Starbucks Baristas: The daily grind
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What is the official policy on group chats? With source if possible (self.starbucksbaristas)
submitted by _lanalana_
My store manager just shut down our group chat claiming its completely against policy for baristas to have a group chat for any reason. I cant find any sources for this and it seems to be in retaliation to “drama” in the group chat that has been created solely by shifts sending passive aggressive messages and pictures about things like dishes not getting done and day dots being incorrect. Any baristas using the chat have used it almost exclusively to communicate with each other with no drama involved.
BeardiesRule112 374 points 1y ago
They’re scared you guys are gunna use that chat to unionize LMAOoooo
Tungsten18348 109 points 1y ago
I don’t believe there is anything written saying you cannot have a group chat. Only that calling off via text or chat isn’t considered a valid form of communication. Our store uses discord so all phone/ computer types can have equal access to it.
_lanalana_ [OP] 42 points 1y ago
Thats what ive heard too. They’re trying to say its an actual policy. When i get home tonight im gonna hunt down my handbook and see what i can find
bootrick 38 points 1y ago
It's NOT your responsibility to read every last line of company policy to prove or disprove. It's THEIR responsibility to show you the policy and not just say it's policy.
im_feeling_cold 8 points 1y ago
nonononono!!!!! ask your manager to show it to you!! dont go looking for it bc you’re not gonna find it.
deeciphered 4 points 1y ago
We used to have separate text chats for iPhone and non iPhone users until and we convinced my manager to start a group me. Which is helpful because now if someone is looking for coverage for a shift they can text all of us.
thecarolinamermaid 1 points 1y ago
Our store has tow group me’s, from the manager and we all seem to use them just fine. I guess it’s up to your sm
rudebii 75 points 1y ago
IIRC group chats can no longer be used to officially communicate.
Starbucks can’t stop the staff from communicating with each other, but a manager can’t announce company business via a group chat, for example.
Starbucks can’t stop the staff from communicating with each other, but a manager can’t announce company business via a group chat, for example.
_lanalana_ [OP] 28 points 1y ago
Thats exactly what I thought. They’re trying to say staff cant have a group chat to talk to each other. None of the managers are even in the group chat its all shifts and baristas and they’re trying to shut it down. Its used exclusively to find coverage between baristas
RegularAsk143 74 points 1y ago
Former store manager here - you can make a group chat with whomever you want. In no way shape or form should you EVER be told whom and whom not to text when you are not at work doing this during work hours. My baristas always had group chats - made plans to hang out etc. There is no violation here.
Sdee1234 8 points 1y ago
Thank you. Really this just seems like a fear of unionizing thing since starbucks is going to be making their own store chat app so its "consistent"..... but also to monitor us lol
_lanalana_ [OP] 43 points 1y ago
Theyre also trying to say we aren’t allowed to have any food or drinks in the back whatsoever unless we’re actively on a break
_lanalana_ [OP] 41 points 1y ago
And that baristas not assigned to bar cant hop onto bar to make a drink in a rush
terriblescreenwriter 41 points 1y ago
Wtf??? We would get nothing done if we didn’t break roles.
sdkid92 32 points 1y ago
I had a new shift, who never should have been promoted, tell me I couldn’t break roles and had to stay at handoff. No one was there to hand off to it was all mobile stickers just backing up. Sure enough she had shocked pikachu face when a swarm of people all came in at the same time wondering why their drinks weren’t ready.
Berry_Barbara 8 points 1y ago
Did they ask you to help afterwards? Customers don’t want to see us just standing there when they are waiting 😅
CapricornLibraGworl 7 points 1y ago
Hell no ur store sounds annoying !
bootrick 3 points 1y ago
This one is probably, technically, correct. But, it's as dumb as throwing away expired food that employees would eat.
[deleted] 1 points 1y ago
[removed]
ugholivia 2 points 1y ago
They have to allow you to have water is what my SM says
femalehomosapien18 14 points 1y ago
There’s no rule against it. Otherwise I would have been fired 3 years ago 💀
greenbeanfridge 12 points 1y ago
We have a groupchat with the manager…I feel like that’s pretty standard. Everyone’s in there and we just talk about coverage or announcements most of the time but sometimes we get funny memes or insane drink stickers, it’s all in good fun!
[deleted] 10 points 1y ago
corporate is clamping down in group chats because they give baristas the opportunity to organize like buffalo. they cannot legally restrict you from creating your own group chat. it is entirely an anti-unionization effort from upper management
catsrelax223 8 points 1y ago
Union busting
Mentally-ill-bitch 8 points 1y ago
I wanna make a group chat for my coworkers bc I really like their company and would love to know them more but we are not allowed >:( it won’t even be business related, just a casual group chat like discord :’(
KenansCloud 21 points 1y ago
You’re more than allowed though. It just can’t be used for “official” stuff.
catsrelax223 5 points 1y ago
You’re allowed.
Mentally-ill-bitch 1 points 1y ago
Tell that to my shifts and SM, they don’t approve of it for the reasons mentioned in the thread which is dumb because I literally told them it’ll be non-work related anyways
canidieyet_ 18 points 1y ago
just make it and don’t add them lol. you’re literally texting your friends that you just happen to work with, it’s none of their business
catsrelax223 10 points 1y ago
Dude you gotta grow a pair like are they gonna go through your phone???? Make the group chat and stfu
richayy420 5 points 1y ago
My store just got a discord
YorkTownBratty 3 points 1y ago
My store manager is in a group chat with my whole store lmao. It's def not against policy.
jackiebangs 3 points 1y ago
A lot of work places like the ‘bucks are against group chats because we are not paid salary and so it can be considered “work off the clock.” But we have 2 group chats at my store- is for specifically finding shift coverage (but you still need to call the store to confirm) and then another one that we post random memes or general info in! Some baristas choose not to be in them, so they aren’t, and some turn off the notifications. My manager isn’t for or against it really, but like others have already said, it’s not considered official communication.
willywankaz432 2 points 1y ago
So what I was told Baristas and Shifts can’t be in a group chat together, but baristas can have there on group chats. It’s just management can’t be in a group chat at all. Which is weird because during Covid we had a gc with just baristas and shifts. Until our manger deleted it
Chemical-Less 2 points 1y ago
My sm literally has a groupme for us lmao your manager us full of shit and probably afraid of yall unionizing
dogsofwintergaming 2 points 1y ago
Partner guide, how we communicate page, states that text messaging is not an official form of communication.
However, that's only with work related topics. So they cannot say who you are or are not allowed to text. That's ludicrous.
However, that's only with work related topics. So they cannot say who you are or are not allowed to text. That's ludicrous.
loveylevi17 2 points 1y ago
Starbucks can’t dictate who you can or cannot text. If you make a group chat, and they don’t like it, tell them to leave the group chat, or don’t add them at all. It’s not your problem 🤷🏻♀️
veggiebuttt 2 points 1y ago
I was in a group chat with both baristas and shifts. My manager knew about the group chat and didn’t say anything, but she did try to get us to stop hanging out with each other and argued that baristas and shifts can’t be friends lmao. Your group chat is fine. As far as I know, there’s no policy against it
Brgnbo 2 points 1y ago
My old store used to have a group me for all of the partners and shifts. It was super handy for getting shifts covered and sharing new weekly updates and whatnot
Bryancreates 4 points 1y ago
Yes I remember groupme. I remember BEFORE groupme, and finding covering was impossible. Then it was like a piece of cake, someone needed to come in an hour later or get a shift covered, or wasn’t able to open. It was incredible not having to call every fucking person after looking at the whole calendar and being that Math lady trying to figure things out. Our manager would get a little concerned sometimes because of so many changes but she ran a good store and everyone did their best to keep it going. That was 4 years ago and the place has fallen apart I think and everyone left, but it was good while it lasted.
Brgnbo 2 points 1y ago
I feel that, I moved to a store that doesn’t have one and I haaaaaateeee having to track down everyone’s number and bother each individual person.
rudebii 1 points 1y ago
Oh man, We used to each get a copy of the schedule to keep because back in the 00s, in order to find someone to cover your shift, you literally had to call (then later text) everyone individually.
Euphoric_Collar565 2 points 1y ago
We thrive off our store chat! Can get annoying sometimes by sending jokes and stuff but majority… it helps !
ObitoUchiha41 1 points 1y ago
We had one made, and then shortly after the manager left. I think what I heard at the time was that we were allowed to have one, she just wasn't allowed to be in one with us?
Tlw91 1 points 1y ago
My coworkers and I did the same damn thing but mostly it was just talking shit about the manager.
FfierceLaw 1 points 1y ago
Just make a new one without the SM in it. We use Groupme, let in all baristas, and the shifts who want in. It is a very handy tool to swap shifts. I also don’t see it as a bad thing to share store issues like if you have to dump backups because of failure to FIFO, things like that.
sten45 1 points 1y ago
Seems like crap to me. If it is going on personal phones and phone plans the company can not say shit about it. What you do off the clock is your business.
-beam-me-up- 1 points 1y ago
Just make one anyways and keep it on the down low. They don't control your phones or personal lives and if they try they're violating your privacy
crunchycrispysprite 1 points 1y ago
my manager actually created a group chat for mass announcements and store stuff and we also have a group chat for the shifts to let each other know what’s been done and what needs to be done. your manager is just being weird lol.
aspoonfulofsammy11 1 points 1y ago
I mean… we have a WhatsApp group chat that is made up of our SSVs and SM, so clearly my SM is okay with it. I don’t think it’s an official policy.
meannbeann 1 points 1y ago
No, it's not.
My manager makes at least two new ones each week.
My manager makes at least two new ones each week.
wifeypoopoo 1 points 1y ago
Our SM is in our group chat
Mayachees 1 points 1y ago
Our manager shut ours down too.
I can’t find any “official “ policy against it.
I think they are afraid of legal repercussions. People taking screen shots of the chats and sending them to HR or other legal channels.
I can’t find any “official “ policy against it.
I think they are afraid of legal repercussions. People taking screen shots of the chats and sending them to HR or other legal channels.
[deleted] 1 points 1y ago
it’s just for union busting purposes
twilights_heiress 1 points 1y ago
my manager literally has groups for all of us shifts, the baristas, then one for mornings, and then nights. we all text about work and non related things including my manager, there’s no rule. they just don’t want you to unionize, or any of us for that matter
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