Starbucks Baristas: The daily grind
↑
3
↓
Need input (self.starbucksbaristas)
submitted by AUserNameThatsTaken1
Ok so I heard some bs that urked me really badly today whilst working and need some input from other people. So basically I have been working the Siren for a year now and at first there was abunch of drama with a really bad manager who put off my training for months. Eventually he got fired thank god, and a new manager replaced him. When the manager came in she sat down and talked to everyone 1 to 1 about what they wanted from the company and what not. I mentioned at the time that I was constantly being put on cs and hadn't got trained at all and had to go through a lot of trial and error to know what I'm supposed to do but I would like to be actually trained especially on bar. She said she would get me moved around and get me bar training. She kinda moved me around but now I'm only being put in solo drive thru, the instant I clock on I don't have to ask the shift where I'm going or being put cause it is always solo drive thru. I mentioned to my manager that I was getting burnt out by having to work on solo drive thru everyday without being moved around. She said she would talk to the shifts and I told her I would love to get more time on bar to improve. A few months later and nothing has changed expect getting a new shift who I mainly work with, I'll call her Medicine Ball. Since I mainly work with Medicine Ball now I noq know that everytime I clock in I just need to ask "Is there a till to assign too?" because she doesn't like moving people around, or counting down tills. I let her know I hate working drive thru since thats all I get put on but since when I come on I usually switch with whoever on morning crew was on drive thru because it's convenient, if not maybe I get to bring out some sani rags or ice but then I go to drive thru for the rest of my shift. I've talked to her and mentioned being burnt out on drive and have asked her multiple times to be stationed elsewhere, she'll usually say somethung like "I'll see what I can do", "I'll have to wait to xyz comes in then maybe I can", etc but in the end she does nothing to take me off drive thru ever. Basically since then nothing much has really changed so since no one gave a "I wanted that iced" I had to do something myself. So since I was a talkative person at the store and was good at drive thru (only cause apparently thats all I'm good for) I decided I wouldn't talk to anyone unless it was for drive thru, whilst also intentionally being bad at drive thru. This kinda worked one day I came in and Medicine Ball was on drive thru and I did the same old regular thing and asked if there was a till ready and she said no she actually needed me to grab her food. I did that and she asked if I wanted to be put in drive thru, I told her no surprised she even asked giving me a choice. She asked why not and I told her because I hated working drive thru (and I always use the word hate irl). She complained saying she didn't want to be there and that she wasn't supposed to be there anyway, I just walked away and continued grabbing food.
Basically on drive thru I hate it cause solo drive thru is very stressful at my store cause we are constantly busy and I'm trans as well and being on drive making me hella dysphoric, yes I have mentioned this to my shifts and manager. So in order to be bad at drive thru I don't talk to customers (unless they are the like 5 I actually like and feel comfortable around, cause transphobes exist), I'm slow, and I don't really stay in my station cause bar usually needs help as well. A lot of times I get told not to move out of my station but bar usually really needs it so whatever.
Recently we got a new shift I'll call Pistachio (tis the season, also not her real name) and she has been amazing to work with because she will actually move me around if I mention being burnt out on drive thru, but we usually only see each other in the last 30 mins of my shift. However today she was shift for most of my shift and I loved it. She was able to get me put on bar for 3 hours and I loved it cause that's the position I love working. She was able to get me a little bar time like last week and she mentioned something odd. She said that she has to be careful putting me on bar because last time she got in trouble. She also said she wasn't supposed to put me on bar because she was told too. She also mention that whilst I'm on bar now and Medicine Ball is watching me and she will be watching out for xyz and maybe I'll start getting put on bar more, and this she wasn't supposed to tell me as well.
Im really pissed that Pistachio was told not to put me on bar despite my manager saying multiple times she will get me bar time. Especially since I have worked my ass off for my store cause we used to have a lot of people call out and I was there to cover and help. I've have helped my store numerous times yet they treat me like me this and honestly I think I might actually quit now.
Basically on drive thru I hate it cause solo drive thru is very stressful at my store cause we are constantly busy and I'm trans as well and being on drive making me hella dysphoric, yes I have mentioned this to my shifts and manager. So in order to be bad at drive thru I don't talk to customers (unless they are the like 5 I actually like and feel comfortable around, cause transphobes exist), I'm slow, and I don't really stay in my station cause bar usually needs help as well. A lot of times I get told not to move out of my station but bar usually really needs it so whatever.
Recently we got a new shift I'll call Pistachio (tis the season, also not her real name) and she has been amazing to work with because she will actually move me around if I mention being burnt out on drive thru, but we usually only see each other in the last 30 mins of my shift. However today she was shift for most of my shift and I loved it. She was able to get me put on bar for 3 hours and I loved it cause that's the position I love working. She was able to get me a little bar time like last week and she mentioned something odd. She said that she has to be careful putting me on bar because last time she got in trouble. She also said she wasn't supposed to put me on bar because she was told too. She also mention that whilst I'm on bar now and Medicine Ball is watching me and she will be watching out for xyz and maybe I'll start getting put on bar more, and this she wasn't supposed to tell me as well.
Im really pissed that Pistachio was told not to put me on bar despite my manager saying multiple times she will get me bar time. Especially since I have worked my ass off for my store cause we used to have a lot of people call out and I was there to cover and help. I've have helped my store numerous times yet they treat me like me this and honestly I think I might actually quit now.
goddessofwaterpolo 4 points 1y ago
Definitely weird that the manager would say not to put you on bar and that it’s a secret, basically. Doesn’t sound like a good work environment.
xCherryBombshell 2 points 1y ago
The only thing I can think of is that your store is understaffed most of the time (hence solo drive) and that they prefer to have "bar stars" on bar so that things go smoother.
Check to see if the people put on bar are really fast. I really like building up my team but only when the peaks and off peaks allow it.
I'm sure you are amazing in any station but please don't take it to heart! You can also approach your SM if you're comfortable and say that you overheard someone say you're not to be placed on bar so you were wondering why as you prefer that role. If they ask who say you don't remember to not out Pistach but for your happiness you need some answers. Shifts just do what they are told from ASM and SM. Those are the only two that can "get them in trouble" (I hate using that phrasing but for the sake of it).
Another shift isn't in higher power than another. We see them equally, so if it's because first shift is bossing people around SM should know anyway. Sometimes Admin takes them away from the floor dynamics and I'm sure Pistach can vouch for your excellence on bar.
Check to see if the people put on bar are really fast. I really like building up my team but only when the peaks and off peaks allow it.
I'm sure you are amazing in any station but please don't take it to heart! You can also approach your SM if you're comfortable and say that you overheard someone say you're not to be placed on bar so you were wondering why as you prefer that role. If they ask who say you don't remember to not out Pistach but for your happiness you need some answers. Shifts just do what they are told from ASM and SM. Those are the only two that can "get them in trouble" (I hate using that phrasing but for the sake of it).
Another shift isn't in higher power than another. We see them equally, so if it's because first shift is bossing people around SM should know anyway. Sometimes Admin takes them away from the floor dynamics and I'm sure Pistach can vouch for your excellence on bar.
Lampinglamp 1 points 1y ago
i agree with xcherrybombshell 110%. sometimes when you’re working a busier shift (like the mornings), they don’t have time to waste because customers are rude and they want their things fast. there’s this saying… “if you’re new, don’t expect anything other than cs for the first 6 months.” i think it’s ridiculous but that’s really how it is when working.
seeing as you kind of went a full year without training, you’re still a green bean to them. and what i’m saying isn’t in any way trying to be discouraging. i’m just showing you their perspective if you will.
at this point, if possible, i’d say switch out to another location if you can just to try and avoid any problems.
another thing you can do is call the ethics hotline. let them know of the problem at hand and what can be resolved bc honestly it is a bit ridiculous that they’re slowing down your progress like that. i got trained even in the busiest of hours.
one thing i did do though is i memorised the recipes right after i got hired. so before i even did my modules, i was kind of golden on the recipe aspect of it. So while i was getting trained, if there was an hour of peak, i could still help out when need be despite not being fully trained bc i know what drink has what in it. if you don’t have the recipes memorised, i would say start with that. also, sequencing is a major thing. it takes about a week to get used to (after having recipes memorised). but they just have to be patient with that aspect. no barista is expected to know everything quite quickly.
i hope what i wrote helps at least in some way.
if you want the document i made with all the recipes, lmk and i’ll share that link with you :)
seeing as you kind of went a full year without training, you’re still a green bean to them. and what i’m saying isn’t in any way trying to be discouraging. i’m just showing you their perspective if you will.
at this point, if possible, i’d say switch out to another location if you can just to try and avoid any problems.
another thing you can do is call the ethics hotline. let them know of the problem at hand and what can be resolved bc honestly it is a bit ridiculous that they’re slowing down your progress like that. i got trained even in the busiest of hours.
one thing i did do though is i memorised the recipes right after i got hired. so before i even did my modules, i was kind of golden on the recipe aspect of it. So while i was getting trained, if there was an hour of peak, i could still help out when need be despite not being fully trained bc i know what drink has what in it. if you don’t have the recipes memorised, i would say start with that. also, sequencing is a major thing. it takes about a week to get used to (after having recipes memorised). but they just have to be patient with that aspect. no barista is expected to know everything quite quickly.
i hope what i wrote helps at least in some way.
if you want the document i made with all the recipes, lmk and i’ll share that link with you :)
AUserNameThatsTaken1 [OP] 1 points 1y ago
I have been able to complete all of my training on the computers and know how to do all the drinks, thanks to a day we had to shut down cause our store flooded.
This nonprofit website is run by volunteers.
Please contribute if you can. Thank you!
Our mission is to provide everyone with access to large-
scale community websites for the good of humanity.
Without ads, without tracking, without greed.
scale community websites for the good of humanity.
Without ads, without tracking, without greed.
©2023 HumbleCat Inc • HumbleCat is a 501(c)3 nonprofit based in Michigan, USA.