Starbucks Baristas: The daily grind
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How to Appropriately Handle This Situation (self.starbucksbaristas)
submitted by SwissArzt
Basically a family came in to my store without masks, but were wearing basically lanyards saying it was due to their daughter's condition (Austism), and that like... she'd have a panic attack if she or her family were wearing masks.
My SM basically kicked them out, after they just had finished placing their order, over refusing to leave due to the situation. Apparently it started a situation because one of my favorite shifts actually has a sibling in a similar situation, and wouldve made the exception to them.
Although I was busy with bar, when reflecting on the situation, I don't know what morally was the correct way to have handled the situation. They were the first time I've seen someone use Autism as an exemption to mask policy, and part of me feels horrible for.. "going against" them? Then again, also Company policy, as well as a pandemic?
Edit 1:
I dont know why I'm receiving downvotes. I am not supporting people that feel too entitled to wear masks, or ignorance/conspiracy against mask wearing. I know what store policy is, and common sense says wearing a mask in a pandemic is what keeps people safe.
My SM basically kicked them out, after they just had finished placing their order, over refusing to leave due to the situation. Apparently it started a situation because one of my favorite shifts actually has a sibling in a similar situation, and wouldve made the exception to them.
Although I was busy with bar, when reflecting on the situation, I don't know what morally was the correct way to have handled the situation. They were the first time I've seen someone use Autism as an exemption to mask policy, and part of me feels horrible for.. "going against" them? Then again, also Company policy, as well as a pandemic?
Edit 1:
I dont know why I'm receiving downvotes. I am not supporting people that feel too entitled to wear masks, or ignorance/conspiracy against mask wearing. I know what store policy is, and common sense says wearing a mask in a pandemic is what keeps people safe.
[deleted] 125 points 2y ago
One member of the family should have come inside to place the order while the rest of the family waited outside. And since the daughter would be outside, the person inside should be capable of wearing a mask. After they finished ordering, they’d be free to take off their mask and wait outside for their order with the rest of their family.
Even the ADA recognizes that accommodations cannot put others at risk.
Even the ADA recognizes that accommodations cannot put others at risk.
SwissArzt [OP] 30 points 2y ago
Okay, and this is logical.. but I live in the south where sometimes that kind of thinking doesn't cross their minds, but I believe there is this.. lowkey entitlement? Like.. toxic masculinity, I can do what I want, etc. kind of mindset that makes it harder?
LatteMeowchiatto 9 points 2y ago
This
Abrakadanni 7 points 2y ago
Exactly what I was going to say.
Simplyroro 57 points 2y ago
First off I am a 14 yr partner, veteran, black apron, mom, and grandmother.
I am the mother of 2 in the spectrum, 1 is nonverbal and has down syndrome to boot. She has the cognitive abilities of a preschooler. She is required to wear a mask... she gets very upset and we all tell her to look into our eyes, and SEE US, we then talk her down off of her ledge. Life is not easy and if she doesn't learn to function in society there is no hope for her to become a productive member of society.
What you saw today is selfish American entitlement.
And that family is a prime example of why we cant get this damn pandemic under control.
I am the mother of 2 in the spectrum, 1 is nonverbal and has down syndrome to boot. She has the cognitive abilities of a preschooler. She is required to wear a mask... she gets very upset and we all tell her to look into our eyes, and SEE US, we then talk her down off of her ledge. Life is not easy and if she doesn't learn to function in society there is no hope for her to become a productive member of society.
What you saw today is selfish American entitlement.
And that family is a prime example of why we cant get this damn pandemic under control.
SwissArzt [OP] 6 points 2y ago
Thank you
I was not the partners that partook in the situation, but like.. I just didnt know enough about the community to know if there was a logical arguement or not.
The bigger reason I'm posting this is because it created kinda a devide in my store because like.. it seems now there is an arguement of policy vs being human? I dunno
I was not the partners that partook in the situation, but like.. I just didnt know enough about the community to know if there was a logical arguement or not.
The bigger reason I'm posting this is because it created kinda a devide in my store because like.. it seems now there is an arguement of policy vs being human? I dunno
Simplyroro 11 points 2y ago
I am not angry at you but saddened that the phrase being human is being used here in this instance.
Being human? Humans are dying because other humans are claiming rights. Currently America is struggling with IDIOTS.
And yes refusing to wear a mask is idiocy
Being human? Humans are dying because other humans are claiming rights. Currently America is struggling with IDIOTS.
And yes refusing to wear a mask is idiocy
SwissArzt [OP] 8 points 2y ago
Being human as the fact I can see them as still people with emotions and feelings, not supporting their entitlement to the fact they think it's their religious freedom not to wear masks because "the liberals made this hoax to crash the economy" blah blah.
Call me an idiot but like.. after the amount of stress put on like all of us, then like everyday I have like 10 or more people I have to tell mask policy to and they always flip out or fight me on it.. its exhausting
Call me an idiot but like.. after the amount of stress put on like all of us, then like everyday I have like 10 or more people I have to tell mask policy to and they always flip out or fight me on it.. its exhausting
Simplyroro 5 points 2y ago
No im not calling you an idiot. Its the ones fighting the science....and yes its exhausting for us all... a man spit at our plexi shield when I told him to mask up.
God bless you for not losing that part of yourself.. cause I am ready to just shoot them with whipped cream when they refuse.
God bless you for not losing that part of yourself.. cause I am ready to just shoot them with whipped cream when they refuse.
AmberlynMarie 31 points 2y ago
If they can’t wear a mask, they can order and wait outside for their drink. We do that for all customers. They cannot stay inside. they can still be asymptomatic and could be spreading the virus.
SwissArzt [OP] 1 points 2y ago
I thought this too, and a different partner presented this as an option, but I feel like.. these kind of customers are difficult to deal with. While you present them with this option, usually I find that the word choice used by partners are hostile and lead to the same energy matched.
Like I had a customer that wouldnt wear a mask but I used more of a friendly approached, took their order outside, and brought it to them. I come to find out one of them is completely new to coffee and the suggestions that they wanted peppermint in their coffee (after they tried their daughters, it was an older person), she actually tipped a solid amount.
I see both sides, if that makes sense? Like I'm not supporting anti maskers, but I can still see people that don't wear masks as people?
Like I had a customer that wouldnt wear a mask but I used more of a friendly approached, took their order outside, and brought it to them. I come to find out one of them is completely new to coffee and the suggestions that they wanted peppermint in their coffee (after they tried their daughters, it was an older person), she actually tipped a solid amount.
I see both sides, if that makes sense? Like I'm not supporting anti maskers, but I can still see people that don't wear masks as people?
barrie2k 15 points 2y ago
i’m pretty sure the autism community’s general view on it is that wearing masks is still important regardless despite the triggers it may cause, or at least that’s what i’ve seen online. i’m not a shift but i think the correct move there is to kindly explain to the family that they can wait outside or in their cars and you can bring them their order using one of the curbside pickup trays.
SwissArzt [OP] 2 points 2y ago
As I said to a different partner, I agree with this, but I felt like.. I suppose the lack of knowledge I had regarding the community would have left me in a weird morally ambiguous area? Store policy is one thing, but was I then not being human in another?
P_2_P 5 points 2y ago
Starbucks has reasonable accommodation in place to assist these situations. Mobile order, curb side pick up, even calling in the store.
It sucks to say but making exceptions is unfair to the next person and sets a bad example for the future.
It sucks to say but making exceptions is unfair to the next person and sets a bad example for the future.
SwissArzt [OP] 1 points 2y ago
Right. I honestly didnt know if I'd be overstepping some drawn line regarding the Austistic community if I had just asked for the family to wait outside and someone place the orders.. which wouldve been the most logic. Hell, use the app to place all of it throughmobooe and one person pock it all up
P_2_P 5 points 2y ago
Also. Come to think of it, they also make those face shields that doesn’t block someone’s face out. Now I’m starting to think this family knew exactly what they were doing.
P_2_P 2 points 2y ago
Don’t sweat it.
EasternEngineer4 4 points 2y ago
If ADS partners (of which I am one) can wear a mask to make your drink then you can put one on or go to Dunkin. We don’t need you here making US sick.
acb-cafe 4 points 2y ago
You have to accommodate them, but that does not mean putting others at risk. If you’re a cafe-only store, they could have waited outside the door and you could take their order there, or only one member of the family could have come inside with a mask on so the daughter wouldn’t see
SwissArzt [OP] 2 points 2y ago
Right, but the problem was that they had placed their order already and were gonna sit outside the store until my SM started confrontation with them that the only one was the medical condition was their daughter and they can wait outside.
What I dont understand is that we are in a mall were there is mandatory mask policy and security that kicks you out if you aren't wearing a mask.. soooo
What I dont understand is that we are in a mall were there is mandatory mask policy and security that kicks you out if you aren't wearing a mask.. soooo
[deleted] 3 points 2y ago
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SwissArzt [OP] 4 points 2y ago
Even more like.. just.. BHAK (bang head against keyboard) is the fact that I work in a mall location, where theres MANDATORY MASK POLICY and security that pulls people. Like.. you're going to the mall where it would be a hotspot and you must wear masks to get in the door.. so then why take it off and then pulls this crap in our store?
Simplyroro 1 points 2y ago
A child with autism IS NOT A PROBLEM CHILD. THAT IS ALL
[deleted] 0 points 2y ago
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bitter-barista 2 points 2y ago
They SHOULD have gone to a store with a drive through.
DustbinFunkbndr 2 points 2y ago
No exemptions. There are ways to navigate literally any situation to not put others in danger. Starbucks isn’t essential in the first place. Fuck them
SwissArzt [OP] 1 points 2y ago
To Rachel and Karen, their Iced White Mocha, Light Ice, Vscf, Extra caramel drizzle is essential though!!
juiceyluicy 2 points 2y ago
If they won’t wear a mask they can wait outside for their order without a mask on, and someone else in the family should’ve come inside to place the order with a mask on.
SwissArzt [OP] 1 points 2y ago
Logical. Some of the customers? Not so much
waitaminute_fish 1 points 2y ago
I have a son on the spectrum and he has sensory issues. It's very challenging but they could have gone through drive thru or mobile ordered and had one person go pick up the drinks, whilst wearing a mask.
It also would've been great practice for that child to wear a mask - we've been practicing and my son can wear his mask up to 10 minutes now!
It also would've been great practice for that child to wear a mask - we've been practicing and my son can wear his mask up to 10 minutes now!
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