Starbucks Baristas: The daily grind
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Let’s get real for a second. (self.starbucksbaristas)
submitted by anonymous491300000
I began working at Starbucks many years ago. (18*****) if that says anything. When I first started I remember Starbucks being this place that you’d go with the family if you got good grades or even just wanted to brighten up a rough day. Over the years though, I’ve watched it transform into this corporate seething conglomerate that became the McDonald’s of coffee. I remember how excited customers used to be even in morning peak because they knew Starbucks was a great place to be at that time. But now...now I find this place to be almost unrecognizable from what it once was. The joy that filled every cup of coffee is now replaced with the necessity of getting the best “customer connection” score. I used to be so personable with people, until I had to stop being so nice to get times down because evidently they didn’t want us to know our customers. Corporate just wants us to suck up to them until they come back and get scammed for another $4 cup of coffee.
I guess I’m writing this to express my disappointment in the company. But I see baristas writing on this sub all the time complaining of how things are going. First off, I’m sorry. I’m sorry that Starbucks fell from grace, I’m sorry everyone is so entitled now from customers to SM, I’m sorry you were lied to when you signed up for this job. But most of all, I’m sorry that I believed in this company too. I worked at Starbucks thinking it was all the rage. They were a company I trusted because I thought we believed in the same things; That Starbucks cared for its partners as well as customers, and also to treat people well, all people, regardless of race, sexual preference, sexual orientation. The whole nine.
Then they pushed the drive thru times harder than ever. No longer the days of compassion with a customer over how there day was looking. Then I was told explicitly by my manager that option 2 and 3 did not apply to me regardless of how I felt about going back to work. Then I was told that I can’t wear a BLM pin because it’s not right. To me, the facade of Starbucks and the company that be, is gone. In my eyes, Starbucks is the very being it has tried to avoid becoming over the last 20 years.
I’ve told a few people the last few weeks and it seemed to help them. But in my own head I had to stop working for Starbucks and start working for me. Now, I’m glad when that dt time is low, but I know that in all honesty I couldn’t care less. Starbucks will pay you for the same work over and over again until you drop dead from exhaustion. And then, they’ll replace you with someone cheaper because they haven’t worked for the company as long. If you think this company gives a shit about you, with the mental health nonsense, and meditation mumbo jumbo that they’ve tried to feed us, I’m sorry. But you’re dead wrong.
TLDR: Stop working for Them and start working for you. That is all. Genuinely hoping and praying for the best for all my fellow partners.
Edit: Thankyou guys so much for the support. I have been gone throughout most of the day and am now back at my phone nearly in tears because I hate seeing my fellow partners get treated like this. Genuinely glad reddit feels like a true safe space sometimes. We gotta continue supporting each other, because Starbucks damn sure won’t do it. Appreciate you guys with everything in me.
I guess I’m writing this to express my disappointment in the company. But I see baristas writing on this sub all the time complaining of how things are going. First off, I’m sorry. I’m sorry that Starbucks fell from grace, I’m sorry everyone is so entitled now from customers to SM, I’m sorry you were lied to when you signed up for this job. But most of all, I’m sorry that I believed in this company too. I worked at Starbucks thinking it was all the rage. They were a company I trusted because I thought we believed in the same things; That Starbucks cared for its partners as well as customers, and also to treat people well, all people, regardless of race, sexual preference, sexual orientation. The whole nine.
Then they pushed the drive thru times harder than ever. No longer the days of compassion with a customer over how there day was looking. Then I was told explicitly by my manager that option 2 and 3 did not apply to me regardless of how I felt about going back to work. Then I was told that I can’t wear a BLM pin because it’s not right. To me, the facade of Starbucks and the company that be, is gone. In my eyes, Starbucks is the very being it has tried to avoid becoming over the last 20 years.
I’ve told a few people the last few weeks and it seemed to help them. But in my own head I had to stop working for Starbucks and start working for me. Now, I’m glad when that dt time is low, but I know that in all honesty I couldn’t care less. Starbucks will pay you for the same work over and over again until you drop dead from exhaustion. And then, they’ll replace you with someone cheaper because they haven’t worked for the company as long. If you think this company gives a shit about you, with the mental health nonsense, and meditation mumbo jumbo that they’ve tried to feed us, I’m sorry. But you’re dead wrong.
TLDR: Stop working for Them and start working for you. That is all. Genuinely hoping and praying for the best for all my fellow partners.
Edit: Thankyou guys so much for the support. I have been gone throughout most of the day and am now back at my phone nearly in tears because I hate seeing my fellow partners get treated like this. Genuinely glad reddit feels like a true safe space sometimes. We gotta continue supporting each other, because Starbucks damn sure won’t do it. Appreciate you guys with everything in me.
Gothicpsycho16 50 points 3y ago
Wow, well hello there, im relatively new as a partner 1 year...and i agree with you 100% when i was young statbucks was like a mini Disneyland you walked in amd you were scared to ask for a drink cause its si fancy...i remember me and my grandma walking into starbucks the very first time and just standing to the side staring at all the treats and goodies...and the people.....the people...both customer and partners alike were like angels...everyone was so happy and nice...and now..its completely different...i decided to work for Starbucks because i thought i would escape the highschool mentality of being an outcast and people talling shit about you. I was expecting all the gold plated and sparkle cover stuff they feed me on a plater.. only to find out it was nothing more then bullshit....im so sorry..to you...because it must be hard to see something you had faith in hope in..turn sour...and also...thank you so much...for this post!
kanoodlepoo 39 points 3y ago
This. All of this is so true. I’m only a 25.... it’s been almost two years. Starbucks has changed so much in the short time I’ve been with the company. I’m truly disappointed with how they have been treating their partners during this time. I’m sick of seeing good partners leave because, they get used and abused by the higher ups. I feel this is why we all have such poor management. No one wants to stick around and get mangled every single day by corporate.
Andomingman 35 points 3y ago
I'm glad you pointed out the 'mental health nonsense.' Rather than offering to pay for headspace subscriptions just giving that money to partners as a pay increase would do magnitudes more good for their mental health.
jShag2014 14 points 3y ago
Exactly. Offering all these"benefits" is nice, but you're a fool if you don't realize it's an excuse to pay you less than your labor is worth.
soda_rain 24 points 3y ago
US27\*\*\*\*\* and yeah I'm ADA disabled and haven't been paid since May 11. I was illegally terminated while involuntarily hospitalized, then my termination was reversed, I was put on a PLOA instead of a MLOA, and I can't pay my bills. Sedgwick sents me threatening texts and is bombarding my social worker with paperwork instead of giving me $200 a week and insurance. And I'm a protected class: legally disabled. PTSD.
edit: also my hospital bills were $70,000
edit: also my hospital bills were $70,000
jShag2014 8 points 3y ago
Have you filed an wrongful termination complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission?
soda_rain 1 points 3y ago
No. I stand with my fellow baristas for gainful employment.
jShag2014 1 points 3y ago
Can you explain your reasoning a little further? I'm genuinely curious
soda_rain 7 points 3y ago
If I walk away, that means Starbucks wins. Their lawyers successfully bullied a guy with PTSD out of the company. If I stay, I can keep my insurance, pay off my medical bills, collect my back pay, pay my rent and buy food for the next couple months, then hopefully we either unionize by autumn or I can look for a different job.
SBux123456789 1 points 3y ago
He's still employed it sounds like so there is no complaint to be made. A MLOA only gets you half pay for your average weekly hours for only 8 weeks and they do not provide free insurance you still have to pay for it.
anonymous491300000 [OP] 3 points 3y ago
OP here, genuinely sorry this happened to you. I didn’t think I was alone in this thinking. Hoping they reverse everything and you can get off on those Medical bills.
jShag2014 13 points 3y ago
Corporate capitalist abuse at its finest. Profits go up, need for previously skilled employees goes down, Kevin Johnson and the other criminals at the top get used to their multi-million dollar paychecks. Suddenly things like drive times and "getting sales up" are more important than if you and I are healthy or happy. Want working conditions that make your job enjoyable? Unionize or you WILL be replaced.
ksesh12 9 points 3y ago
I was a 181**** and can fully attest to this. When I started the company was actually so much fun to work for. I loved going into work everyday and spending time with my fellow partners and interacting with customers, but at some point Starbucks lost its way. Suddenly we had to cut down our interactions in favor of fast times. But we still had to connect, but not connect too much because it’ll drive up times, but you also need to make sure you’re connecting with everyone. What they expect from us became so convoluted, it became completely impossible to satisfy all of their demands and be a perfect partner. They fully stopped caring for us, and would rather satisfy one asshole customer, over retaining an employee who was loyal to them for years.
I’ll forever be grateful to Starbucks because I took advantage of SCAP and graduated with way less debt than other people I know. But when I quit last year my life has seriously improved exponentially, and I am no longer in a constant state of stress and frustration over work. Remember, Starbucks does not care for you as an individual, it’s not worth your mental/physical health
I’ll forever be grateful to Starbucks because I took advantage of SCAP and graduated with way less debt than other people I know. But when I quit last year my life has seriously improved exponentially, and I am no longer in a constant state of stress and frustration over work. Remember, Starbucks does not care for you as an individual, it’s not worth your mental/physical health
garlicrotini 9 points 3y ago
US21***** I literally feel like I’m dying every day I come into work. There is a state law that people must wear masks in public buildings now because of covid and we are not even allowed to enforce in. I’ve had one good manager in five years and the rest of them are just corporate puppets regurgitating rules and regulations without thinking critically at all. Starbucks is a fucking hell hole and I fantasize about the day I can get out.
violentfemme17 8 points 3y ago
I’m a 15* and I’m just so tired. Tired of trying to figure out what went wrong and when. Was it when they first started using hashtags? Was it the first time I heard a Starbucks ad on the radio? Happy Hour?
Can we get back to the more genuine 3rd place that used to exist? Am I a fool for still hoping it’s possible?
I don’t know. But I just have an ominous feeling it’s going to get worse.
Can we get back to the more genuine 3rd place that used to exist? Am I a fool for still hoping it’s possible?
I don’t know. But I just have an ominous feeling it’s going to get worse.
cabbagescraps 2 points 3y ago
the optimism in me says that if we had enough customers send things to corporate about how terrible this company has become and how we need to go back to prioritizing genuine customer connections and the “third place” they throw in our faces as the most precious thing on earth instead of low drive times and shit like that then they’ll do it, but then i remember that all corporate care about is money.... may be worth a shot to hopefully not see starbucks crash and burn in terms of their company mission but who knows
Cust_service_voice 8 points 3y ago
Yesss! I’m a 18***** too and it was manageable when I started. We were still trying to make people happy, but corporate wasn’t constantly breathing down our necks. But you hit the nail on the head with that giving us benefits and such instead of paying us more and not being so fake with us. I roll my eyes so hard at a lot of the “Third Place” trainings. Their actions don’t back up the Kumbaya message they push.
Castiels_Bees 7 points 3y ago
IMO, the Third Place disappeared once every new store was built with a drive thru. (I'm a 101) I railed against this when it first became a thing. It's just not feasible to keep the connecting, caring, welcoming atmosphere when you're forced to move people in 30 seconds or less.
They want a hashtag? Fine. #RIPThirdPlace
They want a hashtag? Fine. #RIPThirdPlace
Lollipop_Lawliet95 6 points 3y ago
I want to open my own business, like a coffee shop, and work FOR my employees, not have them work for me. Here is something that ALL corporations forget: If we were to all go on strike right now, they would be FUCKED. WE are what makes their businesses grow, not them. They got fucking lucky, and they were able to buy more stores. We are the reason their stores still exist. WE need to take a stand and DEMAND to be treated better. If everyone from all corporations went on strike, maybe then they would appreciate us more.
I am a manager at a Starbucks inside Safeway, and the amount of times I hear “Drive Sales” from my Starbucks DM is fucking insane. Like we ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF A PANDEMIC!? What do you mean drive sales!?!? I only have the customers I have because I allow my team to do what they need to keep themselves happy. You need an extra day off? I’ll work 6 days this week if I have to. You need a vacation? Cool who wants more hours? You want a drink? I’ll pay for it. You hungry? Go eat I’ll take care of the customers. THAT kind of leadership is what gets the business going. Customers see the way I treat my employees and they always thank me for it. It’s amazing. Corporations need to realize that customers don’t care about drive times, as long as they aren’t waiting more than like... 7 minutes, they legit don’t care. But I guess the less time you spend on a drink the more they make... it’s ridiculous.
I am a manager at a Starbucks inside Safeway, and the amount of times I hear “Drive Sales” from my Starbucks DM is fucking insane. Like we ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF A PANDEMIC!? What do you mean drive sales!?!? I only have the customers I have because I allow my team to do what they need to keep themselves happy. You need an extra day off? I’ll work 6 days this week if I have to. You need a vacation? Cool who wants more hours? You want a drink? I’ll pay for it. You hungry? Go eat I’ll take care of the customers. THAT kind of leadership is what gets the business going. Customers see the way I treat my employees and they always thank me for it. It’s amazing. Corporations need to realize that customers don’t care about drive times, as long as they aren’t waiting more than like... 7 minutes, they legit don’t care. But I guess the less time you spend on a drink the more they make... it’s ridiculous.
nerdheartRN 6 points 3y ago
*195 here. I agree with OP.
I was a occasional customer, and when I began school I'd study there. I loved the atmosphere, the fun of it and the family like team.l that worked there. Fast forward to 2020...I felt so drained that I developed anxiety, insomnia, depression, crying fits, etc. My self care went downhill, I bit my nails until they bled, etc.
I've been gone for two months; my paycheck is Viber, my health is better, I work stable hours, and customers don't get to treat me horribly.
I was a occasional customer, and when I began school I'd study there. I loved the atmosphere, the fun of it and the family like team.l that worked there. Fast forward to 2020...I felt so drained that I developed anxiety, insomnia, depression, crying fits, etc. My self care went downhill, I bit my nails until they bled, etc.
I've been gone for two months; my paycheck is Viber, my health is better, I work stable hours, and customers don't get to treat me horribly.
SMAshleyRenee123 6 points 3y ago
This! This is absolutely how I feel and I couldn’t have said it better. It was bittersweet when I left Starbucks all because of everything you said. Some days I miss it, but I’m glad I quit and started working on myself.
Disastrous_Pickle 6 points 3y ago
US245****. I haven’t worked for starbucks in three years, but I’ve always desperately wanted to go back to it after an awful stint at chipotle. But when I go, it’s unrecognizable. I remember spending time with my customers, having my lunch with my little old man regular who’s wife had passed, my shift manager giving me my ten when one of our regulars had an emergency and had to make a phone call when his children were in the store so I could watch them. The community feel, the care is just nonexistent. It makes me so sad, because that third space really did exist for the longest time, and now it’s a shell of what it once was. I miss that starbucks community that I originally worked for.
katehasfangs 5 points 3y ago
I started back in 2004, quit after a few years to work at disney. We moved to Oregon and I was wanting to go back because I missed it. I still want to, but thank you for letting me know how much it has changed
potterlyfe 4 points 3y ago
175 here and you are preaching to the choir! To watch this company slide so far down the drain is sad. I loved the job at first. Yes we watched dt times but it was more ‘keep it around 3 minutes from order to driving away’ now it’s ‘okay our goal is 43 seconds at the window, you need to have drinks in your hand to pass out to the customer as soon as they pull up and you needs to be writing down your averages every half and hour. Oh also you need to learn their names and a fun fact about them’ SERIOUSLY?! How can that all happen if I need to forced them through the drive through so quickly?
Oh also let’s take some labor away! Because of they can do it with 7 people, they are probably fine with 5....then 4. Playbook weaseled itself in there at some point and while I didn’t mind it at first, I should have recognized how it would change everything and allow store to be justified in running thinner shifts. I came back from CAT pay to work a shift with 3 of us at the beginning of peak. My play was apparently main bar then I had to jump to register to ring up customers and jump to food to put anything in. All the while being in the middle of covid restrictions I’m not supposed to touch any money otherwise I have to wash my hands before making drinks it putting food in the oven. Please god tell me how that is supposed to work.
Drink quality has gone out the window with the ever more complex recipes that deviate further and further from standard leaving you standing there trying to remember if is regular or CBS pumps for this drink. Then there’s no coaching about beverages. I work with one guy who’s often on bar because he’s fast. The end result to that is a bar that is trashed because for him to go fast he leaves shit out all over the counters. And then I’m supposed to hand out a drink that is half foam because he steamed it too foamy. The response I get from shifts ‘just hand it out. Our times are getting high’
I have worked at multiple store and while yes, some managers try to make it the best for us they can, corporate bonds their hands from truly making any significant changes. Suffice it to say, I jumped at option 3 when offered. I just couldn’t do it anymore.
Oh also let’s take some labor away! Because of they can do it with 7 people, they are probably fine with 5....then 4. Playbook weaseled itself in there at some point and while I didn’t mind it at first, I should have recognized how it would change everything and allow store to be justified in running thinner shifts. I came back from CAT pay to work a shift with 3 of us at the beginning of peak. My play was apparently main bar then I had to jump to register to ring up customers and jump to food to put anything in. All the while being in the middle of covid restrictions I’m not supposed to touch any money otherwise I have to wash my hands before making drinks it putting food in the oven. Please god tell me how that is supposed to work.
Drink quality has gone out the window with the ever more complex recipes that deviate further and further from standard leaving you standing there trying to remember if is regular or CBS pumps for this drink. Then there’s no coaching about beverages. I work with one guy who’s often on bar because he’s fast. The end result to that is a bar that is trashed because for him to go fast he leaves shit out all over the counters. And then I’m supposed to hand out a drink that is half foam because he steamed it too foamy. The response I get from shifts ‘just hand it out. Our times are getting high’
I have worked at multiple store and while yes, some managers try to make it the best for us they can, corporate bonds their hands from truly making any significant changes. Suffice it to say, I jumped at option 3 when offered. I just couldn’t do it anymore.
[deleted] 1 points 3y ago
[deleted]
vArcticWolfv 3 points 3y ago
27***** and I'm debating on throwing in the apron. I don't know if I should though. already have the two weeks written and dnt know if I should just hand it in
sinisterbird420 3 points 3y ago
I’ve just started giving out free drinks to customers who are nice to me. Fuck this company bc they clearly don’t give a fuck about the FRONT LINE OF THEIR COMPANY
SomeBewitchery 3 points 3y ago
185****. And I feel this in my gut. Ty partner.
BiggyDoctor 2 points 3y ago
(US28\*\*\*\*\*) I'm still really new but honestly I could tell within the first couple of months working here that it is just not the same as when I was 13 when i was walking a half mile on Friday mornings before school to get that venti caramel macchiato. Or on the special days when we would drive to the city or whatever special occasion.
I got the opportunity to meet the people behind that counter and now once I started working here it just literally hasn't had the same feeling ever since, but honestly I think we all know that feeling has been chipping away further and further ever since a couple years ago. Typical cafes don't have fraps or pink drinks or any of that and for me personally, the fun kind of died when they started introducing things like that to the menu and kept saturating it till the point where I make more pink drinks with vanilla powder then I do actual coffee drinks sometimes.
Being an employee was awesome for the first two weeks not going to lie, it was like a QSR workers heaven but it started to fade slowly. SM start to lose respect for you, the DM yells at you every time they're in the store and if you're not connecting enough then you get a 5 minute lecture on why you're letting the entire store down. Honestly seeing shift supervisors getting yelled at consistently is also hard to watch. I still have hope that one day it will just go back to being that no rush atmosphere and being a legitimate third place.
I got the opportunity to meet the people behind that counter and now once I started working here it just literally hasn't had the same feeling ever since, but honestly I think we all know that feeling has been chipping away further and further ever since a couple years ago. Typical cafes don't have fraps or pink drinks or any of that and for me personally, the fun kind of died when they started introducing things like that to the menu and kept saturating it till the point where I make more pink drinks with vanilla powder then I do actual coffee drinks sometimes.
Being an employee was awesome for the first two weeks not going to lie, it was like a QSR workers heaven but it started to fade slowly. SM start to lose respect for you, the DM yells at you every time they're in the store and if you're not connecting enough then you get a 5 minute lecture on why you're letting the entire store down. Honestly seeing shift supervisors getting yelled at consistently is also hard to watch. I still have hope that one day it will just go back to being that no rush atmosphere and being a legitimate third place.
anonymous491300000 [OP] 2 points 3y ago
I have hope for this but sadly I don’t think it will happen. I think it’ll take another company much smaller than Starbucks to rebrand themselves as what this place used to be. An actual fucking coffee shop.
KnightlyStars 2 points 3y ago
You're so right. I've only worked for the company for just over half a year, and it's not nearly as good as it was when I was younger and seeing how the company treated its workers. My SM and shift leads have all been basically robots for the company, and I know that I can't really trust them on a level past going out for drinks. I just use the mental health resources because I need he help, and it's free, so I might as well use it. But no, this is just another corporate nightmare.
blante1023 2 points 3y ago
172**** Really sad to see the company fall so hard i worked off and on for like 10 years always said i would go there before any other coffee shop what a shame altho i did get fired for not being able to come in due to depression(bipolar)
hummusheads 2 points 3y ago
I'm a US22\*\*\*\*\*. Going into the work, the thought of working, etc, has now only made me bitter and angry and frustrated. I can't wait to quit.
Cignus777 2 points 3y ago
Working here is why I want to go to college.
anonymous491300000 [OP] 5 points 3y ago
Working at Starbucks is why I went back to college friend.
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