Starbucks Baristas: The daily grind
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Should I try and reach out for the response I'm getting due to my severe mental illness? (self.starbucksbaristas)
submitted by Gigameki
Or should I just... try and find a different job...? ( I really, really don't want to .. but still...)
To start things off, I got handed a pretty bad hand in the mental category of life. I have several severe disorders ranging from just mood-wise and actual neurological problems. I was diagnosed with severe ADHD earlier this year, where the doctor made sure to emphasize that it was a type that was rarely even seen in adults, far more often in children, to get an idea. I suffer from memory loss, ranging from just simple things, to completely not remembering certain things that happened even just the other day. I've been trying different medications and am still trying to work with them. I struggle a lot at work, I'm considered one of the best at drive through though, and general customer interaction (told at least 5-6 times daily by customers that I'm beyond polite and that they want to come back because of how much I brightened their day.) Everything else.. not so much. My mind wanders, I forget things consistently and have to ask for simple directions, I do things out of order... I try my best, though, and that's what really hurts.
​
Now to the point I wanna make; I've told my managers of what I deal with, and explain the general things I ask for ( honestly, just.. trying to not be rude to me. Understanding I might need a general reminder, or just a simple "hey, can you do \_\_?" "Are you able to do \_\_\_?" "You actually wanna do \_\_\_") I don't ask for these things often and I do not want to bother anyone while they're doing something else, any time I ask for a refresher, I try to make sure it's when they're not preoccupied. However responses I've gotten are
​
\- Told in front of everyone that I'm making things harder for everybody when I make a mistake, that I need to realize how I'm making everybody's job far more difficult
\- Was harshly quizzed on the steps of customer service, told I'll never be reminded again because I should be able to know it
\- That I'm setting people back
\- Told to my face I was annoying because I asked a customer if they wanted a drink carrier, not realizing my manager asked them during ordering (I was in DTW, not DTO)
\- Refusal in general to answer yes or no when I ask a question, given a "well, shouldn't you know this?" and ended there
​
I know.. the obvious answer is to try and possibly find a job that's more suited for someone of my disibility, but I love starbucks a lot (and in all honesty, the pay is a huge draw...) and I want to continue getting better, but every day makes my anxiety worse and worse because this is a daily thing. And before anyone says, I do try and always write down what to do, I usually don't struggle when it comes to like, what backups to do, etc. It's being put on the spot for certain things.
Sorry if this doesn't make sense, I kinda am word dumping because I don't know what to do and how to properly respond to any of this.
To start things off, I got handed a pretty bad hand in the mental category of life. I have several severe disorders ranging from just mood-wise and actual neurological problems. I was diagnosed with severe ADHD earlier this year, where the doctor made sure to emphasize that it was a type that was rarely even seen in adults, far more often in children, to get an idea. I suffer from memory loss, ranging from just simple things, to completely not remembering certain things that happened even just the other day. I've been trying different medications and am still trying to work with them. I struggle a lot at work, I'm considered one of the best at drive through though, and general customer interaction (told at least 5-6 times daily by customers that I'm beyond polite and that they want to come back because of how much I brightened their day.) Everything else.. not so much. My mind wanders, I forget things consistently and have to ask for simple directions, I do things out of order... I try my best, though, and that's what really hurts.
​
Now to the point I wanna make; I've told my managers of what I deal with, and explain the general things I ask for ( honestly, just.. trying to not be rude to me. Understanding I might need a general reminder, or just a simple "hey, can you do \_\_?" "Are you able to do \_\_\_?" "You actually wanna do \_\_\_") I don't ask for these things often and I do not want to bother anyone while they're doing something else, any time I ask for a refresher, I try to make sure it's when they're not preoccupied. However responses I've gotten are
​
\- Told in front of everyone that I'm making things harder for everybody when I make a mistake, that I need to realize how I'm making everybody's job far more difficult
\- Was harshly quizzed on the steps of customer service, told I'll never be reminded again because I should be able to know it
\- That I'm setting people back
\- Told to my face I was annoying because I asked a customer if they wanted a drink carrier, not realizing my manager asked them during ordering (I was in DTW, not DTO)
\- Refusal in general to answer yes or no when I ask a question, given a "well, shouldn't you know this?" and ended there
​
I know.. the obvious answer is to try and possibly find a job that's more suited for someone of my disibility, but I love starbucks a lot (and in all honesty, the pay is a huge draw...) and I want to continue getting better, but every day makes my anxiety worse and worse because this is a daily thing. And before anyone says, I do try and always write down what to do, I usually don't struggle when it comes to like, what backups to do, etc. It's being put on the spot for certain things.
Sorry if this doesn't make sense, I kinda am word dumping because I don't know what to do and how to properly respond to any of this.
Kittens_bean 2 points 2y ago
As someone that is clinically depressed and has SAD with OCD, I'm telling you to get another job. I worked for the company for a smidge less than 3 years and my manager almost fired me for my ocd about following policy
whenthenbloopdrops 1 points 2y ago
I don't know if any of this is helpful but...
\-If you declare a disability, you have a right to reasonable accommodation. I'm not a lawyer so I can't advise on what constitutes that, as it varies case by case, but it may be worth trying to find a disability lawyer who does free consults and get their take/advice
\-To this point, you told your "managers of what I deal with." What was their reply? Have you guys put together any processes and procedures to help address the disability?
\-Have you joined any severe ADHD support groups or even online groups? Perhaps there are people who have been in the same scenario who can offer tips, mnemonic devices etc. about how to cope with an environment you love but that you don't necessarily excel in
\-If you declare a disability, you have a right to reasonable accommodation. I'm not a lawyer so I can't advise on what constitutes that, as it varies case by case, but it may be worth trying to find a disability lawyer who does free consults and get their take/advice
\-To this point, you told your "managers of what I deal with." What was their reply? Have you guys put together any processes and procedures to help address the disability?
\-Have you joined any severe ADHD support groups or even online groups? Perhaps there are people who have been in the same scenario who can offer tips, mnemonic devices etc. about how to cope with an environment you love but that you don't necessarily excel in
Gigameki [OP] 1 points 2y ago
>\-To this point, you told your "managers of what I deal with." What was their reply? Have you guys put together any processes and procedures to help address the disability?
Honestly, nothing much. They just kind of... nodded. One manager, the one who called me annoying for the drink carrier thing, pulled a "abooboo if you told me that things would have gone WAYY differently ... it's okay honey..." which was really... weird.
Honestly, nothing much. They just kind of... nodded. One manager, the one who called me annoying for the drink carrier thing, pulled a "abooboo if you told me that things would have gone WAYY differently ... it's okay honey..." which was really... weird.
whenthenbloopdrops 1 points 2y ago
Hmm, then maybe it's just not a good location for you. That lack of reaction doesn't seem great.
[deleted] 1 points 2y ago
Eventually, the situation is going to get so frustrating and difficult with your coworkers, that the minimum wage and benefits you get at Starbucks won’t be worth it. Look at things from the perspective of a probably understaffed crew, everyone needs to carry their weight and at your store, partners have to do their part and some of yours. We had a partner who, due to a physical injury, could not bar, pick up cold brew toddies, do repetitive tasks, like cleaning/wiping. Eventually he quit and ended up happy at a job that was better fitted for the things that he was still great at. Or maybe your SSV could put you on DTW most times? In your post you are very aware of your limitations but I’m sure you would be great at many things if customers genuinely enjoy being around you. Good luck:)
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