Starbucks Baristas: The daily grind
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New letter from Howard on the Partner Hub. (self.starbucksbaristas)
submitted by sailorgrumpycat
Dear partners,
It was 40 years ago when I first crossed the threshold of our store at Pike Place, only beginning to imagine the possibilities of what this company could one day become. It had always been my dream to build a different kind of company-one where we create new opportunities for our people and build community, together, over coffee.
Over the years I've traveled all over the world to meet with our teams in over 80 markets. It has always energized me meet with our partners and hear about their hopes and dreams. In this 50th year of the company's existence, our Starbucks leaders have asked me to share our foundational stories around the world, It's a privilege for me given my profound love for the company and what we have uniquely built together as partners over the years.
Today, I am writing to you from Buffalo, New York. Since my last trip here to meet with Store Managers in September, have had the great privilege of hearing deeply personal stories about our Buffalo partners own journeys.
My purpose here has been to listen and learn. And to share with our partners-so many here who are new to the company-about the values and principles that have served as our foundation. Buffalo in many ways is like so much of America today, navigating a confluence of social and economic challenges as we address the pandemic environment. Starbucks has not been immune from these challenges, and we have been dedicated across the country for much of the past year to focus on areas the company must improve in many of our stores. There is simply no better way to do this than to double down on our belief in servant leadership, ensuring we meet the expectations of our partners and customers in this next chapter.
l shared with our partners tonight who may not have known that worked for so many years to build a company that my father never had a chance to work for. That as a blue-collar worker and veteran, he taught me the meaning of hard work after an on-the-job hjury left our family without an income or insurance, literally no safety net. This traumatic moment fueled me to frame the vision and guiding principles of Starbucks creating a company of partners that aspired to build a for-profit company mbued with love, social conscience and shared success based on shared responsibility
Through our direct and shared relationship began to build a different kind of company, bringing to life:
• Access to healthcare benefits for full- and part-time employees, long before the Affordable Care Act.
• Equity in the form of Bean Stock starting in 1991, which turned employees into partners who could directly sh in the company's success. Over the years, I have heard so many stories about partners being able to pay for college, buy their first cars or homes, or support their extended families.
• Our ethical sourcing (CAFE) practices that have helped support farmers and their families.
• Community service over so many years and markets and the CUP. Fund for partners in need.
• Free college tuition through the Starbucks College Achievement Plan.
• Our commitments to recruiting, hiring and developing for inclusion and diversity.
•Policies like paid parental leave and pay equity. And efforts like To Be Welcoming, our Civil Rights Assessment.
• And our commitment to becoming a people and planet positive organization, giving more than we take from the planet and enhancing the lives of all who connect with Starbucks.
What the leadership team has done in Buffalo is what we have always done. We listen. We learn. We get better together. No partner has ever needed to have a representative seek to obtain things we all have as partners at Starbuck. And tam saddened and concerned to hear anyone thinks that is needed now. The rituals of the company for so many years include forums like we had tonight. And 1:1 and team conversations between district managers and store managers and baristas. The direct engagement is a true nailmark of Starbucks. Our leaders responsibility to practice servant leadership in an accountability that has zero compromise.
A leave tonight I can't help but think how the success of our company has come from a simple truth. That when we exceed the expectations of our people, they in turn exceed the expectations of our customers. This is what we know we need to continue to do in Buffalo and everywhere around the country, Leaders must learn from what is happening in Buffalo, and I know they are. I see the changes, commitments and engagement happening. And the leadership team and I will continue these forums around the country, creating more opportunities to learn from one another and improve. We must remember to earn success and trust each day, taking accountability and correcting when there are missteps.
I know deep in my heart that the best is yet to come for Starbucks. It remains my greatest aspiration that Starbucks partners will stay together carrying forward the legacy of working together with compassion and with love, and providing a welcoming and uplifting third place for one another and our customers. To every Starbucks partner whether you are new to the company or you have been here for some time, this is our time to come together to show the world what it means to build a great and enduring company, unlike anything out there. Just we as partners, dreaming bigger than ever before.
With humility and love,
Howard
Howard Schultz
chairman emeritus
Opinions? Thoughts? Seems both more heartfelt but also pandering and an outdated mindset that no longer applies to the modern Starbucks.
It was 40 years ago when I first crossed the threshold of our store at Pike Place, only beginning to imagine the possibilities of what this company could one day become. It had always been my dream to build a different kind of company-one where we create new opportunities for our people and build community, together, over coffee.
Over the years I've traveled all over the world to meet with our teams in over 80 markets. It has always energized me meet with our partners and hear about their hopes and dreams. In this 50th year of the company's existence, our Starbucks leaders have asked me to share our foundational stories around the world, It's a privilege for me given my profound love for the company and what we have uniquely built together as partners over the years.
Today, I am writing to you from Buffalo, New York. Since my last trip here to meet with Store Managers in September, have had the great privilege of hearing deeply personal stories about our Buffalo partners own journeys.
My purpose here has been to listen and learn. And to share with our partners-so many here who are new to the company-about the values and principles that have served as our foundation. Buffalo in many ways is like so much of America today, navigating a confluence of social and economic challenges as we address the pandemic environment. Starbucks has not been immune from these challenges, and we have been dedicated across the country for much of the past year to focus on areas the company must improve in many of our stores. There is simply no better way to do this than to double down on our belief in servant leadership, ensuring we meet the expectations of our partners and customers in this next chapter.
l shared with our partners tonight who may not have known that worked for so many years to build a company that my father never had a chance to work for. That as a blue-collar worker and veteran, he taught me the meaning of hard work after an on-the-job hjury left our family without an income or insurance, literally no safety net. This traumatic moment fueled me to frame the vision and guiding principles of Starbucks creating a company of partners that aspired to build a for-profit company mbued with love, social conscience and shared success based on shared responsibility
Through our direct and shared relationship began to build a different kind of company, bringing to life:
• Access to healthcare benefits for full- and part-time employees, long before the Affordable Care Act.
• Equity in the form of Bean Stock starting in 1991, which turned employees into partners who could directly sh in the company's success. Over the years, I have heard so many stories about partners being able to pay for college, buy their first cars or homes, or support their extended families.
• Our ethical sourcing (CAFE) practices that have helped support farmers and their families.
• Community service over so many years and markets and the CUP. Fund for partners in need.
• Free college tuition through the Starbucks College Achievement Plan.
• Our commitments to recruiting, hiring and developing for inclusion and diversity.
•Policies like paid parental leave and pay equity. And efforts like To Be Welcoming, our Civil Rights Assessment.
• And our commitment to becoming a people and planet positive organization, giving more than we take from the planet and enhancing the lives of all who connect with Starbucks.
What the leadership team has done in Buffalo is what we have always done. We listen. We learn. We get better together. No partner has ever needed to have a representative seek to obtain things we all have as partners at Starbuck. And tam saddened and concerned to hear anyone thinks that is needed now. The rituals of the company for so many years include forums like we had tonight. And 1:1 and team conversations between district managers and store managers and baristas. The direct engagement is a true nailmark of Starbucks. Our leaders responsibility to practice servant leadership in an accountability that has zero compromise.
A leave tonight I can't help but think how the success of our company has come from a simple truth. That when we exceed the expectations of our people, they in turn exceed the expectations of our customers. This is what we know we need to continue to do in Buffalo and everywhere around the country, Leaders must learn from what is happening in Buffalo, and I know they are. I see the changes, commitments and engagement happening. And the leadership team and I will continue these forums around the country, creating more opportunities to learn from one another and improve. We must remember to earn success and trust each day, taking accountability and correcting when there are missteps.
I know deep in my heart that the best is yet to come for Starbucks. It remains my greatest aspiration that Starbucks partners will stay together carrying forward the legacy of working together with compassion and with love, and providing a welcoming and uplifting third place for one another and our customers. To every Starbucks partner whether you are new to the company or you have been here for some time, this is our time to come together to show the world what it means to build a great and enduring company, unlike anything out there. Just we as partners, dreaming bigger than ever before.
With humility and love,
Howard
Howard Schultz
chairman emeritus
Opinions? Thoughts? Seems both more heartfelt but also pandering and an outdated mindset that no longer applies to the modern Starbucks.
Magnhild94 44 points 1y ago
I respect Howard Schultz but he isn’t leading this company. When he was, all the things he said were true, so of course he can come in and talk about the great way he ran things but it isn’t the reality now. Corporate is very disconnected from baristas realities.
Altruistic_Deer_7756 20 points 1y ago
I’ve heard Howard says many times “ every decision I make I think of you & your family before I make it.” Howard had weekly meetings on workplace before he stepped down. I have seen Kevin once maybe twice during the pandemic. My RD has said to my face people don’t want to work & that is why there is a labor shortage. He said we get paid more than enough for our area. Our area that was reported behind on growth due to labor shortage because no one can afford to live in our county. Yes, Howard always though of us & our families, but since he has left no one thinks of us when making decisions.
godskrimp 17 points 1y ago
"This is our time to show the world what it means to build a great and enduring company"
Lmao they still just see us as pieces to exploit for their own profit.
Lmao they still just see us as pieces to exploit for their own profit.
rudebii 10 points 1y ago
I worked during peak Schultz in the 00s; he was a union buster too. NYC area partners wanted to organize and they snuffed it out with howie on the helm.
We were experiencing massive sales but was labor ever raised to lighten store loads? No, of course not. Raises? LOL. Any reward were the options, and only if you sold before the bux broke bad and had to close a third of the stores.
We were experiencing massive sales but was labor ever raised to lighten store loads? No, of course not. Raises? LOL. Any reward were the options, and only if you sold before the bux broke bad and had to close a third of the stores.
sheep_heavenly 6 points 1y ago
He's the OG union buster for the company, he was squashing unions since Starbucks had its logo on a building. Literally.
sheep_heavenly 7 points 1y ago
>What the leadership team has done in Buffalo is what we have always done. We listen. We learn. We get better together. No partner has ever needed to have a representative seek to obtain things we all have as partners at Starbuck.
Actually fucking false.
I had to complain to several other SMs, two DMs, the regional manager, and ethics and compliance for SIX MONTHS to get a homophobic, racist, physically abusive store manager STEPPED DOWN. Not let go, stepped down. When I had to make complaints about a sexist DM, it again took months of direct complaints with several other baristas as witnesses, and he simply moved with no repercussions.
I've repeatedly had to inform local health departments about downright dangerous and explicitly illegal operating conditions in many stores. I've had DMs require stores to stay open with no hot water for weeks before I heard about it and called in a complaint.
Corporate doesn't listen, you hope enough baristas aren't informed. Corporate banks on us being ignorant of our rights so they can peacefully continue abusing our labor.
I've told my current DM repeatedly that our labor allotment for events is grotesquely inadequate. I was told I was mismanaging and they refuse to work a shift or even observe one because "I go to that event." We've had drinks thrown at us and used the plexis to protect us, but they were taken down despite unanimous desire to keep them up because "sometimes there's a fingerprint on it".
Happy Monday y'all, even though the vast majority of us never get to actually have the weekend off. Who needs coffee when your very blood is boiling.
Actually fucking false.
I had to complain to several other SMs, two DMs, the regional manager, and ethics and compliance for SIX MONTHS to get a homophobic, racist, physically abusive store manager STEPPED DOWN. Not let go, stepped down. When I had to make complaints about a sexist DM, it again took months of direct complaints with several other baristas as witnesses, and he simply moved with no repercussions.
I've repeatedly had to inform local health departments about downright dangerous and explicitly illegal operating conditions in many stores. I've had DMs require stores to stay open with no hot water for weeks before I heard about it and called in a complaint.
Corporate doesn't listen, you hope enough baristas aren't informed. Corporate banks on us being ignorant of our rights so they can peacefully continue abusing our labor.
I've told my current DM repeatedly that our labor allotment for events is grotesquely inadequate. I was told I was mismanaging and they refuse to work a shift or even observe one because "I go to that event." We've had drinks thrown at us and used the plexis to protect us, but they were taken down despite unanimous desire to keep them up because "sometimes there's a fingerprint on it".
Happy Monday y'all, even though the vast majority of us never get to actually have the weekend off. Who needs coffee when your very blood is boiling.
the_senor_cardgage 4 points 1y ago
shenanigans, i sez
CastilloPokeFindz 3 points 1y ago
Leadership is doing everything but solving our problems I told my new DM about our problems and struggles within our store and he told me there’s others store doing worse than us so I think this manageable and did not provide me with true solutions or ideas partners are being gaslighted at every corner
sailorgrumpycat [OP] 2 points 1y ago
That's like telling someone (including myself) with depression that other people have it worse so what are you depressed about. Other people's suffering doesn't negate or mitigate what **you** are suffering or going through.
crkybnsjr 2 points 1y ago
im not gonna lie its been a rough day i read this as letter from harry potter
ryannmm5 2 points 1y ago
no bc everyone in my store had to take the time to read this today
haydensidun 2 points 1y ago
I have a lot of respect for Howard Schultz and I think the company would be far better if he were still running it. Hell, I’d even argue that the union fiasco in Buffalo wouldn’t be happening if he were still at the helm.
That said, he sadly isn’t at the helm anymore, and I really don’t think anything he has to say has much weight here.
That said, he sadly isn’t at the helm anymore, and I really don’t think anything he has to say has much weight here.
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