Starbucks Baristas: The daily grind
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Tall Rant with Salted Caramel Cream (self.starbucksbaristas)
submitted by TrentaGreenBean
Today I finally cried at work. Its only my second week (not counting training) and I kept promising myself i wouldn't let this store break me, but I felt so overwhelmed in the moment that I couldn't hold it back.
I trained at a different store than the one I work at and my manager pushed that aside as 'a different perspective is good.' I personally feel like I have to relearn some things (such as how this sbux runs their store + where everything is). It's really confusing. Plus during training we never were taught anything about closing or opening shifts, and I've been put on closing. I feel so useless of an employee that I always have to ask what to do because of not knowing.
My first two shifts were utter hell, but now the small things are tripping me up and making my mental health be in ruins by the end of my shift. I had someone order a frappe with almondmilk instead of regular milk, and no matter how much frappe base I put in it, that stuff didn't want to come out. I ended up with my frappe everywhere TWICE before my shift stepped in and put me on register and took over. He's understanding, at least.
Idk. I don't want to go further in depth for fear that my SM or a coworker will recognize who I am (I have paranoia due to mental illness).
But hey, my feet aren't aching horribly after work anymore.
Tl;dr: I'm new to my job and little things have been piling up and I finally had a breakdown due to it. I feel like a useless employee.
I trained at a different store than the one I work at and my manager pushed that aside as 'a different perspective is good.' I personally feel like I have to relearn some things (such as how this sbux runs their store + where everything is). It's really confusing. Plus during training we never were taught anything about closing or opening shifts, and I've been put on closing. I feel so useless of an employee that I always have to ask what to do because of not knowing.
My first two shifts were utter hell, but now the small things are tripping me up and making my mental health be in ruins by the end of my shift. I had someone order a frappe with almondmilk instead of regular milk, and no matter how much frappe base I put in it, that stuff didn't want to come out. I ended up with my frappe everywhere TWICE before my shift stepped in and put me on register and took over. He's understanding, at least.
Idk. I don't want to go further in depth for fear that my SM or a coworker will recognize who I am (I have paranoia due to mental illness).
But hey, my feet aren't aching horribly after work anymore.
Tl;dr: I'm new to my job and little things have been piling up and I finally had a breakdown due to it. I feel like a useless employee.
Catpants21 3 points 2y ago
I think it’s normal that green beans have breakdowns. I’ve only been working at Starbucks for 2 months, but I have such a supportive group of coworkers and shifts and a great new SM that they get me through it tbh.
My first Saturday I worked was an 8.5 hour shift with a shift that tends to panic whenever more than 3 people come in, so she made me anxious and then I just started sobbing in the dish room.
It’ll honestly get better once you start memorizing and learning more, but everyone does expect you to ask questions when you’re new, so don’t be afraid to!
Also any frapp with almond milk sucks because they aren’t meant to be that way. It’ll separate and come out chunky. It isn’t just you. Everyone still dumps frapp everywhere at my store. Especially almond milk ones.
I hope you feel more confident tomorrow than today, and so on and so forth. I swear I was in your shoes a month ago, but you find your stride!
My first Saturday I worked was an 8.5 hour shift with a shift that tends to panic whenever more than 3 people come in, so she made me anxious and then I just started sobbing in the dish room.
It’ll honestly get better once you start memorizing and learning more, but everyone does expect you to ask questions when you’re new, so don’t be afraid to!
Also any frapp with almond milk sucks because they aren’t meant to be that way. It’ll separate and come out chunky. It isn’t just you. Everyone still dumps frapp everywhere at my store. Especially almond milk ones.
I hope you feel more confident tomorrow than today, and so on and so forth. I swear I was in your shoes a month ago, but you find your stride!
BeardiesRule112 9 points 2y ago
Do you even hear yourself? It’s not “normal” for anyone to have a breakdown from a minimum wage job... green bean or not.
Catpants21 5 points 2y ago
It’s a stressful, fast work environment, so I think a lot of new people get stressed out about the pace in the beginning, that’s all I was saying.
Catpants21 1 points 2y ago
In my situation I, too, had a breakdown, and was just relating to what OP stated their experience was. I’ve also had breakdowns at most jobs I have worked for too, however the main point was that it gets better.
sweetpotatoqkween 6 points 2y ago
Regardless of the job or pay, I think it’s normal for human beings to have breakdowns. No shame, it happens
Charait 2 points 2y ago
You are not a useless employee! Starbucks is a lot of info thrown at you very fast and it’s true that you’re relearning things because all stores have some differences. The fact that you ask is already great because it tells us you want to help and do a good job.
Also! Everyone learns at a different pace; works at a different pace and are better at different things. And no one is ever perfect at this job. I’ve literally watched my SM knock over an entire tub of mocha on accident and she’s been with the store 8+ years. My shifts love me on bar but I still had to remake like, three drinks today bc my brain frizzed.
Point is, mistakes don’t make you a bad employee, or incapable or useless. I hope your partners are kind and treating you well. It’s literally mental health awareness month so take a day off if you need it. Don’t ruin your physical or mental health over this job. (I recommend superfeet insoles for those achy feet tho)
Also! Everyone learns at a different pace; works at a different pace and are better at different things. And no one is ever perfect at this job. I’ve literally watched my SM knock over an entire tub of mocha on accident and she’s been with the store 8+ years. My shifts love me on bar but I still had to remake like, three drinks today bc my brain frizzed.
Point is, mistakes don’t make you a bad employee, or incapable or useless. I hope your partners are kind and treating you well. It’s literally mental health awareness month so take a day off if you need it. Don’t ruin your physical or mental health over this job. (I recommend superfeet insoles for those achy feet tho)
TrentaGreenBean [OP] 2 points 2y ago
Thank you so much. Sometimes I forget that even those who are more experienced have to remake drinks. You're right that mistakes don't make us bad. Sometimes at work I have to remind myself that I don't have to be fast, I just have to be right. Usually if it gets too fast, they pull me from bar so I don't feel I have to rush myself. Thank you so, so much for your words. People like you, and some of my coworkers even:p are the reason im still on this sub and still feel like I can do it
josherikt71418 2 points 2y ago
I felt that way too for the first 3ish months as i was trained at a store other than the one im currently at, getting used to things and getting to know those you work with make a huge difference. My experiences may be different since i work in a small kiosk, so we are a team of 4 including the SM.
TrentaGreenBean [OP] 2 points 2y ago
thank you. I've heard the feeling goes away after a month but as I'm on my third week starting Monday, I was getting scared that the feeling would never go away. 3 months sounds far more realistic!
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