Starbucks Baristas: The daily grind
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Opening Lobby - COVID Concerns (self.starbucksbaristas)
submitted by afrancia13
Hi there! I am your average Starbucks barista!
So currently, I am discussing the lobby and bathroom situation with my shift manager. I'm sort of her right-hand man when it comes to store policies, updates, cleanliness etc. I noticed that many Starbucks locations near my area are opening their lobbies for indoor seating. That's cool and all, but what makes it safe to eat indoors when it wasn't a few months ago?
Some establishments have a bunch of signs boasting about their cleaning habits and such. But I don't see any changes apart from slightly more spaced seating. Where's the open windows? Where's the sanitizing tables between customers? Where's the employees regulating the max capacity? I only see covid-spreading nonsense!
We barely have enough time to clean our bar, so how could we possibly clean the lobby and bathrooms every 30 minutes?? The CDC recommends lots of ventilation to prevent the spread of COVID, but most Starbucks Stores (including mine) are windowless cesspools of death. Sure you can wipe down the tables (with "sanitation" cloths that are most likely diluted with water, coffee and milk), but what about the air? I don't see any changes done about ventilation! All it takes is one idiot to infect the whole frikin lobby.
My idea was to buy a bunch of air purifiers to put around the lobby to reduce particles from the air. Or a cheaper alternative was to put fans with HEPA filters around the café. But I'm pretty sure Starbucks wouldn't allow us to do that because it isn't "Starbucks Approved." But then, what are we supposed to do about the cleanliness of the store? Why is no one talking about v e n t i l a t i o n? Am I just crazy? The answer is yes: crazy about the health of my customers!
So basically what I'm trying to say is:
How are you guys with open indoor seating keeping your store clean, at 25% capacity, and overall safe during these disgusting times?
So currently, I am discussing the lobby and bathroom situation with my shift manager. I'm sort of her right-hand man when it comes to store policies, updates, cleanliness etc. I noticed that many Starbucks locations near my area are opening their lobbies for indoor seating. That's cool and all, but what makes it safe to eat indoors when it wasn't a few months ago?
Some establishments have a bunch of signs boasting about their cleaning habits and such. But I don't see any changes apart from slightly more spaced seating. Where's the open windows? Where's the sanitizing tables between customers? Where's the employees regulating the max capacity? I only see covid-spreading nonsense!
We barely have enough time to clean our bar, so how could we possibly clean the lobby and bathrooms every 30 minutes?? The CDC recommends lots of ventilation to prevent the spread of COVID, but most Starbucks Stores (including mine) are windowless cesspools of death. Sure you can wipe down the tables (with "sanitation" cloths that are most likely diluted with water, coffee and milk), but what about the air? I don't see any changes done about ventilation! All it takes is one idiot to infect the whole frikin lobby.
My idea was to buy a bunch of air purifiers to put around the lobby to reduce particles from the air. Or a cheaper alternative was to put fans with HEPA filters around the café. But I'm pretty sure Starbucks wouldn't allow us to do that because it isn't "Starbucks Approved." But then, what are we supposed to do about the cleanliness of the store? Why is no one talking about v e n t i l a t i o n? Am I just crazy? The answer is yes: crazy about the health of my customers!
So basically what I'm trying to say is:
How are you guys with open indoor seating keeping your store clean, at 25% capacity, and overall safe during these disgusting times?
trashkittenxoxo 0 points 2y ago
Well, we're all vaccinated now, so what's the problem? (eye roll)
trashkittenxoxo 1 points 2y ago
haha I'd love to know why this is an unpopular opinion.
Rare_Dragonfruit1885 6 points 2y ago
Not everyone is/can be vaccinated, and those who can’t get the vaccine due to underlying issues are still depending on us to be cautious
trashkittenxoxo 7 points 2y ago
Then my comment was misunderstood.
You're absolutely right and I agree with you!
The "eyeroll" was supposed to act as a sarcasm indicator that I don't actually feel like vaccinating your staff resolves the numerous problems with opening up lobbies en masse at this point.
But in my region, we've been pushed by management to all get our vaccines the second we were allowed to by the state - and while I do believe it's important for everyone who can get theirs to do so, I don't believe they're pushing it out of real concern for our health and safety. I believe they're seeing it as insurance against having to close entire stores.
Hope that clears things up a bit.
You're absolutely right and I agree with you!
The "eyeroll" was supposed to act as a sarcasm indicator that I don't actually feel like vaccinating your staff resolves the numerous problems with opening up lobbies en masse at this point.
But in my region, we've been pushed by management to all get our vaccines the second we were allowed to by the state - and while I do believe it's important for everyone who can get theirs to do so, I don't believe they're pushing it out of real concern for our health and safety. I believe they're seeing it as insurance against having to close entire stores.
Hope that clears things up a bit.
afrancia13 [OP] 2 points 2y ago
Ohh I understand now, I'm glad you agree! I completely misinterpreted your other comment XD. My region's cases are going down and a lot of customers are complaining that other establishments are open so why aren't we. I'm just worried about unvaccinated people and the new COVID variants.
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