he or she is good is doing the same to him herself. And if she’s he is BAD doesn’t care either.
Take care of YOU.
bbun223 [OP] 3 points 3y ago
You are so right. I need to reassess things or at the very least change my availability (which I have completely open and it gets taken advantage of). I’m the only SSV who works every weekend because everyone else has kids and requests it off. I need a weekend off too sometimes. Maybe if I can just step away more from work and have more consistent time off instead of stretches of working 6 days in a row to only have 1 day off.
Keeponrocking613 3 points 3y ago
I thought the whole idea of opening is not being allowed to get "swamped" by which I just mean not many customers can come at a time...but clearly nothing stopping non stop rush of customers plus mobile orders. Im sorry to hear going through this.
Mariiriini 3 points 3y ago
Yeah.
First, to address you before I vent, I'm sorry. That sucks. You're not failing as a shift, you can't control others emotions. You can only control yourself and the breaks.
It's ass what you're being asked to do. Why isn't your manager coming in to help? 40 halves means you should have at least 5 people on the schedule. At least. You can't do your job if you're also being 2 extra baristas and running on empty.
Fucking hell. I hope you find some peace and stability soon.
My store is a shitwreck. Hours are insane right now. I've found the only way to keep the baristas happy is to commiserate. This fucking sucks, but let's keep our heads up. Keep the paycheck coming. It's all we can do while we're at work. I've been extremely candid with coworkers that come to me asking about hours cuts or asking about write-ups. I disagree with what I've been told about not discussing unemployment unless someone else brings it up and to shut down the conversation quickly. Anytime we ask about hours, we get told that "as people evaluate their needs, more hours may become available." Neat, we're waiting for co-workers to quit?
I commute on public transit and get to hear constant coughing and sniffles. I work in an area that sees 100+ new diagnosed covid cases a day. I got assaulted yesterday at work because I asked a customer to please comply with local regulations and have a mask next time he comes in. As Starbucks tells us we can do.
Heavy, heavy, sigh. All I can do is accept where I'm at and decide how to proceed.
First, to address you before I vent, I'm sorry. That sucks. You're not failing as a shift, you can't control others emotions. You can only control yourself and the breaks.
It's ass what you're being asked to do. Why isn't your manager coming in to help? 40 halves means you should have at least 5 people on the schedule. At least. You can't do your job if you're also being 2 extra baristas and running on empty.
Fucking hell. I hope you find some peace and stability soon.
My store is a shitwreck. Hours are insane right now. I've found the only way to keep the baristas happy is to commiserate. This fucking sucks, but let's keep our heads up. Keep the paycheck coming. It's all we can do while we're at work. I've been extremely candid with coworkers that come to me asking about hours cuts or asking about write-ups. I disagree with what I've been told about not discussing unemployment unless someone else brings it up and to shut down the conversation quickly. Anytime we ask about hours, we get told that "as people evaluate their needs, more hours may become available." Neat, we're waiting for co-workers to quit?
I commute on public transit and get to hear constant coughing and sniffles. I work in an area that sees 100+ new diagnosed covid cases a day. I got assaulted yesterday at work because I asked a customer to please comply with local regulations and have a mask next time he comes in. As Starbucks tells us we can do.
Heavy, heavy, sigh. All I can do is accept where I'm at and decide how to proceed.
bbun223 [OP] 3 points 3y ago
:( I’m so sorry you’re going through so much as well. I can’t imagine going through all of this and also worrying about hours and unemployment. A lot is being asked of Starbucks employees right now and I think it’s very unfair to all of us.
We usually do have 4-5 people scheduled. But we had 2 call outs yesterday and not one person would come in. My SM had to get get special permission from our DM to allow another SSV to go into overtime so we could have coverage since they were the only person willing to come into work.
And honestly the customers who refuse to comply, the people who scream at you because you can’t take their cup back from them... It’s exhausting the treatment we have to put up with. Sometimes I just deadpan them and say “sir, because of the pandemic going on we can’t allow you to do what you’re doing”
We usually do have 4-5 people scheduled. But we had 2 call outs yesterday and not one person would come in. My SM had to get get special permission from our DM to allow another SSV to go into overtime so we could have coverage since they were the only person willing to come into work.
And honestly the customers who refuse to comply, the people who scream at you because you can’t take their cup back from them... It’s exhausting the treatment we have to put up with. Sometimes I just deadpan them and say “sir, because of the pandemic going on we can’t allow you to do what you’re doing”
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