Starbucks Baristas: The daily grind
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Please guys, dont waste away your life at this company. (self.starbucksbaristas)
submitted by Critical50
After working here for near 2+ years, I dont feel like I actually learned anything useful I could transfer over to another job. Even in the coffee industry. Most of what Ive learned is how to keep my cool during shitshow hours. And how to steam milk. A lot of the things we do are fairly automated, and doesnt require too much effort from us.
Back in around 2016-17, Trump gave tax cuts to everyone. Including big businesses. Many businesses responded to this by giving employees raises. Many jobs that paid the same as Starbucks gave company wide raises from $9/hour to $12-13. Some are even at $15, or have said they plan on getting there. To be clear, my 2 years is total accumulated time. I left around 2017. I waited around for a bit to see if Starbucks would follow up on their claim that they'd give us raises. Nope. I was still making $9.13 an hour. I ended up having to come back for a job for a bit. I find out that a whole 4 years later, we're only at $9.50. Still no tipping through card transactions.
I recently got hired by a local coffee shop. Their is more work to do, but more money to be made. I asked the manager approximately how much they get in tips. He got kinda quiet and hesitant to tell me that some shifts I may make only $8 in tips after a 4 hour shifts, but there are shifts that I could get $40+ on top of $10/hour. I laughed at him and said his worst tip rate is more than double my current average tip rate.
Starbucks does not give a fuck about us, guys. Even Dunkin Donuts pays more than $10/hour and has health insurance.
My SM is garbage. Hes on his 10th vacation in less than 6 months. He doesnt do anything for the store besides write the schedule. Which often feels like there is 0 thought put into it. 3/5 partners on are brand new hires with less than a week experience, and then 1 experienced person, plus the supervisor. These shifts have been very common. My SSV was given a talking to as if he is the one at fault for stressing out during rush and "creating a negative work environment" for the new people and was asked if he "really wants to be creating this environment for the new hires". But when our SM works with us, everyone is fucking miserable and absolutely hates him. We dont even chat with each other during down times over our headsets. Its just dead silence unless its work related.
Please guys. This company isnt what they seem to be. They only care about the PR, but not actually following through. Dont invest your time into this.
And if you're offered a training position, dont fall for it. Its only more work that gets you a few extra thank yous for "compensation".
Back in around 2016-17, Trump gave tax cuts to everyone. Including big businesses. Many businesses responded to this by giving employees raises. Many jobs that paid the same as Starbucks gave company wide raises from $9/hour to $12-13. Some are even at $15, or have said they plan on getting there. To be clear, my 2 years is total accumulated time. I left around 2017. I waited around for a bit to see if Starbucks would follow up on their claim that they'd give us raises. Nope. I was still making $9.13 an hour. I ended up having to come back for a job for a bit. I find out that a whole 4 years later, we're only at $9.50. Still no tipping through card transactions.
I recently got hired by a local coffee shop. Their is more work to do, but more money to be made. I asked the manager approximately how much they get in tips. He got kinda quiet and hesitant to tell me that some shifts I may make only $8 in tips after a 4 hour shifts, but there are shifts that I could get $40+ on top of $10/hour. I laughed at him and said his worst tip rate is more than double my current average tip rate.
Starbucks does not give a fuck about us, guys. Even Dunkin Donuts pays more than $10/hour and has health insurance.
My SM is garbage. Hes on his 10th vacation in less than 6 months. He doesnt do anything for the store besides write the schedule. Which often feels like there is 0 thought put into it. 3/5 partners on are brand new hires with less than a week experience, and then 1 experienced person, plus the supervisor. These shifts have been very common. My SSV was given a talking to as if he is the one at fault for stressing out during rush and "creating a negative work environment" for the new people and was asked if he "really wants to be creating this environment for the new hires". But when our SM works with us, everyone is fucking miserable and absolutely hates him. We dont even chat with each other during down times over our headsets. Its just dead silence unless its work related.
Please guys. This company isnt what they seem to be. They only care about the PR, but not actually following through. Dont invest your time into this.
And if you're offered a training position, dont fall for it. Its only more work that gets you a few extra thank yous for "compensation".
Flappadingo 11 points 2y ago
Costco will offer benefits and you can work in food service.
Walmart is always hiring and some department agent $18/hr.
Both offer benefits and Walmart has college options
Please never think Starbucks is your only option.
It is not.
Walmart is always hiring and some department agent $18/hr.
Both offer benefits and Walmart has college options
Please never think Starbucks is your only option.
It is not.
Tubby__duck 10 points 2y ago
Working at Starbucks declined my mental and physical health RAPIDLY. When I first started working there I was hopeful. I was won over by some of the benefits and pay (I was naive and thought $9.50 was a lot.. it is NOT) While I worked there I was bullied by the GM and a shift manager. When I had issues and brought them up they were never resolved. The GM and shift managers would actively participate in drama and gossip. The worst part was when I was the only opener for a few months. I would go in at 4:30 AM almost everyday and was a full time student. I was sleeping 3 hours a night or less. One week I missed 3 shifts. I just could not wake up. This lead to me passing out and being diagnosed with a medical condition. From then on I would call in a lot and go home early because I was both physically and mentally exhausted. I filed doctors notes and explained to the DM what I was going through. I asked for less hours because I just could not work a lot. What did my GM do? She gave me MORE hours. I left early on another shift, but this time I left when it got slammed. I got so anxious and I felt like i was going to pass out. At this point in time my condition was serious and they KNEW. They assured me that they would work with me and be flexible. But they did not. I got in trouble. I went on medical leave after and never returned. After that I began to heal and my medication started working. I was able to feel a sene of normalcy. I could go day to day without being dizzy or passing out. Looking back I realize how toxic the environment was, our store was not even the worst in the city. There were so many crazy stories of toxic work environments from so many different stores. So many people who used to work at starbucks share the same thing. I have never worked at a place more toxic and stressful than there.
TheBlueSuperNova 5 points 2y ago
I’ve literally gotten 3 other jobs while at starbucks, and lost two of them because of covid forcing me back to Starbucks, the other being a horrible toxic environment that I was planning on leaving anyway, but got fired for talking to HR (never talk to HR btw).
I don’t have a degree (although I don’t think that really helps as much as we’d like to think) so opportunities for new work in this climate is almost nonexistent. I want to leave so badly but life just keeps shitting me back into the starbucks hole.
Congrats on getting a better job even if it’s more work. Hope they treat you well.
I don’t have a degree (although I don’t think that really helps as much as we’d like to think) so opportunities for new work in this climate is almost nonexistent. I want to leave so badly but life just keeps shitting me back into the starbucks hole.
Congrats on getting a better job even if it’s more work. Hope they treat you well.
Brilliant_Story609 3 points 2y ago
I’m so sorry for all of you having bad experiences with Starbucks. I’ve been with the company for 19 years and have been every position from barista to SM and I’m back at barista for the last 10 years or so. I have had some terrible experiences with this company but I have also had some amazing ones. I do not rely on my $13 an hour to live on and only work about 28 hours a week so it’s far easier for me to love my job than some. I think the SM and DM have a lot to do with how you feel about your job and I’ve been fortunate to have great of both. Don’t get me wrong, as a store manager I was so fed up with the BS I was dealing with from terrible partners that I didn’t hire and the DM not letting me clean house and taking sides that I threw my store keys and told everyone to go fuck themselves and quit. Fortunately when I found a great store that I wanted to be a barista at the DM for that store was an outside hire that I trained when he first came to the company and who loved me so even though I was technically not re-hirable he let me come back.
JCaligirl420 3 points 2y ago
Damn this sounds exactly like my store! I’m so sorry and go on you for getting a new job!
eietna 2 points 2y ago
I work at Starbucks bevause I have a toddler and an infant and it's the only place that offers a shift that starts at 4am and I like making coffee. At the end of my shift I go home to my little demons and spend the day with them. Worth it.
Plus it's a great excuse to have limited availability (tho it's not an excuse I don't have someone who can watch them lol)
As long as I remember to put my kids first, therefore my mental health so I can be there for them, then I do OK. Don't take work home
Don't take work home
Don't take work home.
Plus it's a great excuse to have limited availability (tho it's not an excuse I don't have someone who can watch them lol)
As long as I remember to put my kids first, therefore my mental health so I can be there for them, then I do OK. Don't take work home
Don't take work home
Don't take work home.
matroid21 2 points 2y ago
As awful as Starbucks can be, it's nowhere near as bad as my previous jobs have been. Nobody's threatened to stab me, I don't cry in my car forever after I get off, and my coworkers range from mildly annoying to I love working with them.
syntheticstrawbrry 3 points 2y ago
I really thought that way for a long time. The difference between other places and Starbucks though is that I legitimately feel like I’m being somewhat brainwashed into thinking that this job is superior to most when it’s clearly not in so many ways.
Critical50 [OP] 3 points 2y ago
Its a really low stress job for sure. Even my most stressed out moments here arent that bad.
I cant put my finger on it though. This place has actually made me feel depressed.
I cant put my finger on it though. This place has actually made me feel depressed.
TheBlueSuperNova 2 points 2y ago
Yeah all that stuff you mentioned has happens at starbucks I’ve been at. It’s really the food industry that’s the issue. It’s grinds out people to dust.
ANONYMOUSvipBARISTA 1 points 2y ago
**THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU** for your brutal honesty!!! This is 100% as to why I left the job, and I completely agree with everything you said. My SM was the same way, and like you said, no one cares. It is a horrible job and there is better.
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As others have said, what it does to your mental health is alone a reason to quit. I am so much happier now that I've left.
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As others have said, what it does to your mental health is alone a reason to quit. I am so much happier now that I've left.
Critical50 [OP] 2 points 2y ago
I dont even understand why it killed me mentally.
I like just about all of my coworkers. Some are a little annoying, but I dont dislike them. The only person I genuinely dislike is my SM, and thats a mutual feeling among 90% of my coworkers. The 10% are new people who havent worked with her yet, or enough.
Even during peak times, Ive hardly been that stressed out. I can manage pretty fine and can stay ahead of orders.
Maybe the tasks? Like making sweet cream. Whipped cream. Making mocha. Caramel drizzle bottles. All of it felt basic and hardly worth talking about, or anything I'd really feel proud about. It felt mind numbing.
I especially hated having to hunt down containers for toppings. Putting whipped cream on every other drink. Making cold foam every other drink, when most of them arent even for cold brew. I wont miss doing any of this shit at all.
Ive come across people who've been with this company not even as an SSV for more than 2-3 years..I really want to ask them why. But knowing me, I'd come off as insulting. I cant imagine working for this company for more than a year.
I like just about all of my coworkers. Some are a little annoying, but I dont dislike them. The only person I genuinely dislike is my SM, and thats a mutual feeling among 90% of my coworkers. The 10% are new people who havent worked with her yet, or enough.
Even during peak times, Ive hardly been that stressed out. I can manage pretty fine and can stay ahead of orders.
Maybe the tasks? Like making sweet cream. Whipped cream. Making mocha. Caramel drizzle bottles. All of it felt basic and hardly worth talking about, or anything I'd really feel proud about. It felt mind numbing.
I especially hated having to hunt down containers for toppings. Putting whipped cream on every other drink. Making cold foam every other drink, when most of them arent even for cold brew. I wont miss doing any of this shit at all.
Ive come across people who've been with this company not even as an SSV for more than 2-3 years..I really want to ask them why. But knowing me, I'd come off as insulting. I cant imagine working for this company for more than a year.
ANONYMOUSvipBARISTA 1 points 2y ago
It's funny you mention that, because looking back, I realize the same thing. The work itself is easy and basic. I think it's just having a bad manager that kills you - it upsets everyone, stresses people out, and can be annoying to say the least.
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My SM was horrible too. She had constant scheduling issues, took a 1 week vacation every month, never wrote people up but chewed them off for stupid things, and when she was on the floor, she would mess things up (one time she dropped a warmed sandwich 3 times and the 4th one made she finally didn't drop, then she proceeded to complain about drive thru times, and she would delegate people to do these stupid meaningless tasks right in the middle of peak when we really needed the person on floor). I'm not disabled, but I have a disability, and sometimes my manger would even park in a handicap spot when the lot was busy, to save herself a walk (she's not handicap).. I actually have a pic of it, but I decide not to bother using it, though little things like that frustrate me to no end.
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I would truly say it's just some of the petty, and then Starbucks goes on with the cultish "we care, you're our family" when, in reality, you see the stuff that happens and you know it is all just talk. Personally, I wouldn't even care about a raise, I just wished that they staffed properly, made a few efficiency changes, and held SMs/DMs accountable.
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And lastly, I know what you're saying about people who have worked there for more than a year or two. At my store (and I'm not saying this is true for all partners who have been there a while, it isn't), there were only 3 people who had been there for longer than 2 years when I left. 1. My SM, 2. a ASM that had been promoted and was hoping to be a SM once (rumor has it he will get my SMs job), 3. An SSV who, honestly, couldn't get a job anywhere else and I'm not sure why he got a job at Starbucks to begin with... most of the partners at my store were great people, with the exception of my SM and this one particular SSV.
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My SM was horrible too. She had constant scheduling issues, took a 1 week vacation every month, never wrote people up but chewed them off for stupid things, and when she was on the floor, she would mess things up (one time she dropped a warmed sandwich 3 times and the 4th one made she finally didn't drop, then she proceeded to complain about drive thru times, and she would delegate people to do these stupid meaningless tasks right in the middle of peak when we really needed the person on floor). I'm not disabled, but I have a disability, and sometimes my manger would even park in a handicap spot when the lot was busy, to save herself a walk (she's not handicap).. I actually have a pic of it, but I decide not to bother using it, though little things like that frustrate me to no end.
​
I would truly say it's just some of the petty, and then Starbucks goes on with the cultish "we care, you're our family" when, in reality, you see the stuff that happens and you know it is all just talk. Personally, I wouldn't even care about a raise, I just wished that they staffed properly, made a few efficiency changes, and held SMs/DMs accountable.
​
And lastly, I know what you're saying about people who have worked there for more than a year or two. At my store (and I'm not saying this is true for all partners who have been there a while, it isn't), there were only 3 people who had been there for longer than 2 years when I left. 1. My SM, 2. a ASM that had been promoted and was hoping to be a SM once (rumor has it he will get my SMs job), 3. An SSV who, honestly, couldn't get a job anywhere else and I'm not sure why he got a job at Starbucks to begin with... most of the partners at my store were great people, with the exception of my SM and this one particular SSV.
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