Four hours is the minimum length of a shift that they can schedule you per Starbucks policy (and often state law). They need to pay you a minimum four hours if you're scheduled and don't volunteer to leave early.

I’m supposed to be working 40hrs!! I’m so confused. My husband and I can only work morning shifts, and we only have one car. Wtf am I supposed to do!? Can I take this to court!? I need to pay fucking rent!!

See if you’re able to pick up shifts at other stores. Starbucks can’t guarantee 40 hours as a barista/shift but you can go to other stores for more hours.

For some of us it's a blessing to at least work 20 hours and still be able to claim benefits. I've worked with some SM that try to hire to keep everyone at that average and never give baristas over 30 hours to give that opportunity to more people. Some SMs will offer more hours when they can but then during this time of year have to cut back for almost all partners, and they usually try to distribute hours evenly so everyone that needs to qualify for certain benefits is able to. Current SM has no one under 20 hours unless they're a minor or were already working under 20. Previous SM had some partners getting over 35 hours that weren't using benefits while they had others that needed benefits at a fluctuating 15-20 hours, making it complicated to be eligible.

Honestly the policy does say the company can't guarantee a minimum or maximum amount of hours, and that ASMs amd SMs are the only full time employees.

That's a clean play shift, probably after the store closes. I work at another job in the morning, so I definitely would not show up for a 2 hour non coverage shift in the middle of the night.

This is why I quit! I had rent, food, all the normal adult stuff to pay and I was scheduled 5 hours a week. Luckily I work with teenagers so ofc nobody wanted to work, or left early, so I ended up regaining mostly 40 hours. But i was so burnt out, so I found another job. My mental and physical health is doing so much better.

Our DM has been on our SM’s ass about labor hours because our DM’s higher ups at the regional level are on HIS ass about it. It’s technically the “slow season” and each store has to accrue hours of labor based on multiple things. 36 hours a week for a barista is a lot at starbucks and usually only given out like that when there are staffing shortages. There may be a problem with your availability too and what your SM has available to schedule others as well. If you can get the app, shift marketplace has been a savior for me recently. But Like someone else said, some states have partial unemployment laws but usually there’s nothing you can do about this besides get another job. It sucks and I hate work life in the 21st century.

edit: spelling

if you live in california fyi there is no minimum. but say you got scheduled 4 and only work one hour you are entiled to 2 hours pay

I could never work a schedule like that. Consistency is all I ask for 🧐

Like if they want to schedule us barely 20 hours a week, why tf is it being spread across 5 days??? Give me more days off if you are giving me short hours

It's getting real tough out here..

WHAT IS THAT WEDNESDAY SHIFT