Starbucks Baristas: The daily grind
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Talking about others behind their backs. (self.starbucksbaristas)
submitted by smurffaccount01
4 months of experience at a licensed store. 1 month at a corporate. Got pulled into the back by manager at the end of my shift, to put it shortly, I was told I’m not doing enough. I do what I’m told and do the work that I am assigned to in the position I am put in. Since I’m a month in and don’t exactly know how things go, I just do my part. When there’s downtime I don’t know what to do. So I just wait. But the problem is, “I’m not doing enough and other baristas think I’m slacking.” Since I’m relatively new, I don’t really know what to do, other than the role I’m assigned to. Manager says other baristas seem, ‘scared’ to ask me to do something, so I am now expected to ask Them, what I can do with whatever downtime I have. What this tells me is, others are talking to the manager because they don’t think I’m doing enough, but they can’t/won’t say it to me? Of course manager didn’t give names. So all I have, is to not trust anyone in the store. I don’t know who exactly is talking about me behind my back so I can’t trust anyone. I feel like, ‘Everyone is out to get me.’ It’s really created this, hostile, unfair, untrustworthy work environment for me.
Only a month in and quitting this job is already a option for me. Not because of the job. But because of the coworker(s).
Is this normal? Do you guys talk about another new-ish barista behind their back?
Do I leave or stay at this store? Thoughts on this in general?
Only a month in and quitting this job is already a option for me. Not because of the job. But because of the coworker(s).
Is this normal? Do you guys talk about another new-ish barista behind their back?
Do I leave or stay at this store? Thoughts on this in general?
Normal_Human_4567 17 points 1y ago
Yes, we'll talk about new baristas behind their backs. "How do you think Steve is doing? Oh, he seems great at X but I've noticed he has trouble with Y."
If you don't see anything that needs done, ask someone. Just not doing anything isn't really a good way to deal with it.
It's likely nobody said anything out of malice, probably more that they just noticed you standing about and mentioned it, and it got around.
If you don't see anything that needs done, ask someone. Just not doing anything isn't really a good way to deal with it.
It's likely nobody said anything out of malice, probably more that they just noticed you standing about and mentioned it, and it got around.
BetaWolf720 1 points 1y ago
This. I just had to tell a barista to tone back their remarks on someone who as far as I was informed was on his SECOND day out of training. My partner has been around for no more than 6-7 months but complains about anything that other people do wrong. While I understand there are times that they should be doing something, they need to be told when they're new because, well who's gonna teach them? I mentioned that he's new but for his time here so far, he was doing fantastic managing front and warming, grabbing food the second that he heard it over the headset, and was doing alright at timing it with taking orders at the register. Is there room for improvement? Absolutely, but this is literally new to him.. Lastly I mentioned to her if there's anything you want him doing, let him know. If I keep getting complaints or gossip spreads to other baristas, that's just putting a bad name on a kid who was never taught right. So I showed him how to close a bar and clean ovens, and others got him to start preps
thefoolwitch 7 points 1y ago
Yes, this is normal. Some people don’t know how to go about coaching a new hire without sounding mean (it’s difficult to say “look, you can’t just stand there just because no one told you exactly what to do—wipe down some counters or something” to a new hire without feeling like an asshole), and some people think to themselves that maybe they’re overestimating how much you’re standing around, etc, so everyone tends to update each other on how new hires are doing. At my store it’s very neutral, though, because everyone knows the new hires are NEW and LEARNING, so we aren’t mad nor do we judge, we just know something has to be done about it.
dmaer13 3 points 1y ago
I’m new as well, WIPE DOWN EVERYTHING. when there’s downtime and i can’t identify anything else that needs to be done i grab a sani rag and go to town. counters, fridges, the cafe area(if you have one).
salaciainthedepths 2 points 1y ago
You can fix this by assessing how busy other stations are. If hot bar is slammed and they’re working super hard, say ‘hey, can I fetch you milk from the back’/restock cups/lids/see if they need any syrups. If cold is slammed, offer to go grab ice/restock cups. See if teas are running low & need brewing, make up more mocha or frap roast if needed. If front is slammed, offer to make their teas/Pikes/food. Try to cultivate a culture where you’re taking care of each other - not standing around while others are stressed! And you’ll find you have plenty of people making your life easier in return.
SunBusiness8291 2 points 1y ago
Pro Tip: If you can find a way to ignore them and just keep on, they'll move on to the next new barista. Very common in the workplace. You have to tough out the hazing and later it's like it never happened. But it's very important that you never talk about it, speak of it, put it into words or breathe life into it. Just keep moving forward.
loki8675309 1 points 1y ago
All baristas talk about all baristas. It has nothing to do with how long you’ve been there. I’ve noticed that Starbucks tends to hire ‘people-pleasers’ so that might be why no one wants to tell you to do anything.
My first manager used to say this when she would do someone without anything to do: “is it lean time or clean time?” There’s always something to do, you just need to look around. Eventually the new-person novelty will wear off and they’ll go back to talking about each other like they did before you got there.
My first manager used to say this when she would do someone without anything to do: “is it lean time or clean time?” There’s always something to do, you just need to look around. Eventually the new-person novelty will wear off and they’ll go back to talking about each other like they did before you got there.
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