Starbucks Baristas: The daily grind
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SSV suggestions- making work more fun/ partner appreciation (self.starbucksbaristas)
submitted by she_who_walks
So I’m a 5 year partner, I’ve been a shift for almost a year now. I’m curious, what are some things that a shift can do to make your day more enjoyable? Ways to make partners days better, make it fun to be at work? I do try to be very vocal calling out and praising people for their hard work, but I’d love other outside the box ideas! In the past I’ve brought in treats, both home made and store bought, cuz who doesn’t like snacks at work? But I’d love to hear ideas of what more I could do!
Illustrious-Air9834 15 points 1y ago
Honestly it’s the little things. When someone thanks me for filling up ice bins, when someone adds a darling or sweetheart at the end of a request, when a leader yells out “awesome job on that rush you guys” all of it combined makes my day so much sweeter
annoyinglyuseless 8 points 1y ago
This makes everything a little better. It’s not about the material things shifts do for us, but about how they make you feel.
At my store we have 2 shifts, out of 5, who we all really cling to, and it’s simply because they don’t berate us or always nitpick the little things we do wrong. They encourage us, root us on, or even take time to remind us that they were once a green bean and they’ve gone through some embarrassing things. If morale is low at your store, maybe check in with each partner as they’re arriving/leaving? A simple “hey! How have you been? How are you feeling today?” Or “what did you think about today? How did you feel we did with today’s rush? Anything you want me to look at for future shifts that could help our workflow?”
It really is the little things. But just you reaching out, that means a lot.
At my store we have 2 shifts, out of 5, who we all really cling to, and it’s simply because they don’t berate us or always nitpick the little things we do wrong. They encourage us, root us on, or even take time to remind us that they were once a green bean and they’ve gone through some embarrassing things. If morale is low at your store, maybe check in with each partner as they’re arriving/leaving? A simple “hey! How have you been? How are you feeling today?” Or “what did you think about today? How did you feel we did with today’s rush? Anything you want me to look at for future shifts that could help our workflow?”
It really is the little things. But just you reaching out, that means a lot.
she_who_walks [OP] 5 points 1y ago
I do typically check each partner in and out, and I try to always ask for feedback from their shift, if they had a high or low point of the day, or if there’s anything I could do differently or better to help them.
I do really appreciate and enjoy working with my team and I just want to make sure I’m doing everything I can to support and thank them and show them they are valued:)
I do really appreciate and enjoy working with my team and I just want to make sure I’m doing everything I can to support and thank them and show them they are valued:)
cookiemonstah87 3 points 1y ago
Sounds like you're already doing more than most to make sure you're showing appreciation!
Puddle_Duck88 5 points 1y ago
Some SSVs make you feel appreciated and some make you seriously consider walking out mid shift because you’re doing your best but it’s never good enough
cookiemonstah87 3 points 1y ago
For real! One of mine, I swear he doesn't need to breathe because there is never a break between instructions, and half the time we were already doing the thing he's saying to do. Never a thank you, never a good job, just constant "do this, do that, when you're done with X, do Y. Did anyone fill kegs? We need a mocha backup. Make sure you're sequencing! Milk first, always! Fill the hoppers before they run out. When that syrup is empty, pull it forward so it can be replaced" and so on. Meanwhile it's peak and I'm trying to pay attention to orders coming through on the headset so I can get started on them and I can't listen to both at once, and the second I walk away from hot bar to make a tea or something, he pulls my stickers and starts pumping syrups into cups for drinks I'm already making, meaning we keep wasting a ton of cups and syrup, and if I tell him he keeps starting drinks I'm already making, he says I need to be pulling my stickers... dude, you're pulling them the second they print! I'm already halfway done with the drinks by then! JUST LET ME DO MY DAMN JOB!!!
I don't even know if I'm doing OK because I never get any actual feedback, it's just a constant stream of instructions I really haven't needed to be told in months.
I don't even know if I'm doing OK because I never get any actual feedback, it's just a constant stream of instructions I really haven't needed to be told in months.
Puddle_Duck88 3 points 1y ago
We had one who would straight up complain to customers about how she was the only competent person working there and throw us under the bus if anything was mixed up even if it was her fault. And one who does weekend peak who stays too stressed out to lead with compassion. Things start to get backed up and she loses her shit on whoever she feels is slowing us down, usually DTO/window. Once she screamed at me in front of customers because they’d said they wanted them hot and then when she got to the window she claimed she said cold and the girl in the passenger side said “sorry!”. Why apologize if you weren’t changing your order at the last minute? Anyway, we were already backed up because people were adding things on and paying in quarters and stuff so she lost it and said that she couldn’t deal with having to remake drinks every few minutes but it was 100% not my fault plus I was new to window and I barely got any training when they threw me on so she could have been nicer about it. About 5 minutes later she apologized but I kind of lost respect after that. Like I’m still nice but I just don’t like working with her now and she’s very cold towards me as if I was the one who got rude with her or something idk but I’ve been watching her shifts and offering to switch with other people when I can to avoid her as much as possible
cookiemonstah87 1 points 1y ago
Ugh, that sucks... I guess at least she apologized, but that's not cool.
My guy doesn't yell at people at least, he's a lot more neutral. He does constantly seem stressed and always sounds annoyed when taking orders, but I've never heard him reprimand anyone. He just never stops telling everyone every move to make, and seems to have the "guess I have to do it myself" mentality when nothing is even going wrong.
The most stressful thing he does is honestly when he tries to "help" whoever is on bar or ovens. He somehow manages to get people more confused and disorganized and slows the whole process down when we probably didn't even need help to begin with. It also seems like he "helps" me more than anyone else, despite the fact that I've been there for a while and we've hired at least 7 new people since I've been there. On my regular shift, there are only two other baristas who have been there longer than I have at this point. I've tried to ask him if I'm doing something wrong, if that's why he's always hovering over me and doing things for me, but I haven't gotten an answer. He's been doing it since I was new and I was especially frustrated at first, because I wasn't getting any real practice or learning how to do the job. I've been left alone on bar during peak by other shifts many times and never get backed up unless we get a massive order, so I THINK I'm doing OK, but I honestly can't tell with how he hovers and "helps"
My guy doesn't yell at people at least, he's a lot more neutral. He does constantly seem stressed and always sounds annoyed when taking orders, but I've never heard him reprimand anyone. He just never stops telling everyone every move to make, and seems to have the "guess I have to do it myself" mentality when nothing is even going wrong.
The most stressful thing he does is honestly when he tries to "help" whoever is on bar or ovens. He somehow manages to get people more confused and disorganized and slows the whole process down when we probably didn't even need help to begin with. It also seems like he "helps" me more than anyone else, despite the fact that I've been there for a while and we've hired at least 7 new people since I've been there. On my regular shift, there are only two other baristas who have been there longer than I have at this point. I've tried to ask him if I'm doing something wrong, if that's why he's always hovering over me and doing things for me, but I haven't gotten an answer. He's been doing it since I was new and I was especially frustrated at first, because I wasn't getting any real practice or learning how to do the job. I've been left alone on bar during peak by other shifts many times and never get backed up unless we get a massive order, so I THINK I'm doing OK, but I honestly can't tell with how he hovers and "helps"
she_who_walks [OP] 3 points 1y ago
I’ve been in that position as a barista and it’s my goal for my partners to NEVER feel that way. This job is demanding and draining enough as it is!! Being made to feel that “nothing is ever good enough” is so demeaning and demoralizing :(
FairProfessional0 3 points 1y ago
I think what you’ve been doing sounds great! One thing I appreciate in a shift is when they make it a point to get to know the baristas. You may already do so, but this is my best advice.
Starting conversations over the headset is an easy way to do this, maybe by asking the group questions or telling a fun story.
You could create a fun ‘get to know you’ survey for partners to fill out. Or even post some fun and friendly polls every now and then in the back for partners to weigh in on (ex: “cats or dogs?” or “strawberry açaí or mango dragonfruit?”). Kind of like the themed tip jars some stores make to increase customer connections. That could get conversations going and help everyone learn more about each other.
Getting to know my coworkers on a personal level has definitely helped me enjoy working a lot more!
Starting conversations over the headset is an easy way to do this, maybe by asking the group questions or telling a fun story.
You could create a fun ‘get to know you’ survey for partners to fill out. Or even post some fun and friendly polls every now and then in the back for partners to weigh in on (ex: “cats or dogs?” or “strawberry açaí or mango dragonfruit?”). Kind of like the themed tip jars some stores make to increase customer connections. That could get conversations going and help everyone learn more about each other.
Getting to know my coworkers on a personal level has definitely helped me enjoy working a lot more!
she_who_walks [OP] 2 points 1y ago
We do the questions/polls!! Not on our tip jars, but we’ll choose a weekly question to engage with our customers and for me, it’s a lot of fun! We like to pick questions where people can express an opinion, people love to give their two cents! This weeks question is “does pineapple belong on pizza?” And it’s started some great convos! I’ll have to consider how I could do something like that with the partners too. Thank you!!
FairProfessional0 2 points 1y ago
That’s cool! In my comment I meant that you could try doing that in the back with your partners. Maybe by printing/writing the question somewhere and leaving paper slips for partners to vote with. And then start a conversation about the poll question while you’re working with everyone?
GeneralSparklezz 1 points 1y ago
I try get all cleaning and closing tasks done and out of the way so I’m available to help all the way till close. I prep the money and my pull so all we do is kick it and occasionally bar
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