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Starbucks Baristas: The daily grind

Full History - 2021 - 07 - 11 - ID#oib92l
29
The frustrations of a not so green bean. (self.starbucksbaristas)
submitted by Momo-ko_the_Fox
So I’ve been a barista since October of 2020, starting out working at a kiosk inside of a Ralph’s. I learned how to make all the drinks at that kiosk. So when I transferred to a Starbucks store, the whole part of learning drinks was skipped over, as I already knew them all. My sequencing sucked, but I knew how to make them. I was trained in a cafe and then sent to work at a drive-thru. I never hated window, I just got burnt out working it after doing nothing but window for my entire shift five days in a row. As someone with ADHD and a back problem exacerbated by hours of standing in one spot, I told the SSV that if I was put in window again, I would jump through it. I wanted to learn how to work other positions so I could be that strong warmer or fast bar person or quick CS. When I would ask, I would be denounced as too slow, and be placed on window again. Being sent to window became an insult. The sentence “can you go to window” got turned into “you’re too stupid and slow to do anything else” in my anxiety riddled brain, and I would struggle to hold back tears as I forced myself to sound happy for customers waiting for their orders. I understand that sh*t roles downhill and SSVs are being chewed out about window times and customer connections, but how else are new people supposed to grow and learn and expand their capabilities if you never let them work different positions? Sorry about my mini rant.
Kind_Fox_951 10 points 2y ago
Usually, new coworkers (even experienced ones) get placed on drive thru a lot. Give it time, it takes about three months for you to be placed in all stations equally. I know it sucks but that’s just the way the mocha cookie crumbles.
juiceyluicy 3 points 2y ago
I think it’s really unfair. When I started, I was up front almost everyday until the few people who were always at window were fired/quit. Now that 3 of the shifts who used to work at my store are gone and we have a new manager, the atmosphere is a lot different. BUT everyone views window that way. I’m the most tenured barista at my store and I like being out at the window now because it gives me a break from being on bar my entire shift. But, I remember being at the window for 5.5 hours when it’s below freezing. It’s horrible. At my store, newer partners are more often given bar time because we want everyone to grow instead of keeping them at the window and expecting them not to quit. Our turnover is too high for that, and it’s unfair. The only time newer partners are almost always at the window is during peak, but otherwise, if they ask for bar time they typically get it.
Momo-ko_the_Fox [OP] 3 points 2y ago
The thing is, I can only work opening/early morning. So my shift will always land during peak.
hidethenight17 1 points 2y ago
Ive been at Starbucks for almost two months now. I know pretty much all the nook and crannys now. However, some of my leads don’t see this. I spent six hours on CS today so I know what you’re feeling. I normally ask super seriously if I can be on bar when it’s slower. Normally I’ll ask for closing shifts and I can do bar for a few hours then. See if you can try that.
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