Starbucks Baristas: The daily grind
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Hiring question (self.starbucksbaristas)
submitted by LibrarianOfAlex
I applied to Starbucks and the assistant manager called me personally to say that after my interview, they really wanted to hire me but I seemed "too depressed" to work there. Is this some kind of strict code that Starbucks hiring follows? It seems quite bizarre
Normal_Human_4567 293 points 1y ago
Feel like they should NOT have said that to you lmao.
NervosaNervous 150 points 1y ago
This is considered discrimination and is illegal.
As others have said, apply for different stores. You wouldn’t want to work at that store anyway. But, I would call the DM or call PCC and let them know what was said to you. At the very least, that ASM needs to be coached. Her saying that to you opens the store up for potential legal problems.
https://www.eeoc.gov/laws/guidance/depression-ptsd-other-mental-health-conditions-workplace-your-legal-rights
As others have said, apply for different stores. You wouldn’t want to work at that store anyway. But, I would call the DM or call PCC and let them know what was said to you. At the very least, that ASM needs to be coached. Her saying that to you opens the store up for potential legal problems.
https://www.eeoc.gov/laws/guidance/depression-ptsd-other-mental-health-conditions-workplace-your-legal-rights
hctiB_bmuD 134 points 1y ago
I would turn away from that store immediately. If you really want to work at Starbucks, please find a different store to work at. If you really were / are depressed it would count as a disability which they are not allowed to speak of in in manner what so ever.
LibrarianOfAlex [OP] 41 points 1y ago
Oh yeah I am, but I didn't say anything or do anything to allude to that, I didn't even acknowledge it on my resume
philosopher_cat_lady 53 points 1y ago
Most people who are applying to work at Starbucks are depressed, so that's just fucking stupid
hctiB_bmuD 17 points 1y ago
Either way, if she was looking out for you like another comment said, she wouldn't have asked for an interview in the first place. If she did go ahead with the interview, the proper way is to wait and see what you have to say and then if they still feel like you're not a good fit, say so.
LibrarianOfAlex [OP] 15 points 1y ago
Nah, I didn't get the job because of it
ElijahLordoftheWoods 47 points 1y ago
This may be cause for legal action, it’s at the very least extremely unprofessional.
philosopher_cat_lady 9 points 1y ago
Right, the assistant manager did them a favor. No one should work for somebody who doesn't tolerate human emotions.
Darcie_Autham 55 points 1y ago
She could’ve been trying to look out for you – the barista job is quite a demanding one. But she shouldn’t be making a diagnosis about your mental health from her position. At least she called you back in stead of leaving you hanging.
dogsofwintergaming 36 points 1y ago
The only thing we're supposed to say is "based on our interviews, we decided to go with a different candidate." If asked why, we're allowed to say "We chose the candidate based on our store's needs at the moment."
StillEmotional 26 points 1y ago
Well that’s illegal.
nioyakult 21 points 1y ago
how would they know you’re depressed that’s so weird. pls apply at another store
Koalastars009 19 points 1y ago
I had something like this happen when I was 16 applying at a Chick-fil-a. My friend who got the job said the store manager said that I was too skinny and looked like a “school shooter.” I was literally a 5’0” kid wearing an orange shirt. If that type of person is going to be your boss then it’s better to find another location with better management.
maemac 9 points 1y ago
Lmaooo Starbucks managers and asms are a different breed I swear. I feel like you should complain
philosopher_cat_lady 6 points 1y ago
Pretty sure it's illegal for them to tell you that
sopholophie 5 points 1y ago
An old store manager and their asm cornered me together out of the blue and threatened to fire me because of this. Brought up my “sad eyes” and said that if I didn’t want to be there, that was a “different conversation we needed to have,” even though I was friendly with customers and was good at my job. Thinking about it now, I should’ve fought back or probably quit, but I ended up taking a month leave.
imathrowayslc 5 points 1y ago
While I would not have said that directly, enthusiasm is the #1 thing I look for when hiring (I am a shift at Starbucks and only hire for my other job(s)). If you seem down and not enthusiastic during the interview it would have far more of an effect on my decision than your job history or qualifications.
Keep in mind that right now Starbucks is really stressing KPIs including customer connection scores. If the ASM felt that you would be a detractor on this metric they would likely pass.
All that said. The correct way to convey this to a candidate is "We didn't feel you were right for the position.". ASM certainly needs some coaching here from the SM or DM.
Keep in mind that right now Starbucks is really stressing KPIs including customer connection scores. If the ASM felt that you would be a detractor on this metric they would likely pass.
All that said. The correct way to convey this to a candidate is "We didn't feel you were right for the position.". ASM certainly needs some coaching here from the SM or DM.
lewabwee 4 points 1y ago
They really can’t say that to you hahahah.
I mean if you’re asking it’s as valid of a reason to not hire someone as any, depending on how you came across. Jobs like Starbucks require you to make customer connections and being “happy” is literally written down as a job requirement because of the type of environment you’re supposed to create. So whether or not I agree with Starbucks on a number of things related to this coming across as happy is effectively a job requirement, ridiculous as it may be.
However this person is a total jackass if they didn’t have the perspective to not say this to you. Makes me doubt you even came across as depressed, so don’t let that get to you.
I mean if you’re asking it’s as valid of a reason to not hire someone as any, depending on how you came across. Jobs like Starbucks require you to make customer connections and being “happy” is literally written down as a job requirement because of the type of environment you’re supposed to create. So whether or not I agree with Starbucks on a number of things related to this coming across as happy is effectively a job requirement, ridiculous as it may be.
However this person is a total jackass if they didn’t have the perspective to not say this to you. Makes me doubt you even came across as depressed, so don’t let that get to you.
FearlessSentence9667 3 points 1y ago
the asm perceived you as having a disability/mental illness (severe depression can be disclosed as a disability, at least in my disclosures) and didn’t hire you because of that. it doesn’t even matter if you have depression or not, that is discrimination
dethleib 3 points 1y ago
Damn I thought being depressed was a pre-requisite 👀
No but really that’s illegal and you should report them.
No but really that’s illegal and you should report them.
LibrarianOfAlex [OP] 2 points 1y ago
What can I even do?
golden_pinky 3 points 1y ago
This is so fucking rude. And illegal.
sci-fi-lullaby 3 points 1y ago
That's not cool report them
paintthatface 3 points 1y ago
They probably mean you don’t have a peppy customer service attitude they’re looking for but said it like an absolute asshole
clumsycalico 2 points 1y ago
The reasoning is likely that they do care a lot about us being super bubbly and interacting with customers as much as possible. However, that’s still insane, and half the partners at my store incl me are depressed and still do the job fine lol. Sorry that happened, def never go to that store again that’s nuts
cswtf 2 points 1y ago
What the actual fawk
Fozzybean 1 points 1y ago
Ummm, that’s really unprofessional.
jodellz 1 points 1y ago
lmfao i told my manager i was going through a rough patch mentally and she told me i should “leave sooner than later.” starbucks managers are absolutely psychotic, i would recommend working for a different company honestly. and i was an SFM for 3 years.
cobanat 1 points 1y ago
That person knows the shit that goes on behind the bar. They didn’t want you to go through that nightmare.
mx1_jawbreaker -4 points 1y ago
i agree with folks here saying that the ASM shouldn't have said that, but i don't think this is discrimination re: your mental health. it sounds more like a mix-up due to English words having multiple meanings.
"low energy" or "unenthusiastic" would have been a better word choice bc unfortunately, that's a huge factor when they consider hiring new baristas.
edit - holy shit yall im not defending the ASM. i don't think that they should have EVER said this to OP. im just saying that this isn't a discrimination lawsuit
"low energy" or "unenthusiastic" would have been a better word choice bc unfortunately, that's a huge factor when they consider hiring new baristas.
edit - holy shit yall im not defending the ASM. i don't think that they should have EVER said this to OP. im just saying that this isn't a discrimination lawsuit
cswtf 7 points 1y ago
Ya if you’re in a managerial position and you’re using depressed to mean unenthusiastic or low energy, you need to go back to school cuz you’re a fucking idiot
rudebii 2 points 1y ago
Words matter, and using the right ones is part of being in a managerial role.
There are loads of coded languages to avoid a lawsuit in cases like these. Although, tbh, you don’t give specifics when speaking to candidates you’re telling you aren’t interested in going further.
When asked why you ALWAYS say “we interviewed other candidates that were a better fit, we have your application on file should things change, and we wish you the best of luck in your job search.” THATS IT.
There are loads of coded languages to avoid a lawsuit in cases like these. Although, tbh, you don’t give specifics when speaking to candidates you’re telling you aren’t interested in going further.
When asked why you ALWAYS say “we interviewed other candidates that were a better fit, we have your application on file should things change, and we wish you the best of luck in your job search.” THATS IT.
NervosaNervous 0 points 1y ago
Yes it is illegal and can open them up to a discrimination lawsuit. If you’ll look back at my comment, I posted a link proving that not hiring someone because of mental illness (depression is a mental illness, btw) is discrimination.
mx1_jawbreaker 1 points 1y ago
i saw your comment (it's right at the top so nobody can miss it), but OP didn't say that they were diagnosed with depression in their post. if OP does have depression, the ASM wouldn't know if OP has depression unless they brought it up during their interview. the ASM isn't saying "because you have depression, we're not hiring you" -- bc that would actually be discrimination.
if i went to an interview and the HR manager came back to say "we're deciding not to hire you bc you're a little too OCD" -- they don't know that i actually have OCD. they're just using a common phrase to mean "uptight." while it's hurtful, it's not discrimination.
you're encouraging random strangers on the internet to jump straight into legal cases over a bad choice of words.
if i went to an interview and the HR manager came back to say "we're deciding not to hire you bc you're a little too OCD" -- they don't know that i actually have OCD. they're just using a common phrase to mean "uptight." while it's hurtful, it's not discrimination.
you're encouraging random strangers on the internet to jump straight into legal cases over a bad choice of words.
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