Mine began at a mall location that was already struggling, and the store closed for a bit. I took the opportunity for personal time, and the store reopened too quickly for my comfort, so I looked to transfer. That really took it's time, I started searching in June and only transferred in December, back to the store I started at years ago. In general, more is expected of us with the same low level of recognition. Social distancing is hard, some customers don't respect rules or boundaries, and people want their drinks Now! It's like it's always been, just with masks on, sometimes. I'm happy with where I'm at now though, with a crew that tries it's best to keep it together and one of my best friends working with me nearly every shift now. One great interaction with a customer is enough to help me through so, so much.

tldr; I was going through it at the beginning, but I managed to find a good deal of happiness in what I do have. It can still be hard but I'm with people I care for and it helps me through these times.

I think it’s been a mixed experience and very individual to the person and the store. Drive thrus from what I hear have constantly been busy and understaffed. Hearing about partners getting covid or symptoms at your store or nearby caused anxiety. The ratio of bad-to-good customers is skewed worse than normal as more “good” customers are staying home when they can, and “bad” customers don’t care. Everyone’s generally more on edge, customers and workers alike. We have to ask the same people every day to wear their masks correctly. Our upper management tried to reopen cafe seating and restrooms in a store that does /not/ have space for 6ft tables- right before the holiday season- right as cases were spiking- and were only stopped by the city tightening up. We’re still getting pushed to have extended conversations with customers that want to pull off their masks to talk, in a pandemic.

A lot of partners are finding support from their store and that’s great. But every day is a little more tiring in a dozen ways than pre-covid. I personally find the uppermanagement to be... disconnected.

My store has been fantastic throughout the pandemic! All partners got furlough at the start of the lockdown last year for a few months, when we returned any partner living with a high risk family member was given the option to furlough longer! In store we’ve cut back to a skeleton crew but there’s still enough hours to suit and sanitisation and masks are essential to everyone! Additionally we’ve closed our cafe and are take out only