It can be tough. I love being a shift sometimes, and I love having a better ability to support my partners and team. But it can be exhausting. You have to make important decisions in the moment, run the store if the store manager isn’t around. All of the bad things that have happened on my shift is when the SM isn’t around. I literally developed PTSD from one of the experiences (I would discuss it but it would be super obvious who I was and I don’t think I’m allowed to discuss it in public). And being a shift has a lot to do with people pleasing every single person. A barista doesn’t like that you asked them to do something? A customer isn’t happy with their beverage? Literally everything is your fault if you’re running the floor.
Half the time, I feel like I’m running around with everything I have to do in my head and a lot of the time, it feels like my baristas can’t keep up or handle taking some of it off my plate while still making sure customers get a good experience (mostly because of being understaffed).
I love learning about the operations of Starbucks and I love that I finally have a manager with the experience and care to support me and my team however they are allowed to. (He is the third manager I’ve had since becoming a shift and 5th manager since I started working for Starbucks. (Just store managers being juggled around between store)

People also say that shifts are the most underpaid employees of Starbucks. They are paid on average, about $2 more than the baristas. But expected to be acting store managers when necessary, handle a lot of different tasks and make sure the store is not falling apart. It’s hard and I would not suggest it unless the ~$2+ an hour would affect you positively, or if you want to promote higher than shift

Some days are sunshine and rainbows and others are 💩.

I won’t lie. It can be stressful. But you’re little more than a glorified babysitter. I won’t lie. You do have some extra tasks, inventory, making sure the store runs smooth, and dealing with angry customers. But all in all I have to say it isn’t that bad.

buuuutttt. It does depend on the store and the partners. If it’s a store that doesn’t run smoothly, or you have fellow shifts not doing their job properly, it can be very, very stresssful.

My advice, go for it. I’d rather be a shift than a barista any day.