I was such a chirpy and happy person when I started. I was That guy, the obnoxiously cheerful one. I treated each and every customer like they were the only ones there. Only 3 years later and the amount of disrespect has turned me into a bitter, hateful person. I do the bare minimum, no need to go above and beyond to connect if they’ll yell at you to remake their drink anyway. Even if you genuinely want to make connections, the company beats that out of you by trying to drain every cent they can from your labor. The customers don’t treat us with respect and just care about drinks. Its exhausting and I miss actually enjoying the job.

My one coworker once said Sbux brings the worst out in us and it truly does.

I used to be a people person...not after working for Starbucks..

You're other partner is right, this job can get stressful and you get burned out but that doesn't excuse throwing shit and yelling. Having fellow partners get that worked up makes all this shit even more stressful.

I keep saying that happy hour just needs to go away. Do a double stars day every few months, or just give people those obnoxious little games where they order a drink and a pastry and they get bonus stars and done: more stars for them, less shit for the workers. It boggles my mind that happy hour is what corporate sees as a “win” when their workers are clearly over stressed and already dealing with the pandemic. If I were CEO, happy hour would be the first thing to go for me. Downvote the comment if you don’t agree but partners deserve either a big pay raise to deal with this stupid shit, or to be given a break with this ridiculous excuse for getting more customers. People will still come back to buy their overpriced coffee. Give them more personalized stars to earn via the app catered to their previous orders and they get free drinks more regularly without bombarding the cafes with the obnoxious 8-10 drink happy hour orders.

Ok I’m done.

Sorry for the long comment, TalLDeeR at the bottom.

I totally understand this, even if yelling wasn’t the best idea in the world, you probably know that and don’t need to be told that. But I sympathize. Some people don’t understand how stressful it is under the circumstances we’re put under and they weren’t there to understand the situation fully so I just want to tell you not to listen to them and that your anger with both customers and Corporate makes perfect sense with what’s going on right now and that the fact you could no longer keeps your cool and yelled is normal with how corporate treats us as well. And most of your partners can understand that.

I was pushed to a similar breaking point when someone who didn’t know what a macchiato was almost threw it on me because her shots were on top and then the second one we made her Had caramel residue on it even though I wiped it off the best I could. I went to the back screaming and yelling at my partner because I couldn’t find my manager and the customers attitude pissed me off. Some people who have commented here might tell me “oh you shouldn’t yell that makes it more stressful for your partners they have to deal with the situation” but again these people who are commenting here also don’t know the full story or know how close I was with my partners. Here are the facts:

1. I was the one who almost had the drink thrown at me but corporate would’ve told me to keep smiling.

2. My shift supervisor was known to leave the premises and go home on his 30 leaving us with no supervisor to turn to in kinds of situations like these or otherwise. It was making me mad I couldn’t find him but he ended up being in the back thank god.

3. I love my customers and my partners but I was pushed to a point where I could no longer control my anger that day therefore not making the best decisions, but I already knew that and didn’t need to be told by someone on reddit who also wasn’t there and didn’t work with my partners.

My point, don’t listen to the people getting on to you about yelling. Your doing the best you can. I too love my customers and and normally really chill but i was pushed over the edge that day. Eventually the same customer got banned because she threatened to come after one of my partners still in high school. Corporate is wearing us thin and won’t listen to a single thing we’re telling them and our customers seem to be progressively getting more mean and entitled. I’m sorry you too were pushed to this point.

I also no longer work at the store this happened at. I left and started working at a tarbucks and I’ve been much happier as I’m technically a target employee now but still a barista.

TLDR: don’t listen to people on reddit telling you you shouldn’t yell, you know you best. I too had a machiatto almost thrown on me and lost my cool. Corporate doesn’t seem to care about us, and I’m sorry this happened.

Whenever I reach a breaking point like this I go really slow out of spite. And then I start day dreaming. If anyone ask I just say I’m really really tired. And I completely pause what I’m doing while I’m talking to irritate the line even more. The best thing to do is let the time (happy hour)run out. What are they going to do? Grab your arms and try to get you to go faster? And if a customer yells at you make some small talk. Like how’s your day or there’s quite the crowd today. Or sometimes when it looks like they’re in a hurry I ask where are they taking all these drinks. I like to troll the customers when I’m in a hyper mood. :)

I feel like if I ever blew up, this would be exactly how I'd react. I'm sorry my dude, people fucking suck 😤

Happy hour wouldn't be so bad if buy 1 and get 1 drink was all that was allowed but nope each car getting at least 6 very different frappucinos and only paying for 3 is the problem

i very much respect the fact that u tried to remain calm and also respect that u let urself finally have the relief of snapping bc it is a lot! i truly hope that you (and i one day) leave for a new place that pays you appropriately. starbucks doesn't deserve a partner like you i promise

Obviously, you have kept your cool and dealt with Starbucks and the customer craziness for 8 years so it is clear that yes, it has gotten worse. It seems like we used to have one laughably horrid customer every now and then but now we are treated like garbage on the daily. Do not feel bad for standing up for yourself. We all have limits and when "Marilyn" made me remake her caramel macchiato THREE times during peak because the caramel sank, it was a miracle I didn't give her a piece of my mind loudly and publicly. But in total honesty, I WISH I HAD. I'd feel better about myself, maybe, and not feel so beat down.

I am so sorry this happened to you. I’ve only been here for a year and like two months but I agree Happy hour has definitely gotten shittier especially since covid started. Customers are more rude and expect us to just kiss their ass all the time. Like you, I am I really chill person too but I feel a different side boiling up inside of me ready to come out at either a coworker or a customer. That’s how you know when a job has taken a toll on you. If you could, i would take a little break (maybe like a week off for yourself) to reflect on things and treat yourself.

There is no Happy Hour today though...