This may be an unpopular opinion, but if someone threatened to send me home over something like that I probably would have left as well if it was after peak. However, my store is hella short and after peak DTO is also DTR and getting their own food. We are so overworked right now. I have never seen it this bad in the 15 years I have been a partner that I am actually one more thing that pisses me off is about to result in a two weeks.

Your manager should've probably handled it... you tried but it wasn't how you handled it, it was how the barista didn't care to listen.... they clearly know that a person at window stays planted (even more now with covid) I understand they were trying to help but there are many other roles like dto that can help support or everyone else on their downtime...

this seems like a super dumb thing to send someone home for. my store is CONSTANTLY asking dt people to keep busy and help when they can since we get a lot of big orders.

Usually I’d ask why they keep moving around first. Are they waiting on things that badly? Is being on window uncomfortable for her? Yes baristas need to respect supervisors, but also do your best to work with a barista. Everyone has off days where they can’t handle some positions as well. Making extended conversations with customers on window might have been really draining at that moment. Change positions around if you need to. If you’re not asking your baristas how they’re doing and working with them, they’re not gonna want to work with you either. So you’re just left trying to power flex and no one ends up happy.

If you’ve talked with them about why they’re doing x, and if you can’t flip positions, and if x is a repeated behavior, then talk with them /in the back/ about maybe they need to head home for the day if they can’t focus. Any conversation that strong should always be in the back of house, it’s way too stressful on the barista to be on the floor during that.

I’d also never send someone home for one-day thing if it wasn’t a safety concern. Worst thing if they really have some personal shit going on but need the money/ otherwise want to stay, maybe I pull them off the floor and have them deep clean. Offer if they want to go home because something’s going on, sure. But sending someone home is very extreme.

Honestly if your other SS is so trigger happy to send someone home I might talk to the SM about that. That is very weird to me.

Don’t beat yourself up over it. We are all humans and imperfect.

But here are two things to consider:

1. When you are trying to correct a behavior or whatever, you should explain why you are saying what you are.

2. If a partner is leaving their role to do something that will help the team, I would admire that mindset. I would still explain why I need them to stay in the position they are, but THAT mindset is golden in this work environment. Yes there are “positions”, but IMO stores run best when everyone is flexible. Unless you’re one of the lucky stores to have someone in every position (what’s a warming person?).

You are more experienced as a result and you can use this experience to justify future decisions. You are stronger because of this so do not worry!

I am just wondering. Did you explicitly tell her to stay "planted"? For me, as a green bean, I don't do anything besides what I am supposed to do (when they hand out the cards to me lol) whenever they mention the buzzword "**PLANTED**". Then I'll disregard (with hard feeligns) whatever is going on in the back, I don't restock, I don't brew coffee (unless it has been explicitly stated) and I will solely focus on my duties (e.g. planted at register, planted at warming, planted at cold bar,...). I've worked a couple of peak shifts now and understand how important partner play is.

I have started (when planted) just plainly ask who is doing CS and then usually I just call them or let them know whatever I am missing and they'll make sure I get the stuff (stoppers, sugar, tongs, bags,...).

Have you showed her the keybuilder and the responsibilities of each partner on the floor?

It is EXCRUCIATING to be at the window and not be getting the product you need to hand out. It goes hand in hand with connections because the customers arrive at the window already resentful because of the wait. You can't connect with customers under those conditions.

I am a very confident connector who never met a stranger and can find a fun topic under most conditions but I can tell you that when DT bar or warming gets slow it is no fun. And you try not to look in the direction of DT bar because they are either aware of the wait/need or oblivious but either way they don't want to be reminded and if they tell me to just go back and connect I'm gonna be really upset and maybe it will be the first time ever I have told a shift I need to be moved.

I have been the happiest on window when my SSV does DTO from the cafe and I have that whole counter to myself to grab/set up because it's also excruciating to wait for a distracted DTO to FINALLY hand me that beverage that's been on their right side for FOREVER and then take FOREVER to hand me the straw I need because, again, they are (understandably) distracted by a complicated and long order. I run out of napkins and have nothing to hide the soggy food bags under the banana loaf but the DTR "cops" are slow, if ever, responsive to my request for more and have a COW if I run to get them.

Plus you get stir crazy and need to move your large muscle groups, I know I do. But happy customers who are moving along, they only energize me. I have no social anxiety, no exhaustion from talking to people, feel accomplished when I can bump them along and sincerely appreciate the gifted baristas on DT who make it possible and tell them so. But there are just some who pull too many stickers, forget the one thing you need and then they have the gall to step out of their role and "coach" DTR how to cash out a customer, stay put at the window, etc. You feel like Cinderella stuck in a corner with everyone dumping on you while they get to have fun moving around, creating and accomplishing things! Stop dumping on DTR! If DT times are high, they are probably not the problem!

I’m sorry.. I think that’s on them for not respecting the hierarchy. Obviously you shouldn’t act better than everyone(and it doesn’t seem like you did) but you are a shift and they are a barista, regardless of experience.

I understand of the frustration of the window person, but i wouldnt of react like that. One doesnt handicap the whole team over a shift leads poor word choices.