Starbucks Baristas: The daily grind
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Opening shift killing mental health. (self.starbucksbaristas)
submitted by reinadelastrigoi
I’ve been working since November of last year, and I do like the job. However, my mom recently(last week) had a cancer scare, and it’s been weighing heavy, cause she’s my only living parent. I’ve been working a lot of opening shifts and due to lack of decent sleep, worry and garbage mental health, it’s been breaking me down.
I don’t think I’m a great fit for opening anyway, but this has made it worse. The past two times, it’s taken me an age to do rtd&e and the pastry case/sandwich count and my SM mentioned that I’ve been there long enough that I shouldn’t be back sliding. She’s right, and I did mention my moms situation to her before that.
Today after the second mess up, I went on my 10 and called my sister, and cried. I’m exhausted mentally and physically and I just can’t.
Would it be reasonable to ask my SM to take me off of opening shifts, or am I just being a baby? TYIA.
I don’t think I’m a great fit for opening anyway, but this has made it worse. The past two times, it’s taken me an age to do rtd&e and the pastry case/sandwich count and my SM mentioned that I’ve been there long enough that I shouldn’t be back sliding. She’s right, and I did mention my moms situation to her before that.
Today after the second mess up, I went on my 10 and called my sister, and cried. I’m exhausted mentally and physically and I just can’t.
Would it be reasonable to ask my SM to take me off of opening shifts, or am I just being a baby? TYIA.
designated-grapes 11 points 2y ago
First off, I'm sorry about your mother. *e-hugs* I don't think it's a baby thing to ask to change availability. I'm an opener. I've been doing it for over a year and it's sometimes stressful and often time exhausting even without the stress of family emergencies and what not.
I'm not sure what the qualifications are to take a leave of absence but that's also something to look into if you need to take some time off for your mental health.
I wish you the best of luck on whatever you choose to do!
I'm not sure what the qualifications are to take a leave of absence but that's also something to look into if you need to take some time off for your mental health.
I wish you the best of luck on whatever you choose to do!
reinadelastrigoi [OP] 6 points 2y ago
Also, thank you. I’m glad the lumps/masses are benign, but my dad’s illness was severe and I’m still very traumatized from watching him go through it and dying.
reinadelastrigoi [OP] 4 points 2y ago
Thank you for the bit of validation. I came from a super toxic work environment so whenever there’s something even small, my anxiety goes full meltdown cause I’m worried they’ll fire me.
FfierceLaw 7 points 2y ago
I’m a mid and from reading here for months I’m thinking there should be a $ premium for opening and closing. Working noon to five is no picnic with our permanent peak but we’re fully staffed and just walk in and walk out and try our best to clean up after ourselves and restock
reinadelastrigoi [OP] 3 points 2y ago
I mean, I freaking LOVE mid shifts cause I can get a decent amount of sleep and do what needs to be done, and leave like you said. I’m almost semi-decent at closing and almost prefer that.
FfierceLaw 3 points 2y ago
I’ve been mid except for one shift when I closed and I had fun because I actually got to bar and break down the pastry case
reinadelastrigoi [OP] 2 points 2y ago
I really like doing bar and breaking stuff down cause after you’re done, you get to go home!
Kindly-Wear-6290 6 points 2y ago
I would definitely talk to your SM about possibly changing shifts. Not necessarily just changing you availability but ask to sit down and discuss how you’re feeling and why you’d like to switch.
Good luck! Being an opener is really hard. Moving to nights was the best thing I did for myself.
Good luck! Being an opener is really hard. Moving to nights was the best thing I did for myself.
JeanLucPicardsAss 3 points 2y ago
Im sorry to hear about your mother, i hope everything turns out well. I understand the decline of mental health working the kind of shifts we do at starbucks, but your availability is up to you. You can change it on partner hub, you don't need to ask permission. Change your available hours to something you're comfortable with. If you haven't taken it already, you have a paid personal day that will expire at the end of the month (then one more day for the second half of the year) maybe it would be good to spend some time with your mother and have a break. You may also have some paid vacation time saved up, you can find all of this on my partner info and ask for the days off in the same place you change availability.
You're not a coffee machine, you're a person. If you need some time to be a person, starbs can wait. Take care
You're not a coffee machine, you're a person. If you need some time to be a person, starbs can wait. Take care
reinadelastrigoi [OP] 1 points 2y ago
I took almost a week off because of a stomach bug and a reaction to my second covid shot so idk if I have anymore time. I spoke to one of my ssvs and between him and y’all, I’m feeling more confident to talk to my sm. I don’t wanna leave her in the lurch and not explain why. My guilt won’t lemme.
coffeegirrrl 1 points 2y ago
I'm sorry about the stress you've been under. I'm not sure where JeanLucPicardsAss is located, but personal days aren't a thing for baristas in my state, so be aware that location is a factor in time off. You may change your availability, but your SM doesn't have to approve it, so please have that conversation with her. What will probably happen will be that she'll try to see if another partner can cover openings, and if not, she'll have to hire for the position- be patient with her as she works through the transition, and also understand that this may affect your hours (if that's a concern for you)
reinadelastrigoi [OP] 3 points 2y ago
I’m kind of expecting the hours change, but m I’m going to mention that I’m willing to work closing because we did lose a closer and she’s hiring for openers so this kind of works out?
coffeegirrrl 2 points 2y ago
Sounds like the best possible option. Fingers crossed for you.
JeanLucPicardsAss 1 points 2y ago
I'm in Canada, its frustrating to learn that isn't available for everyone.
XxTRUEPINOYxX 2 points 2y ago
I know the feeling, I suffered a couple of loses in my family and my performance last few weeks were not the best. So bad it got me a write up (I deserved it and saw it coming soon) but I held it in and try to do as much as I can even though I was not 100% myself. I honestly like closing as it’s less stress.
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