Starbucks Baristas: The daily grind
↑
141
↓
Since it's being poated so often thought I'd drop this here, search cut labor... it's an every year thing since I've been here. (reddit.com)
submitted by happybowlita83
Unicorn_Warrior1248 83 points 1y ago
Yeah it happens every yeah but this year seems like they are hacking away at labor for no reason. My ASM has to redo a whole schedule because she was 10% over in non coverage…for tips and CP….and was told she had to get it to under 3% while other stores are like 75% over labor.
happybowlita83 [OP] 13 points 1y ago
Is your ASM new new?
Unicorn_Warrior1248 17 points 1y ago
Yeah brand new. And then they sent my manager to another district to “help out” that was…..3 months ago?
happybowlita83 [OP] 10 points 1y ago
Aw that sucks, hopefully they work on the floor during these "slow" periods so they can see how it does affect to cut hours when their isn't a huge drop in sales. That's usually when they stop listening to higher ups and schedule to the actual store demands and not the DMs.
Unicorn_Warrior1248 13 points 1y ago
She’s on the floor with us and feels it, which is nice. But there isn’t Anything she can do. Our DM apparently wants her to use vacation time to open up more hours for partners. Which seems like a weird solution
crzyshiba 10 points 1y ago
Omg yes our SM said it’s an NON COVERAGE issue with labor this years just seems to be a lot more than before
imeanitpeanut 3 points 1y ago
Also, if I remember correctly the yearly labor cuts usually happen in January & February when business drops off after New Years and starts getting a bit better around now when it’s warmer and the colleges are having spring break.
Sycti 48 points 1y ago
they gave us a raise and cut our hours in the same breath they also hired like 8 new people like i wanna work less don’t get me wrong but i need money 😭
NotBuilt2Behave 25 points 1y ago
Don’t forget raised prices and then cut labor HARD in the same breath -____- basically a slap in the face
goddessofwaterpolo 7 points 1y ago
You guys got a raise?
miniinovaa 2 points 1y ago
Everyone will. In summer baristas start at $15 in US
Fluid-Opportunity671 1 points 1y ago
I think they are talking about the last raise we got , but yes we are also getting another raise in the summer
goddessofwaterpolo 1 points 1y ago
Nobody in my area got the raise in January :/ they’ve escalated it to corporate
notrachelmar 27 points 1y ago
thank you! ive been here since 2016, hours always get cut around this time. it’s the slowest season- post holidays and before summer. it also depends on your stores staffing. like my store has a lot of partners (and i’m so grateful for that) so my hours went from 35+ to less than 20. yes it sucks, but it has always been like this. things will return to normal in a few weeks. i’m really tired of seeing all the labor cutting posts and people blaming it on a variety of things when it has ALWAYS been like this. i love u for posting this
kitcat1210 20 points 1y ago
I will say, it does seem to be lasting longer than normal and more strict than normal. but yes it’s always been like this and I cant believe the amount of people surprised by it? Like yes it SUCKS and is 100% unfair, like I’m not trying to justify it. But this happens in almost every retail setting after the holidays unfortunately. Things are picking back up at my store and our labor hopefully will start reflecting that soon. If it doesn’t, though, then I’ll be super super pissed off.
sheep_heavenly 6 points 1y ago
I've been here since 2014. This is unusually severe for cuts. Handwaving away legitimate concerns and potential factors into why this one is gobsmackingly insane during a time when most stores are trending upwards in business is not great.
happybowlita83 [OP] 4 points 1y ago
Yeah it does, I've learned to save and try and get over 20 hours during the rest of the year or before this time comes around so I have extra cash and hours for benefits during this time. My spouse workes in another field where this is also his slow season so we always prep for itm luckily the district im in now has a lot oelf experienced SMs so we don't see drastic cuts most of the time.
notrachelmar 2 points 1y ago
yup, my manager has said i’m the first one to call if they end up having extra labor so it has worked out for me the past couple weeks by picking up shifts. i just moved back in with my dad so i luckily don’t have to pay rent or worry about that but i do have other bills. i’m fine with those who live on their own and have to worry about paying rent or supporting their family not having their hours cut since i’m lucky and have the help of my dad if i need it and don’t have to worry about having a place to sleep or buying groceries. i understand that everyone is frustrated or freaking out but this is only temporary
happybowlita83 [OP] 3 points 1y ago
Yeah I totally understand why some people are stressing too, I also have a mortgage and bills to pay and it's stressful when things like this happen. Luckily my parents taught me to always make a savings to be able to pay at least 3 months of living expenses becayse you never know what can happen 😬
Ordinary-Theory-8289 2 points 1y ago
They should cut the hours right after Christmas if that’s the case. Now it’s starting to get nicer out and the days are longer we’re getting busier already
Dumfnppl 17 points 1y ago
And I am over here getting alerts on the app that “new shifts available” at my store every day
kmoonster 9 points 1y ago
Not "always", it started in earnest around 2015 or 2016 iirc. That said, it may be more intense now, I've been out for a couple years.
I mean, there have been fluctuations of the mostly knowable sort for literally ever, since humans first built cities, but not the sort people are complaining about right now. The current approach turns the dial from a 4 or 5 for a few days up to ten and for weeks at a time 2-3 times/year with September being another common one. The borderline masochist approach is relatively new, at least in Starbucks.
I mean, there have been fluctuations of the mostly knowable sort for literally ever, since humans first built cities, but not the sort people are complaining about right now. The current approach turns the dial from a 4 or 5 for a few days up to ten and for weeks at a time 2-3 times/year with September being another common one. The borderline masochist approach is relatively new, at least in Starbucks.
happybowlita83 [OP] 2 points 1y ago
Don't know about always, just since I've been here and as i mentioned in another comment in my personal experience it has always depended on the SM. I had a SM that explained how corporate does try to get RMs and DMs to cut labor to obviously spend less on labor at the end of a quarter to get more profits for shareholders, but as long as the SMs don't listen there isn't much they can do other than "coaching"
kmoonster 7 points 1y ago
And at the end of the day, it's a less than ideal way to treat employees.
happybowlita83 [OP] 2 points 1y ago
Agree, which is why I've transferred so much to find a great SM, but also not an ideal situation.
kmoonster 2 points 1y ago
If you find a great manager, do whatever you have to to keep them!
Pledsss 8 points 1y ago
SSV here on route to be ASM so I get a lot of behind the scenes information. It does suck, but from I’ve gotten from the other managers is that first quarter of the year is always the slowest, especially compared to the previous quarter which is holiday season, which is the BUSIEST quarter of the year. Revenue and profit go from skyrocketing to plummeting in almost an instant. We go from earning extra hours in labor to never earning the labor because all the new drinks that people like are gone so they don’t come. So comparing such drastic change in two back to back quarters, in order to help the business from a stockholder perspective and just business perspective, we cut expenses in order to match our profit. The most expensive expense? LABOR!
happybowlita83 [OP] 3 points 1y ago
Yeah, that's what I was told by a SM earlier on when I'd recently started with the company. It makes sense, its a company owned mostly by shareholders and they like to see profit.
crombopulous-michael 5 points 1y ago
I think your average person can understand it’s business as usual, especially when it’s explained to them. However, nothing is communicated from leadership. Morale is obviously low in my district. A change in that can be as simple as salaried leadership saying “Hey team, a big heads up; we’re going to be cutting labor down in the following months. Anyone who needs the hours should follow up with me for xyz”.
However, what really happens is baristas and shifts(regardless of socioeconomic status) go from having 38-40+ hrs for months down to 16-20hrs in a snap of the quarter without notice. No time to apply for second jobs(can take weeks), no time to apply for loans or anything to help supplement a loss of income. <—— I think this is the real problem that people around me are feeling
And workers aren’t little business that operate in the same capacity as a corp. We kinda have life and stuff to worry about. - coming from someone who can’t just bail out or fall back on parents during hardship
However, what really happens is baristas and shifts(regardless of socioeconomic status) go from having 38-40+ hrs for months down to 16-20hrs in a snap of the quarter without notice. No time to apply for second jobs(can take weeks), no time to apply for loans or anything to help supplement a loss of income. <—— I think this is the real problem that people around me are feeling
And workers aren’t little business that operate in the same capacity as a corp. We kinda have life and stuff to worry about. - coming from someone who can’t just bail out or fall back on parents during hardship
happybowlita83 [OP] 0 points 1y ago
As I responded to someone else I'd just get a full-time job that offer more stability. Sbux solution for drops in sales will always be to cut labor hours because they dont hire full time employees, if they did we would instead be seeing lay offs when things went downhill like many companies did when the pandemic first hit. Luckily we were given the option of quitting or reduced hours then too. It does suck that we get no official statement anytime it happens, but they obviously won't do it because that's just letting shareholders know they're cutting labor to make their profits looks better.
If you're looking for a job that always provides 40hrs a week though sbux isn't it, sadly. -coming from someone who loves the job, but also has responsibilities that they can't bail out of or fall back on others.
If you're looking for a job that always provides 40hrs a week though sbux isn't it, sadly. -coming from someone who loves the job, but also has responsibilities that they can't bail out of or fall back on others.
crombopulous-michael 1 points 1y ago
Fair.
Then, I think that Starbucks should remodel their design then. Instead of starbucks.com/careers it should be starbucks.com/partnerships. “Careers” should only be for salaried personnel since they are paid indefinitely.
Can’t appreciate and dismiss your personnel at the same time without looking shrewd.
Then, I think that Starbucks should remodel their design then. Instead of starbucks.com/careers it should be starbucks.com/partnerships. “Careers” should only be for salaried personnel since they are paid indefinitely.
Can’t appreciate and dismiss your personnel at the same time without looking shrewd.
MaxHard420 7 points 1y ago
Worked for starbs from 2014-2021, never once did I have my hours cut lower than 30-35 hours.
happybowlita83 [OP] 5 points 1y ago
Have you always had the same SM or DM?
MaxHard420 1 points 1y ago
Nope. Revolving door for both
meowcowmoo 5 points 1y ago
Reminder that Q1 earnings reports are for Jan 1st to March 31st. A lot of companies hack away at labor in order to report stronger earnings to shareholders.
taserbabyy 4 points 1y ago
Cough *big shareholder meetings at corporate mostly happen around this time, so they cut labor to make us seem as profitable as possible* cough cough
Necessary_Low939 4 points 1y ago
Did this happen during recent years? Worked around 2013/2014 and I got consistent 8 hr shifts no days cut.
happybowlita83 [OP] 6 points 1y ago
Not sure I've been here for 4ish years now and it's been like this since I started. It was worse in the district I was in before though, sales only changed a bit but the DM was always adamant about SMs cutting labor by a lot. The last year I was there in 2019 they got a new DM and they just tried cutting labor for SSVs, and training during this time of year. Current district cuts labor, but some SMs more than others, some just dont listen or they ignore the DMs and system's "suggested" hours.
Necessary_Low939 2 points 1y ago
Ok. I don’t know why I’m getting downvoted. I worked a year or so back in 2013/2014 and was getting 8 hrs shifts regardless. 3/4 days per week.
happybowlita83 [OP] 1 points 1y ago
Don't know, maybe they don't believe it. Im sure it was a lot better than. The business most likely changed a little after that, when social media made the business peak and move to a more profit focuses business.
Necessary_Low939 2 points 1y ago
Things were a lot different back in the day.
jamosarous 3 points 1y ago
Yeah it been such a common occurrence that I plan my classes around the loss of hours. In the fall and winter I don't take classes just so I can work and save up enough money to make till next fall. I always tell new people who join in the fall or winter to get as manny hours as possible because spring and summer always come with large cuts in hours.
gemi-high 2 points 1y ago
apparently, corporate was about to enforce vaccine mandates. if you didnt get one, you would need to show a negative test result weekly.
because of that, they told SM’s to beef up on hiring because they were prepared for people to quit over that. but they ended up just dropping the mandate idea *after* all of this hiring, then told the SM’s theyve used too much coverage and non coverage, and made them cut it.
apparently in april we will get 40 hours of no coverage per week back.
ive been here a year as a shift and this labor issue has been so frustrating to watch, its extremely difficult to keep morale up as im watching literally every single coworker not get the hours they were promised, and not make enough money to cover finances.
***good job corporate, yall are doing great***
because of that, they told SM’s to beef up on hiring because they were prepared for people to quit over that. but they ended up just dropping the mandate idea *after* all of this hiring, then told the SM’s theyve used too much coverage and non coverage, and made them cut it.
apparently in april we will get 40 hours of no coverage per week back.
ive been here a year as a shift and this labor issue has been so frustrating to watch, its extremely difficult to keep morale up as im watching literally every single coworker not get the hours they were promised, and not make enough money to cover finances.
***good job corporate, yall are doing great***
happybowlita83 [OP] 1 points 1y ago
Yeah I heard about that too, a few at our store were ready to quit if it went through, and our SM hired a few people based off of that.
slamy420 2 points 1y ago
Never forget! If you let yourself get used to the new awful, they will find a way to make it worse. I was hired in 2016 and cannot remember a point where it ever got better working here. Only plus has ever been the dope coworkers
ProfessionalRock7940 2 points 1y ago
Yeah it happens every year but this year it's deff more steep and more serious
mama_bibi 2 points 1y ago
Yea last year I averaged 35 around the "off season" but this year I'm getting like 30. And I'm a shift. Granted I pick up a lot of shifts and basically have one day off for the next month but I'm at least paying my bills I guess
rascal-111 1 points 1y ago
nah fr it’s pissing me off we have 20 people on our schedule and NOBODY except for our sm is at 40hrs/week
happybowlita83 [OP] 1 points 1y ago
Only SMs and ASMs are full time salaried employees... are you at a cafe only or dt only store?
rascal-111 1 points 1y ago
i’m at a drive thru only, we don’t even have an official sm we haven’t for ab 6 months, everybody else doesn’t have more than 35 hours
happybowlita83 [OP] 1 points 1y ago
Yeah I don't think they're going to get over 35 hours, even most SSVs don't get 35+ hours
rascal-111 1 points 1y ago
ik it’s infuriating cuz 40 is barely livable in most places at this pay lmfao
i fr asked my ‘sm’ if i could have more than 16 hrs a week so that i could at least make rent and he gave me a whole 4 extra hrs smh
i fr asked my ‘sm’ if i could have more than 16 hrs a week so that i could at least make rent and he gave me a whole 4 extra hrs smh
rascal-111 1 points 1y ago
like how tf am i supposed to pay rent n shit if i’m not getting any fucking hours lmfao
Chhhloem4 1 points 1y ago
Availability is everything. Not saying it’s anyone’s fault that they are losing hours but I know some baristas that complain about not having hours then have shit availability. Gotta open it up.
[deleted] 1 points 1y ago
[deleted]
happybowlita83 [OP] 0 points 1y ago
You're kinda new here right? Unionizing isn't the best option for all locations. As for raises being different for some people is because some people have been here for years and it makes no sense to start a new hire at the same wage, new shifts available are posted by fellow partners, new hires happens every year for summer and holiday season, the quitting isn't new this job is honestly not for everyone and it's not a permanent one for most peope either unless you plan to move up. As for unfair firing in those stores unionizing, that really sucks hope they get a good lawyer or representative to make things right.
[deleted] 1 points 1y ago
[deleted]
happybowlita83 [OP] 1 points 1y ago
.... so how did you come to the conclusion to unionize to fix it all?
happybowlita83 [OP] 1 points 1y ago
Posted* my bad
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.