Starbucks Baristas: The daily grind
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Expected to return to work in a mall kiosk next week... (self.starbucksbaristas)
submitted by KittyTittyCommitee
Before covid, I recently transferred from a cafe store (which I loved) to a mall kiosk after getting promoted to a shift in mid February. Less than a month later, this all happens.
I have my shift training all done, but next week, I’m expected to return to work in a kiosk, a new environment, which I previously enjoyed working at, but now have serious concerns about how a team of people can comply with safety guidelines, considering the small space as well as the lack of public participation in mask wearing.
I don’t know what to do. I am scheduled 40 hours, which stresses me out since that means 40 hours of tight-close encounter exposure at my job and 10 hours of public transport to and from the mall from my apartment.
I feel like my back is against the wall and I don’t want to lose my job, my recent promotion, or let my team/sm down.
Does anyone have any specific advice? I’m sure I could call PCC but I don’t really know what to ask about or what lingo to use, really.
And it stresses me out to think about how to approach talking about this with my sm, so advice there would be appreciated.
I have my shift training all done, but next week, I’m expected to return to work in a kiosk, a new environment, which I previously enjoyed working at, but now have serious concerns about how a team of people can comply with safety guidelines, considering the small space as well as the lack of public participation in mask wearing.
I don’t know what to do. I am scheduled 40 hours, which stresses me out since that means 40 hours of tight-close encounter exposure at my job and 10 hours of public transport to and from the mall from my apartment.
I feel like my back is against the wall and I don’t want to lose my job, my recent promotion, or let my team/sm down.
Does anyone have any specific advice? I’m sure I could call PCC but I don’t really know what to ask about or what lingo to use, really.
And it stresses me out to think about how to approach talking about this with my sm, so advice there would be appreciated.
Mariiriini 2 points 3y ago
Honestly, that's all pretty accurate. You are up against a wall.
PCC isn't bothered by the proximity. Baristas in the back line qualify as close distance, which is a risk situation, but with masks it is considered low risk and an acceptable work environment.
Customers don't interact with us long enough to be considered a risk, according to Starbucks. That's a bald faced lie, but that's what they'll say.
Lyft benefits are extended through the end of June, so you can reduce your interaction with others to just 2 people on your commute. Considering that Lyft basically makes you pinky swear you're not sick, I'm not personally enthused, but it's an option. Otherwise they'll say it's not their problem and that you should wear your mask, going back to point one about close distance and masks.
Theoretically you can object to things by telling your SM you're uncomfortable. That's not actually how it works in practice, but they say they won't do anything without barista comfort in mind. Realistically you'll be brow beaten into saying you feel comfortable or quitting/taking the LOA. Nothing you brought up will change. It's different if baristas aren't wearing masks appropriately or if customers are behaving inappropriately apart from the mask wear, but everything you've said is Starbucks standard and they're defending it rabidly. I've barked up the chain of command looking for answers and basically got told to quit or suck it up. That my attitude doesn't make good SM material, since they all know I was working on becoming an ASM before the quarantine.
Yeah. Sorry sister, welcome to the fray. We're scared, underpaid, risking our health and the health of our immediate families in order to make frappuccinos, and corporate is telling us to be extremely grateful for the opportunity.
I hope someone posts something I haven't tried or done, but I've pretty much done it all trying to get better conditions. Short of unionizing, we don't have a hope.
PCC isn't bothered by the proximity. Baristas in the back line qualify as close distance, which is a risk situation, but with masks it is considered low risk and an acceptable work environment.
Customers don't interact with us long enough to be considered a risk, according to Starbucks. That's a bald faced lie, but that's what they'll say.
Lyft benefits are extended through the end of June, so you can reduce your interaction with others to just 2 people on your commute. Considering that Lyft basically makes you pinky swear you're not sick, I'm not personally enthused, but it's an option. Otherwise they'll say it's not their problem and that you should wear your mask, going back to point one about close distance and masks.
Theoretically you can object to things by telling your SM you're uncomfortable. That's not actually how it works in practice, but they say they won't do anything without barista comfort in mind. Realistically you'll be brow beaten into saying you feel comfortable or quitting/taking the LOA. Nothing you brought up will change. It's different if baristas aren't wearing masks appropriately or if customers are behaving inappropriately apart from the mask wear, but everything you've said is Starbucks standard and they're defending it rabidly. I've barked up the chain of command looking for answers and basically got told to quit or suck it up. That my attitude doesn't make good SM material, since they all know I was working on becoming an ASM before the quarantine.
Yeah. Sorry sister, welcome to the fray. We're scared, underpaid, risking our health and the health of our immediate families in order to make frappuccinos, and corporate is telling us to be extremely grateful for the opportunity.
I hope someone posts something I haven't tried or done, but I've pretty much done it all trying to get better conditions. Short of unionizing, we don't have a hope.
[deleted] 1 points 2y ago
[deleted]
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