Starbucks Baristas: The daily grind
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TL:DR, I think I was wrongfully fired but idk what to do... (self.starbucksbaristas)
submitted by dadepressoespresso
Hi! I was here a while back regarding a mean and aggressive shift supervisor. About that matter, I called partner care and told them about that supervisor, and how my SM wasn't doing anything about it, and I also posted on a local starbucks FB page for advice. Because I got public attention (and basically put them on blast), DM got involved and things finally started to happen. An investigation was finally launched against that mean supervisor. Guys, I wasn't lying when I tried to tell my SM about his bullying ways towards me, she never believed me. She always tried to defend him. Now, I'm not the only one who hated him, our store had 30 partners, and 20 of us had problems with him. When the investigation happened, we had quite overwhelming evidence against him, and our SM didn't seem happy about it. During that time, someone broke my phone during work, and I tried to ask my SM for help. She didn't really do anything. I called partner care again, and, this time, DM called me back and she basically told me that my situation wasn't a big deal, and that I didn't have evidence, so I should drop the report. I cried. It costed me $400 to fix it. Anyways, at this point, I feel like my DM and SM never had my back and they were annoyed at me.
A week or so ago, I went to work with a stomach ache. I told my shift (nice shift) about it before going onto the floor, she knew. But, as the shift went on, my stomach was acting so bad that SM had to send me home. She asked me about the covid coach, and I told her that I lied on it first time around (truth was that I didn't do it at all because that nice shift told me I didn't have to). Anyways, SM watched me redo covid coach, and the thing cleared me to go back to work, because my stomach ache wasn't rona... SM scolded me a bit about doing the covid coach correctly, I understood my mistake, and I accepted the scolding, and I thought that was it.
Nope. I went in for work yesterday and SM told me that I was fired because of that. On my notice, it stated that I had full knowledge of the covid coach but didn't do it. Truth was, I didn't know I'd be fired if I didn't do it properly. That shift also told me I didn't have to. I know I fcked up for lying about it to cover her, but she was nice to me and I didn't think I'd be fired for it. Welp. Now that I am, I can't help but think that my SM hated me, and now she finally had a reason to fire me, and she did. I think I was wrongly fired because (1) I didn't know about this heavy consequence and (2) I was told by the shift and (3) wasn't I supposed to get a warning before fired?? This is the first time I did something like this. I've always been a good worker. I told SM about the shift who told me I didn't have to do covid coach, she basically said "ok. You're still fired tho"...
Now, I'm worried for my future. Do I have to check [yes] on future job applications that I've been terminated from a company before?... the separation didn't seem to be as "red flag serious" as being terminated, as I'm still eligible for unemployment. I've worked so hard to keep a good record for myself, now this happened. I cried all day yesterday. Idk what to do...
A week or so ago, I went to work with a stomach ache. I told my shift (nice shift) about it before going onto the floor, she knew. But, as the shift went on, my stomach was acting so bad that SM had to send me home. She asked me about the covid coach, and I told her that I lied on it first time around (truth was that I didn't do it at all because that nice shift told me I didn't have to). Anyways, SM watched me redo covid coach, and the thing cleared me to go back to work, because my stomach ache wasn't rona... SM scolded me a bit about doing the covid coach correctly, I understood my mistake, and I accepted the scolding, and I thought that was it.
Nope. I went in for work yesterday and SM told me that I was fired because of that. On my notice, it stated that I had full knowledge of the covid coach but didn't do it. Truth was, I didn't know I'd be fired if I didn't do it properly. That shift also told me I didn't have to. I know I fcked up for lying about it to cover her, but she was nice to me and I didn't think I'd be fired for it. Welp. Now that I am, I can't help but think that my SM hated me, and now she finally had a reason to fire me, and she did. I think I was wrongly fired because (1) I didn't know about this heavy consequence and (2) I was told by the shift and (3) wasn't I supposed to get a warning before fired?? This is the first time I did something like this. I've always been a good worker. I told SM about the shift who told me I didn't have to do covid coach, she basically said "ok. You're still fired tho"...
Now, I'm worried for my future. Do I have to check [yes] on future job applications that I've been terminated from a company before?... the separation didn't seem to be as "red flag serious" as being terminated, as I'm still eligible for unemployment. I've worked so hard to keep a good record for myself, now this happened. I cried all day yesterday. Idk what to do...
AvoFromCado 37 points 2y ago
I’ve seen a lot people be fired for doing Covid coach incorrectly or not doing it. My district has fired 3 shifts and countless baristas for it this week
medicinexx 25 points 2y ago
they even fire SMs for not being on baristas and ssvs about the covid coach. i’m sorry op but you told your SM you didn’t do the covid coach which gave them grounds to terminate you and they rolled with it.
AvoFromCado 13 points 2y ago
Yeah we had one sm get fired in the district too. But yeah op if you lied on it and admitted it they had grounds to fire you. They take it really seriously, as they should.
dadepressoespresso [OP] 5 points 2y ago
Yeah. This makes sense, and I understand where you guys are coming from. The thing is, we, as a whole store, were never told that we could get fired for this. We had no knowledge of it. Out of the 4 SSV, 2 didn't take it seriously. About half of partners never did covid coach. We just didn't know the severity.
AvoFromCado 12 points 2y ago
Honestly your sm should be fired too for not enforcing it correctly in that case
medicinexx 2 points 2y ago
yeah i’m not surprised, your SM most likely got rid of you because you were obviously willing to go higher than them to get problems dealt with, and saw an opportunity to get rid of you. i’m sorry
XxTRUEPINOYxX 2 points 2y ago
Yea I was transferred to a new store as mine closed down, and I didn’t know I had to do the questionnaire. I’m shocked because I wasn’t taught everything from my previous SSV. I rarely saw my manager at times. Kinda makes me wonder a lot of stuff I could have missed. As it is indeed a fireable action as covid is taking very seriously.
organizesbux 9 points 2y ago
Get a consult from a lawyer too tbh. This seems like retaliation for reporting the supervisor. DM calling back after filing a report saying it's not serious and it should dropped is like... p much exactly what happened when our old SM got reported.
light-ice-SSV 7 points 2y ago
Honestly, I would reach out again to PRC and your DM. I think when covid coach first came out they did not do a good enough job explaining that it NEEDED to be done. I thought it was a tool to use if maybe someone had a fever or you weren't sure, which now isn't the case. My manager was effective at communicating and made sure to tell every partner that they need to do the covid coach and check in with their shift, or they could be written up or fired. I, as a shift, was nice enough to hunt people down and either make them do it or at least ask if they had any symptoms, and if they were feeling well mentally and physically. If none of the SSVs or SM told you this, then that is an issue. Like yeah we have had covid coach for about a year now, but it isn't posted anywhere that not doing it is action for firing. Call PRC and explain that no one communicated that to you, that people actually explained the opposite. Call your DM and say the same thing, that you think you were wrongfully terminated. If your DM asks what you want, if they are willing to reinstate you, ask for a store transfer. It seems like that store is not a healthy environment, especially if they are not effective at communicating basic needs like filling out the covid coach.
Tl;dr: Call the partner resource center, call your district manager, and ask for a transfer. It should have been clearly communicated and you had no idea.
Tl;dr: Call the partner resource center, call your district manager, and ask for a transfer. It should have been clearly communicated and you had no idea.
organizesbux 3 points 2y ago
Document everything with these calls. Take notes on the conversation and email them to yourself to timestamp and preserve the evidence. Record the PCC call if they say "this call will be recorded" (if you stay on the line that means both parties consent to recording)
dadepressoespresso [OP] 3 points 2y ago
Do you think I can reach out to PRC about this and asked to switch my separation status from "involuntary" to "voluntary"? I was planning to quit anyways. I'm just worried that this might be a "stain" on my record :( I'm barely in college college not much life experience, so this thing scared me a lot
MenstrualKrampusCD 3 points 2y ago
Keep in mind that if you do that, you might not be eligible for unemployment anymore.
light-ice-SSV 3 points 2y ago
I honestly am not sure. When I had an issue with my SM, I got bullied over text, so I left immediately. When I got reinstated a few days at a different store, I went through a whole process called termination reversal, which made it look like I never quit. Getting PRC to do that took months but that is a different story. I'm not sure if they can do the same thing for voluntary termination versus involuntary. It doesn't hurt to ask, but they might be more willing to re-employ you then fix something small on paper
dadepressoespresso [OP] 3 points 2y ago
I'm sorry that happened to you. Thank you for sharing. I'll try to contact PRC to see what they can do. I can't go to my DM because she sided with SM as well..
light-ice-SSV 2 points 2y ago
If anything, hopefully PRC will have a chain of command for you to go through, or at least some advice for you. You might be able to bring this further if you wanted, I'm not sure wrongful termination would hold up well, but you could sue them for not taking abuse allegations seriously. Make sure you tell PRC about the milk jugs, and the throwing your phone and whatever else they did.
dadepressoespresso [OP] 1 points 2y ago
The thing is...I really believe that my DM doesn't like me too because I basically put her on blast regarding the bullying thing as well. No one was doing anything, not my SM, not my DM, while that mean shift continued to throw milk jugs at me.
light-ice-SSV 4 points 2y ago
Regardless of whether the DM likes you or not. They should do their job to ensure everything is okay in each store and each partner is being supported.
light-ice-SSV 3 points 2y ago
Well if they have your SMs side when there is legit bullying and harassing going on, then that is not okay. Honestly you can ask for their boss, go up the legs of command. Speak to the Regional Manager, saying you have proof for abuse and harassment, your SM and DM did nothing about it. They thought you were lying and terminated you without warning when you were fed misinformation. Make sure you try to keep it clear and concise, and explain which steps you took and why. Also make sure you document everything just to show the steps you took. But start with your DM before you go to the RM.
Signifikantotter 3 points 2y ago
Just going to chime in, on future applications you don’t have to put you were fired. Also, speaking from experience, I’ve tried the attorney route for losing a job due to a work accident (not sbux) and it ended up costing me more emotional damage than anything. Things will be okay. Starbucks always looks good on a resume.
dadepressoespresso [OP] 3 points 2y ago
I was thinking about this actually. My SM at least made it clear that I was "separated" not "terminated" and I am still rehirable in the company, and that my separation status qualifies me for unemployment. If the question comes up in future applications and interviews, I could blame it on covid and that I had to be let go(?)
sci-fi-lullaby 0 points 2y ago
Just say you haven't been fired, I always do, always get more jobs. I actually know people who lie about having graduated from High School and shit. People don't check.
dadepressoespresso [OP] 1 points 2y ago
Background checks tho????
sci-fi-lullaby 1 points 2y ago
I'm pretty sure they're mostly looking for criminal background on those I even had expunged misdemeanors and they never are an issue. I've passed them for schools and government stuff.
dadepressoespresso [OP] 1 points 2y ago
Wow 0.0
I never knew that. Thank you!
I never knew that. Thank you!
sci-fi-lullaby 2 points 2y ago
No problem! Hope you find something better!
sci-fi-lullaby 1 points 2y ago
Yeah, they still do them, still pass them.
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