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Starbucks Baristas: The daily grind

Full History - 2020 - 06 - 29 - ID#hhyugm
451
Just so you know, you can refuse service where masks are mandated by law. (i.redd.it)
submitted by mykotman12
kait_lynb 72 points 3y ago
We were told not to because it’s “a risk to our safety”
mykotman12 [OP] 60 points 3y ago
But you can if it’s mandated by law. Says so in the weekly update. Obviously try to do other things first before refusing service such as:

1. Ask them to put the mask on or get it from their car (politely)

2. Give them a disposal mask if they don’t have one and if your store has supply.

3. Ask them to wait outside if they refuse to wear one or tell them you can’t serve them without one
kait_lynb 7 points 3y ago
I’m in Colorado and masks are unfortunately recommended not mandatory
MajesticAioli 7 points 3y ago
My state is mandatory but the law isn't being enforced, so no tickets or fines, or really no reason for people to wear them, so annoying.
official_koda_ 40 points 3y ago
My manager and I’m sure many others are still gonna not want to kick them out or say anything because it would mess up their whole “third place” crap
mykotman12 [OP] 11 points 3y ago
Obviously refusing service should be last resort. Before you do that, you can do these:

1. Ask them politely to put a mask on (or grab one from their car)

2. If they don’t have have one, you can offer them one (if you store has stock) and let them know that its state mandated and they need to have one next time they come in.

3. If they refuse, you can either have them wait outside or let them know that you can’t serve them without one (per state mask law).
RegularFrappuccino 3 points 3y ago
And customer connections are more important than safety
anonymous7497 34 points 3y ago
My manager told us that if they don’t wear one, don’t have one, or don’t want to wear one and become hostile we still have to serve them just to get them out of the store. Starbucks customers have always been above general decency and they know it.
apnourry 16 points 3y ago
this is one of the times I’m actually really happy to work in a licensed store at an afb..masks have been mandatory for months for us and we have to refuse service to anyone not wearing a mask. being able to fall back on “it’s the base wide policy” really reduces the amount of backlash for baristas. i’m super sorry to all the corporate and licensed partners who don’t have that sort of policy cushion to be able to enforce the fucking common sense&consideration rules/laws and feel safe and fully comfortable doing so
Cust_service_voice 5 points 3y ago
On a slight side note I’m curious to how the customer are on a base? Do you have a lot of people who are super extra with their Starbucks experience or are people mostly low key?
apnourry 7 points 3y ago
I’m gonna say we have a decent mix of awesome, appreciative lovely customers and then rude demanding and entitled ones. military members themselves /tend/ to be respectful and nice. we have Singapore, Australia, US, Netherlands, and sometimes Canadians here and surprisingly the Canadians were the rudest customers I’ve ever experienced. Singapore does massive orders of 20+ refreshers and fraps but they are very nice and have great sense of humor about everything. Military spouses tend to be the most entitled. Had a lady come in, got upset when her drinks weren’t exactly how she wanted them so I stepped in to remake them bc the barista who originally did was not one to work well under that pressure..I handed them to her, made sure everything was correct and then she still told me she hoped I enjoyed going to work that morning bc by the time she left I would no longer have a job and even brought up her husband’s rank. We also get grumpy old people and young people who get mad that we don’t carry every single thing that corporate stores carry. If we don’t sell an item we cant continue to carry it since we barely make money as is.
Cust_service_voice 6 points 3y ago
Seeee. I would assume you would have more customers that understand there are rules to follow and wouldn’t make a big stink. But the military spouses part makes sense. Especially if you subscribe to the idea that folks from branches like the Marines will almost marry anyone willing haha I imagine plenty of Karen’s and Chads slip in.
But thank you for the insight! That was interesting.
apnourry 6 points 3y ago
as a spouse, it still catches me off guard quite a bit! people automatically assume that military affiliation=good manners and good manners=military but that’s just not true. and I’m about to file a report on an MP who is at least 30 and has been harassing my underage coworker. we’re our own kind of mess😬
dancing_durian 14 points 3y ago
Hey guys, it’s important to navigate the loaded the language these updates contain. They actually insert that it’s OUR responsibility. They imply that it’s our job to police customers wearing masks but you know the moment a customer calls in a complaint, they’ll backtrack and say ‘yeah, Starbucks doesn’t agree with that barista and you should feel welcome in any of our stores’. Sorry if this sounds negative but I’m jaded and quite frankly too motion sick from all the psychological whiplash and gaslighting that the company has been doling out.
noeyoureatowel 4 points 3y ago
While I definitely get where you’re coming from, this change in policy is coming on the heels of a partner enforcing CA’s mandate for masks in public and being put on blast on FB for it. They’re actually publicly supporting us, for once.
thegaysamurai96 8 points 3y ago
We were told we can't police it because we can't assume they don't have a medical condition preventing them from wearing one. This came from our regional manager the day Washington went to masks mandatory everywhere 🙄
ashproctor 2 points 3y ago
If somebody says they have a medical condition that’s a different story.
0x52and1x52 2 points 3y ago
They may wait outside
seacookie89 2 points 3y ago
True, but that doesn't stop assholes that just don't want to wear a mask from using it as an excuse
ashproctor 2 points 3y ago
Unfortunately
lewabwee 1 points 3y ago
So there’s a lot of people finding and printing off these “Americans With Disabilities” cards saying they don’t have to wear masks. Those cards are just some internet bullshit, not real, illegal even and as such they are completely nonenforceable. There’s no medical condition that would prevent you from wearing a mask because it doesn’t deplete your oxygen or inhibit breathing or anything. Some people feel like it’s hard to breathe in them but that’s just a discomfort thing. Your oxygen levels are normal.

Even if such a disability that I’m unaware of existed having the option for curbside pickup or drive-thru qualifies as not failing to provide service.

But yeah it’s stupid if we’re going to be forced to listen to these whiners exploit a law that doesn’t even work out for the people it was intended for much of the time.
xiew 1 points 3y ago
Even if they have a disability or a medical condition you can still make them wait outside and bring their order to them. I’ll only refuse service if they refuse to wait outside. I’ll either not finish the transaction or immediately void their transaction and ask them to leave.
lesbian_valkyrie 6 points 3y ago
Is it worth being assaulted though? That’s the real question. I’m in California and politely asked if someone could wear a mask. They got really angry and started screaming at me. It’s a good thing I was behind the counter because they had their finger in my face telling me COVID is a joke and this whole pandemic is ridiculous.
lewabwee 3 points 3y ago
For reaaaaaaal like honestly I would prefer just to not have to ask them to wear a mask. The people who don’t are fucking wild sometimes and definitely looking for a fight. I live in Texas and not a single damn customer ever wears one when they come in. That’s how many fights I’m supposed to have a day just because they don’t want to close the lobby or, alternatively, drop it? I don’t get paid enough to have someone with covid spit on me as opposed to just let them get in and out of there.
CRSN-Atomic 6 points 3y ago
Which weekly update is this? I’ve been trying to find it because our manager hasn’t taken a stance yet.
mykotman12 [OP] 8 points 3y ago
Today’s weekly updated. You can find it on the HUB, top left corner, communications, weekly update.
garlicrotini 4 points 3y ago
It’s in the weekly update but we are literally not allowed because of our DM and SM. Partners have tried and been reprimanded.
noeyoureatowel 5 points 3y ago
Call partner resources if it happens again as it’s now a standard.
alycrawford42- 3 points 3y ago
Well I’m confused now. They are required at my store, we even have signs up saying so. We’re technically not allowed to refuse service since it’s not a city mandate, but we push using mobile orders and picking up through the drive through. The frustrating part is every person that we’ve told to put a mask on, had one in their car, insinuating they didn’t care enough to put it on to go into a Starbucks 🙃
Kaywin 2 points 3y ago
This is a brand-new policy as of today or yesterday.
Vader_Boi 3 points 3y ago
Was gonna do it either way 🤷🏻‍♂️
masochistic_brat 3 points 3y ago
My sm has been asking people to get a mask before they order and telling then if they don't have one next time they won't be served.
garlicrotini 2 points 3y ago
Not according to our DM and SM!
mykotman12 [OP] 3 points 3y ago
Yes according to to the official communication from Starbucks corporate via Weekly Update
Meduka__ 1 points 3y ago
I wish we were allowed to do this even if its not mandated. I'm sick of the lack of masks in my store in Ohio.
golden_pinky 1 points 3y ago
I saw this too but not at my store. We're gonna bring it up to the SM but I doubt anything will come of it 🤷🏼‍♀️
celiners24 1 points 3y ago
When did this update come out?
mykotman12 [OP] 1 points 3y ago
Today in a weekly update
gooby_chan 1 points 3y ago
what about for drive thrus?
mykotman12 [OP] 1 points 3y ago
Technically (and legally) we cannot enforce masks in DT because they are inside their car, not inside the store. We can suggest and encourage them to wear masks (posting signs and talking about it), but we can’t refuse service or enforce the mask policy while they are in their car.
gooby_chan 1 points 3y ago
I live in california, l.a so we do have that mandated mask policy. I know by talking to customers at window, theres a chance of getting it. Is it ok that I ask them to put a mask on when im at the window talking to them
Barl_Carker 1 points 3y ago
My location(So. Cal) just added a “if you wouldn’t mind putting your mask before pulling up to the window” sort of message at the end of the DTO steps (forgot the proper name for it) before giving them their total. Most responses to that so far have been fairly positive/understanding (“of course”, “oh, no problem”); and I’d say 90% have actually worn them when they pulled up to the window.
[deleted] 1 points 3y ago
[deleted]
lovelyanxious 0 points 3y ago
I am in WA state and starting this past Friday, we have a state mandated facial mask rule in all public spaces. Our brand new DM told us to not refuse service or say anything to those without masks. But now that they have released this update, we better be allowed to say something!
RegularFrappuccino -1 points 3y ago
Now they expect you too police state law? And that’s after they stopped paying the $3 service pay.
mykotman12 [OP] 1 points 3y ago
Nobody is expecting you to police anybody. They simply said that you can refuse service if customer is not wearing a mask if you want to.

A day ago people were bitching about not being able to refuse service to customers. Now that we can, people are bitching about refusing service to customers. Isn’t it what partners wanted? To be able to refuse service to customers with no masks?
RegularFrappuccino 1 points 3y ago
It’s all bullshit. Starbucks shouldn’t have opened the lobbies back up
mykotman12 [OP] 0 points 3y ago
Starbucks just follows states and CDC guidelines. The virus is here to stay and the lockdown was enforced to help with flattening the curve and not overwhelm hospitals (which worked). Businesses can’t be closed forever. Eventually people have to go back to work, places have to open, and life has to go on. You can either adapt to the new normal or stay home indefinitely. The choice is yours.
RegularFrappuccino 1 points 3y ago
I forgot. Starbucks doesn’t have mobile order or drive thrus
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