Starbucks Baristas: The daily grind
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New Hire Here Need Advice With Asking For Less Hours (self.starbucksbaristas)
submitted by Cute_Comment69420
Hi, I'm currently a new hire at SB (less than 3 months). Honestly, I love my job here. My co-workers are great, the benefits at work are amazing, and I can't complain about the free food and drinks (considering I'm broke as fuck).
I'm currently a student, and my job at SB is really my only source of income.
Just some background, I'm currently a college student (who's planning on taking internships to get closer to my dream career -- but this also means more work under my already hectic schedule), but I'm under a lot of stress at the moment. As it's almost the middle of my semester, I'm starting to drown in school work. As a student, I know I can't let go of my studies, and of course its my dream to graduate with a degree. At the same time, I've been feeling a hell lot of stress because of my SB shifts. I've been thinking about requesting less hours with my manager, but I honestly don't know how to go about it. I don't want to seem entitled since I'm literally a new hire, like why do I deserve the right to request hours that are convenient for me (in all honesty, the current hours I work rn do fit with my schedule, but I can already see myself getting burnt out in the next few weeks especially with midterms coming up)?
What's the best possible way to tackle this? I'm scared that if I do request less hours my manager might hate me for doing so (since our team at our store is literally less than 10 people). I don't think there's anyone who can takeover some of my hours since we're already having scheduling problems on some days due to the fact that only 2/3 people can only work during those days.
Really just looking for advice especially since I'm new to the city I live in right now, and don't really have friends at all here / know anyone with prior experience.
Any advice would be appreciated at all, thank you :(
I'm currently a student, and my job at SB is really my only source of income.
Just some background, I'm currently a college student (who's planning on taking internships to get closer to my dream career -- but this also means more work under my already hectic schedule), but I'm under a lot of stress at the moment. As it's almost the middle of my semester, I'm starting to drown in school work. As a student, I know I can't let go of my studies, and of course its my dream to graduate with a degree. At the same time, I've been feeling a hell lot of stress because of my SB shifts. I've been thinking about requesting less hours with my manager, but I honestly don't know how to go about it. I don't want to seem entitled since I'm literally a new hire, like why do I deserve the right to request hours that are convenient for me (in all honesty, the current hours I work rn do fit with my schedule, but I can already see myself getting burnt out in the next few weeks especially with midterms coming up)?
What's the best possible way to tackle this? I'm scared that if I do request less hours my manager might hate me for doing so (since our team at our store is literally less than 10 people). I don't think there's anyone who can takeover some of my hours since we're already having scheduling problems on some days due to the fact that only 2/3 people can only work during those days.
Really just looking for advice especially since I'm new to the city I live in right now, and don't really have friends at all here / know anyone with prior experience.
Any advice would be appreciated at all, thank you :(
rio8envy7 2 points 2y ago
Talk to your your SM. Tell them that between school and work you’re having trouble focusing and that you would like more hours to focus on school but that it’s temporary and you can pick up more hours when the semester is over or when things calm down.
There’s nothing wrong with needing to ask for less hours. School is important and your manager should understand that.
There’s nothing wrong with needing to ask for less hours. School is important and your manager should understand that.
Cute_Comment69420 [OP] 1 points 2y ago
Thanks for that. Do you think it would be appropriate to ask ASAP or should I wait it out a bit?
rio8envy7 1 points 2y ago
If it’s taking that much of a toll on you I’d tell them as soon as you can. Maybe when you have your PDP you can bring it up or try and schedule a sit down conversation with your manager and explain the situation.
Cute_Comment69420 [OP] 1 points 2y ago
Thank you so much for your help :)
Rukeriusu 1 points 2y ago
Hmm..well, I worked under the college that is licensed to have Starbucks on their campus(apparently it makes a slight necessary difference). So I don't know if my advice would be of any help because it's always a strong recommendation for managers to be considerate of students and their work load. Meaning if you outright ask for less hours because of college work, then they will understand(and should) and give you those less hours.
But in the terms of working for the Starbucks company directly, it depends. How is your manager? Are they understanding? Do they know you're a college student? If not, that might be an issue, but nothing too major. Just make sure they know because it does matter when it comes to having a conversation about your workloads. I've heard most, not all, but most managers being understanding about college folks and have worked with them to get through a heavy workload(be it time off or less hours).
If you want to play this safely, here's what I recommend you could do. Instead of saying less hours, say you want to negotiate or discuss your situation and how might you and the manager be able work through this. Doing so kind of strengthens or creates a healthy relationship between employee and manager, which might help you a lot down the road. If your manager asks you what you want, say "well I was thinking less hours might work out for me. I still do want to work here, would that be okay?" And if the manager says yes and discusses more in detail about what hours you'd take, congrats. If not, well...dunno, I have a couple of ultimatum cases, but they're not ideal. Worst case scenario is just being told no. I don't think you'd be fired just for asking unless they're really uptight.
But in the terms of working for the Starbucks company directly, it depends. How is your manager? Are they understanding? Do they know you're a college student? If not, that might be an issue, but nothing too major. Just make sure they know because it does matter when it comes to having a conversation about your workloads. I've heard most, not all, but most managers being understanding about college folks and have worked with them to get through a heavy workload(be it time off or less hours).
If you want to play this safely, here's what I recommend you could do. Instead of saying less hours, say you want to negotiate or discuss your situation and how might you and the manager be able work through this. Doing so kind of strengthens or creates a healthy relationship between employee and manager, which might help you a lot down the road. If your manager asks you what you want, say "well I was thinking less hours might work out for me. I still do want to work here, would that be okay?" And if the manager says yes and discusses more in detail about what hours you'd take, congrats. If not, well...dunno, I have a couple of ultimatum cases, but they're not ideal. Worst case scenario is just being told no. I don't think you'd be fired just for asking unless they're really uptight.
Cute_Comment69420 [OP] 1 points 2y ago
Honestly, my manager is great. She has been so amazing from the moment she interviewed me. Personally, I feel like I've developed a good relationship with her because we really end up talking a lot while we're on the floor together.
I'm really just worried that she might say no to me, and I'll have no other option but to suck it up and take the hours they give me (which I honestly think is a big possibility, considering she asked me a few times to come-in like an hour before my normal shift starts since we're short on people.
I'll try easing into the topic of needing less hours though. Thanks so much for your advice :)
I'm really just worried that she might say no to me, and I'll have no other option but to suck it up and take the hours they give me (which I honestly think is a big possibility, considering she asked me a few times to come-in like an hour before my normal shift starts since we're short on people.
I'll try easing into the topic of needing less hours though. Thanks so much for your advice :)
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