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Starbucks Baristas: The daily grind

r/starbucksbaristas

Full History - 2021 - 05 - 22 - ID#niw5mr

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673

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When we ended up with 2 people during the afternoon rush, we decided to close the café without permission. It's a start & it felt good. We work here. We're in control. (i.redd.it)

submitted by [deleted]

[deleted]

[deleted] [OP] 269 points 2y ago

[deleted]

maddogracer161 85 points 2y ago

Be careful. Starbucks hates when you close down anything. They want the impossible. Two floor closing? One person is register and DT. Second person is bar, CBS, warning and customer support. One person on both registers, and you *must* never close the dt window on a customer. 😂

I feel you. I left the store that ran like that more frequently than staffed properly. Fuck that shit.

casualdemon 12 points 2y ago

agreed. i pulled this once and within the hour my DM was yelling at me through the phone 🙂

AwkoTaco76 55 points 2y ago

I have a question as a customer, I almost exclusively go through the drive thru at sb, and with COVID they just have the card reader on the ledge outside the window, do I need to have cash to tip or is there a way to tip and use my card at the drive thru? I never see the reader, just put my card in and wait for them to tell me it's done reading. I want to be better about this

sharkiemd 58 points 2y ago

unfortunately, there is no way to tip when paying with a credit/debit card unless you pre-scan your starbucks app for stars.

AwkoTaco76 26 points 2y ago

Gotcha, that super sucks but is good to know, thank you.

ladyelenawf 18 points 2y ago

You can now earn stars by using other payments through the app. It's like 1:1 instead of 2:1, but you'll be able to tip.

That's actually why I keep cash on me. To help put an end to those stupid pay-it-forward chains (which fuck up my star earnings) and to tip when I use my stars.

Improvmomolyfe 7 points 2y ago

Honestly this helps a lot. Please blast this

lostinmysenses 3 points 2y ago

Do employees get to see who tipped and/or how much?

ShadowKnightDash 4 points 2y ago

zerohero83 8 points 2y ago

Use the app to tip.

AwkoTaco76 7 points 2y ago

Sounds good, thank you

rilo14 23 points 2y ago

Why I left this shit hole in the first place. I didn’t feel valued even after 3 years of being a Starbucks cheerleader and giving my all into every shift (and many mental breakdowns). I didn’t feel valued by the customers, nor the manager who only cared about window times and cc scores.

googlewhatisreddit 15 points 2y ago

The two original genders: window times and customer connection scores

muhkiim 5 points 2y ago

Yeah, I only stayed as long as I did so I could have some maternity leave pay. I was done with SB after my first 3 months. The work environment was awful. I had some awesome coworkers, but the GM also only cared about those two things (window times and cc scores), and I had gotten sick a handful of times. Once it was a really bad fever, cough and all that. My doctor said it was likely a cold cause flu came up negative. I had worked in two other food service places before this and NEVER needed a doctor's note when I was sick like this, and then at SB, despite being visibly sick and finding coverage, I got written up for now showing up for my shifts. I was like...so, I did what I needed to do and found coverage, let you know I was sick, and yet you still wanted me to come in even though that is 1) not good for my health and 2) a blatant HEALTH CODE VIOLATION.

I shouldn't have been surprised, though. One of our supervisors had to work when she had the flu because she would get in trouble if she called out.

ShutMyWh0reM0uth 19 points 2y ago

Good on you. Any consequences? Especially since you posted this!?

[deleted] [OP] 9 points 2y ago

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Erbearlee 159 points 2y ago

We closed our cafe last Friday afternoon because we were just being killed with customers. There were 4 of us, but we were all on the verge of panicking and walking out. We couldn’t get any preps done, cold brew was pulled 3 hours late because we couldn’t spare anyone, dishes were so high, floors weren’t done, breaks were run late, there was so much trash. We looked it up later and we had made ~$15k by 3 pm when I left. It was the literal definition of a shit show

Social-Introvert- 47 points 2y ago

Hooooolyyyy Moley! I work a 10-12k a day store & can attest that survival mode being all we know. Tha said, never only 4 on the floor with that kind of business. The fact you were able to get $15k with just you 4 on the floor before 3pm is absolutely incredible. 👏🏽 I hope you guys get at least lunch or something as a token of appreciation!

Lonecoldmadness 26 points 2y ago

They won't, Starbucks corporate sees us as only expendable numbers.

havensward 7 points 2y ago

IMO it's the SM's job for that kind of reward. They're on the ground with you, if they're any good anyway.

captmarksparrow 6 points 2y ago

That's funny, a store manager on the floor? Couldn't be my store.

ExtraterrestrialPoe 69 points 2y ago

SM here! You made the right call. I’ve shifted all of my focus to partner sanity through being short staffed and busier than ever and I would 100% support closing the cafe, I’ve done that myself after last minute call outs and having to send a partner home right before business ramped up on a Saturday morning. Partners are getting their asses kicked all day everyday and closing the cafe is better than just walking out. I hope your manager is supportive!

[deleted] [OP] 18 points 2y ago

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Kaylushhh 11 points 2y ago

It’s used to be like be like this. Every 6 months you get a performance evaluation and a potent raise. Then over the years they changed to to every year... now I don’t know what Is going on because I haven’t had a performance/development conversation in like 3 years. We get random raises in January and I believe your tenor plays a part in what you receive.

LatterRooster 11 points 2y ago

I was supposed to get my 1 year raise October but then the bump happened and they raised everyone to 10. So now I make the same as the person that just started yesterday

havensward 6 points 2y ago

It's static now, with some variation for tenure. Unlike most other businesses, the turnover doesn't hurt them much and it's cheaper than actually keeping people.

ExtraterrestrialPoe 9 points 2y ago

A lot of companies don’t. It’s essentially based on tenure and wages in the local market.
It is a dynamic and challenging management position without the responsibility of deciding fair wages based on performance, which I’m grateful not to have on my plate.
Why not ask corporate rather than another partner that doesn’t get to decide that either?

bleachglommer 2 points 2y ago

you must have never worked for a manager who plays favorites

LockAzzy 40 points 2y ago

Every time I see posts like this I feel the fury that shakes my whole body.

L_Swizzlesticks 28 points 2y ago

Good for you guys!

Fuck the corporate shills. Most of ‘em have never worked a day behind the counter and we all know they wouldn’t survive a single shift if they were forced to be baristas.

Jadenvicious1 9 points 2y ago

THIS THIS THIS!

New-Cartoonist-3140 26 points 2y ago

Other than the “deep cleaning” part I approve. I would have left either no excuse or the truth about being understaffed. Honestly, if management gives you pushback just tell them it was that or you both walked.

Drakeslostson1 20 points 2y ago

As you should 👏

that_awkward_fox 19 points 2y ago

We have a softball tournament down the road this weekend and it’s a “coincidence” my manager scheduled herself off while I’m closing with all minors. Hail siren.

sneaky_capybara 18 points 2y ago

we’ve been doing this for the past year since we reopened after lockdown. idk how my manger hasn’t found out but idc if she does. it’s absolute hell running a two partner play during the afternoon rush or when 2 of my closing baristas call out. everyone can either wait in the dt line or leave.

bittybaristabeanhoe 16 points 2y ago

I completely empathize with you guys, I just want you to be careful.

Closers at my store were doing this during the holidays when we were understaffed and my DM figured it out from the sales reports and opened up an investigation on all involved :(

[deleted] [OP] 31 points 2y ago

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HamiltonPolka 15 points 2y ago

I haven’t worked at starbucks in a bit over a year but customers weren’t able to leave tips on credit cards when I worked there. Has to be cash or through the starbucks app

sitad3le 6 points 2y ago

Still is.

midgethepuff 6 points 2y ago

And it’s bullllllllshit

WorthPrinciple7049 14 points 2y ago

Our mentality is, “It’s just coffee.” Our SM has said, “You can only help the customer in front of you.” He is held accountable for stuff he can’t help, but we are always encouraged to not have a breakdown over what’s happening and help one person or make two drinks at a time.

I work hard to not let the pressure get to me. Can’t make backups? Sorry later team. We couldn’t. We’ll make it when we’re holding on it. Customers walk out? Can’t do anything about that. Their problem not mine. Someone called in? Good for them if they were sick! I’m still not coming in on my day off to cover. There will always be days when we are short and us always covering doesn’t show the SM the true staffing needs we have. Things will always need done every day and if we don’t have the partners for it, I’m not going to freak out trying to make everyone happy. I’m going to do what I can with a smile and the managers can work out the overall issues. I’m not paid to do anything more.

jeremeny 4 points 2y ago

My SM just cuts your hours if you refuse to come in on your off day, because that somehow translates to me not wanting my hours🤡

WorthPrinciple7049 3 points 2y ago

Eep. 😳 Sorry!!

67bella 3 points 2y ago

this is the mentality I've developed as well. this minimum wage job isn't worth my energy in that way, esp if the company isn't going to help us. coffee will never be that important and critical

you said it perfectly

kid-muscles 12 points 2y ago

It’s always better to ask for forgiveness than permission with this company.

sp_c_g_d 9 points 2y ago

Good on you.

Put_Me_In_Coach96 8 points 2y ago

We did the same thing. Two call outs, a closer and pre-closer. The line was nonstop from 1-7.

faytyagami 6 points 2y ago

i used to do this all the time when i was a shift. i refused to make my baristas suffer bc of scheduling. and channeling everyone through one point of sale (drive thru) is much more manageable. good on you for doing this!!

[deleted] [OP] 6 points 2y ago

[deleted]

torpac00 3 points 2y ago

my (ex) SSV coworker got fired for closing the drive through on easter sunday when they only had 3 people on the floor and mobiles out the ass and a line wrapped around the building. she called our SM, DM and our RM to ask for help and none answered. she decided to close the drive for 30 mins and she was fired. shit sucked

gemi-high 3 points 2y ago

take care of yourselves, corporations will never give a fuck about us so we need to look out for ourselves. working at starbucks is hell, i cant imagine a shift with just 2. ive been down to 2 partners but with me was 3 people working total, but 2? jesus man youre a trooper

Wonderful_Nightmare 3 points 2y ago

I do something similar as a cafe only store. We turn off mobile's and curbside if we don't have the staff for the level of business we experience. Cause I mean, if you really wanted that coffee you're gonna come in. But also, there's no point to having those channels open if we can't provide that +2 experience for our customers.

Gabagod 3 points 2y ago

If you are short staffed do whatever you want to keep your partners happy. Corporate can suck your dick. They say you’re replaceable but so is that job. Plenty of other jobs pay the same or more.

the-troijan-horse 2 points 2y ago

I did this the other night when both of our bathrooms were not fit to be used. (Which is also an OSHA violation since us partners couldn't use it either, *and* both my SM and DM were encouraging me to violate policy by leaving the store to use the bathroom as the only keyholder there.) Good for you for doing what you can to make this hell of a job easier.

ah09022 2 points 2y ago

Go you! You guys hold the power, not the corporation. They don't make money without you.

Ncherrybomb 2 points 2y ago

Yes you are!! Use your power.

impasse602 2 points 2y ago

Good for you! We do that too when we get overwhelmed at night

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