Starbucks Baristas: The daily grind
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how to help younger partners with a sense of urgency. (self.starbucksbaristas)
submitted by Ok-Inspector1108
Like the like says I'm kind of wondering how to help younger partners get that sense of urgency.
Anyways today was a day like most Saturdays are. Ssv called off because they weren't feeling well. So when I came in for my shift it was already a disaster. Everyone did great and we caught up magnificently.
Fast forward and the younger partners comes in later into the day and we go from having no line back to 10 minute queues almost instantly and like all the beverages half done. So im doing the best I can to DTO/DTW/restock/support bar and grab food.
Like I get it wasn't a great situation. As I was calling out that needed beverages for the window I just got the I dont care look.
So I want to ask you all, how would you help younger partners get that sense of urgency. I would like to say this was a one off, this is usual evening behavior for our store. Which I totally get because it's super slow for us past 7pm.
Anyways today was a day like most Saturdays are. Ssv called off because they weren't feeling well. So when I came in for my shift it was already a disaster. Everyone did great and we caught up magnificently.
Fast forward and the younger partners comes in later into the day and we go from having no line back to 10 minute queues almost instantly and like all the beverages half done. So im doing the best I can to DTO/DTW/restock/support bar and grab food.
Like I get it wasn't a great situation. As I was calling out that needed beverages for the window I just got the I dont care look.
So I want to ask you all, how would you help younger partners get that sense of urgency. I would like to say this was a one off, this is usual evening behavior for our store. Which I totally get because it's super slow for us past 7pm.
SolThePooh 58 points 1y ago
Honestly the way I try to explain it is that the faster we get through the line in drive, the more time we have to goof around and get prep/cleaning done without having to rush! I’m a new SSV at my store and I struggle with this as well!
Ok-Inspector1108 [OP] 13 points 1y ago
I'll definitely try bringing that up. I think that could work really well with some partners. I'm not a SSV yet. I'm always an opener/morning with an occasional 2nd shift. I just kinda stepped into the position today with our shift calling off and our ASM being not super comfortable yet.
SolThePooh 4 points 1y ago
Yeah hopefully that helps them with trying to be faster! It’s pretty frustrating trying to have good times during peak when some partners don’t really care 🫤
Ok-Inspector1108 [OP] 5 points 1y ago
Yea not being an SSV but trying to move up has left me in a weird spot. Like I try to coach and help the store run smoother. Then I get feedback from my SM about my tone, or I feel like I just don't get listened to since I'm still a barista.
cpv_91 4 points 1y ago
I totally get you (I've been with the siren 16+ yrs, was SSV, self-demoted.. fam obligations anyway) I always feel in the same strange spot, as well. I try to coach the newer partners
>Then I get feedback from my SM about my tone, or I feel like I just don't get listened to since I'm still a barista.
It's extremely frustrating. I work opens, so this happens during peak, which is even worse.
>Then I get feedback from my SM about my tone, or I feel like I just don't get listened to since I'm still a barista.
It's extremely frustrating. I work opens, so this happens during peak, which is even worse.
lilkiosk 2 points 1y ago
Yes. This! The babies at my store definitely have issues going quickly especially because a lot of them are used to the slower after school vibes during the week so on the weekend they don’t really adjust. But I do this with them all the time. I have been playing this game with the younger partners at my store where we try to invent the most disgusting drinks. I WILL NOT play this game unless we get stuff done and we aren’t busy (obviously) so they’ll be telling me their ideas and I’ll be like “yessss we should absolutely try that once we get x, y, z done!” Productivity with them is definitely better. We have a couple who don’t play the game and now I have dropped a bunch of hours so I have been told we have a little more of the high school style gossip instead. But overall, letting them know there is fun in store if they get stuff done almost always works! :)
Edit to say that I really only push the speed because I too wanna have fun and get the heck out of there on time when I close. At this point, the siren is just where I hang out with friends so the little fun corporate stats are not a major concern of mine these days.
Edit to say that I really only push the speed because I too wanna have fun and get the heck out of there on time when I close. At this point, the siren is just where I hang out with friends so the little fun corporate stats are not a major concern of mine these days.
targetdollarsection 17 points 1y ago
we struggle with this at my store as well, we have a lot of high schoolers working particularly on weekends and end up not knowing what to do during heavy peaks. it comes down to the individual at the end of the day, it's hard to get someone to be more efficient sometimes, and often times i end up telling them that if they don't pick up the pace i'll have to put them on a position that is less time-sensitive (like cafe reg, which none of my partners really like). i hate doing stuff like that, but it puts them in a planted spot that i don't have to worry about drive times or them moving too slow on a position like CS or warming
Ok-Inspector1108 [OP] 4 points 1y ago
I'll keep that in mind as well. I appreciate the advice. I dont want to be the mean barista. I'm always watching those DT times.
targetdollarsection 2 points 1y ago
i really hate being the mean one, but a lot of my other shifts aren't willing to be the one to do it so i'm fine with sucking it up, i don't plan on staying at sbux much longer if i can avoid it but if i can keep my times low & our productivity high i'm okay with a few kids disliking me 😔 i'd prefer to be as chill as possible but sometimes it is what it is
noahaiken 12 points 1y ago
We don't get paid enough to work as hard as Starbucks expects. As long as your keeping busy, that's enough.
HSinvestor 12 points 1y ago
I'm a younger partner myself, and my co-workers say I work like a hurricane, and maybe slowing down and not running may not be too bad lmao (doesn't mean I skimp on drink making tho, I'm like the only one at our store who dares pour latte art.
That being said, I like taking things the fast lane.
My opinion is that if you can't instill that fast urgency, they shouldn't work...
That being said, I like taking things the fast lane.
My opinion is that if you can't instill that fast urgency, they shouldn't work...
Ok-Inspector1108 [OP] 3 points 1y ago
I'm sure your local store partners appreciate you. And yea definitely not running dont want to hurt yourself or others.
[deleted] 9 points 1y ago
The combination of burnout, verbal abuse on the daily, bad pay, and personal life probably should be considered more. There are a lot of teenagers who just do not care. I don’t blame them. The labor margins at Starbucks are seriously disgusting (at my store anyway), so it is really easy to resent and retaliate even though the shift doesn’t deserve that behavior
sheep_heavenly 7 points 1y ago
Is that actually why they're not working to production speed? A sense of urgency doesn't mean much, are they not sequencing? Goofing off on their phones/in general? If they're focused on what they're supposed to be doing and they're following proper standard as far as how their role is meant to be done then the issue is the level of staffing or how experienced they are in the role, you can't coach either one. One is corporates fault and the other is solved by support over time, including the labor to support business and growth.
I'd have a talk with them about it and ask how you can support them. Be frank and explain that it puts extra strain on the employees that aren't goofing off. Be a team player and all that jazz. But if it's a lack of staffing or experience... Idk, I hate the toxic capitalist "just work harder" instead of demanding better work conditions.
I'd have a talk with them about it and ask how you can support them. Be frank and explain that it puts extra strain on the employees that aren't goofing off. Be a team player and all that jazz. But if it's a lack of staffing or experience... Idk, I hate the toxic capitalist "just work harder" instead of demanding better work conditions.
Ok-Inspector1108 [OP] 0 points 1y ago
I wish I could give you a definitive answer.
As far as I could tell;
Yes they were sequencing
I did not see a phone or them goofing off
I can't really say on experience level except they have been with us for a decent amount of time.
The only real comment they made was that they were tired when they came in.
What I noticed was approximate times for the following beverages
1:30 venti iced Chai
1:45 venti iced Caramel macchiato
1:50/2:15-:30 for grande/venti Frappuccinos
2:00 for refreshers.
As far as I could tell;
Yes they were sequencing
I did not see a phone or them goofing off
I can't really say on experience level except they have been with us for a decent amount of time.
The only real comment they made was that they were tired when they came in.
What I noticed was approximate times for the following beverages
1:30 venti iced Chai
1:45 venti iced Caramel macchiato
1:50/2:15-:30 for grande/venti Frappuccinos
2:00 for refreshers.
sheep_heavenly 7 points 1y ago
There's no way. Either they're more productive than you recognize, you're not accurately estimating the time, or there's serious gaps in knowledge because 1:30 for an iced chai is obscene. Not even a brand new barista being taught to make it would take that long, including the instruction on how to do it.
cookiemonstah87 7 points 1y ago
I dunno, we have a couple new people who take obscene amounts of time on things simply because they move really slow. They don't goof off or anything, they just look like they're in slow motion
ihateyousoymatcha 4 points 1y ago
You'd be surprised. My store also has several newer partners, and they know the recipes and how to sequence. But they genuinely just move *really slow*. Not quite Sloth-from-Zootopio-slow, but significantly slower than other partners.
I've been trying to wrap my brain around the same issue OP is having. Ours just don't understand that they can be moving quicker.
We've just started putting them on the least busiest bar position and handing them drink stickers as soon as they're hands aren't busy. At least one of them is picking up speed because she started noticing how fast the other bar was busting out drinks.
I've been trying to wrap my brain around the same issue OP is having. Ours just don't understand that they can be moving quicker.
We've just started putting them on the least busiest bar position and handing them drink stickers as soon as they're hands aren't busy. At least one of them is picking up speed because she started noticing how fast the other bar was busting out drinks.
Ok-Inspector1108 [OP] 1 points 1y ago
Its more so this. We have a younger partner who does have that sense of urgency who was running circles around this partner.
Ok-Inspector1108 [OP] 1 points 1y ago
If you seen them take 5-10s to pump a single pump of chai, run to go grab/heat up a chocolate crossaint, and be back then just find the drink hitting the counter with no lid.
I absolutely agree it was obscene. I wish I was making the times up. I watched 4 cars go 10min plus for 6 drinks. 2 of which were grande vsc ncb. I was having to finish a lot of the refreshers/Frappuccino since they were incomplete.
I absolutely agree it was obscene. I wish I was making the times up. I watched 4 cars go 10min plus for 6 drinks. 2 of which were grande vsc ncb. I was having to finish a lot of the refreshers/Frappuccino since they were incomplete.
sheep_heavenly 1 points 1y ago
Then you have to literally stand there with them to sort out how to fix it because that's not possible. There's just no actual way to take that long.
marshmallowlatte 2 points 1y ago
But like this for real, I had this exact conversation with my SSV I opened with the other morning.
Like I’ve been with the siren for 4 years now as a core opener on the weekdays and Saturdays, and there’s only maybe maximum 5 of us out of 27 people that have been with the company at least 4 years or more; one of my coworkers has been here almost 10 years. Our ages range from 23-31.
So the remaining 22 partners range from 299-321’s, and the age range is 17-23 mostly. So you know, not too young or anything but still has responsibilities in school and home.
Anywho, we were talking about how or what to do to try to help or guide our younger (in terms of partner # range) how to move with urgency? Like…it’s the same thing. They’re not really goofing off on phones or anything, not just my SSV but I also like to check in with fellow partners how they’re doing, most times everyone is good and chipper but my gosh…they move so slowly like the sloth from Zootopia.
A car waited at the window for 3:30 for a pink drink…a venti pink drink w/vccf.
2:30 for grande iced chai with oatmilk.
5:10 for a Venti mocha and a bacon Gouda. It wasn’t even busy because Good Friday was pretty slow for us.
Done extra coaching, done extra guiding, done the whole nine yards. 🫠 I’m one of the barista trainers alongside the SSV’s who are trainers too, and we’re all just confused & slightly frustrated??
Because of that, majority of the time us older partners end up on bar to keep times down plus keep up with mobile orders, but it’s still pointless cause unfortunately the newer ones will move just as slowly on oven and DTO/R to the point I’m bounced around different positions.
(And when I mean for moving slowly on DTO/R…I actually mean they just stand there like 🧍♀️/🧍 and stare at the baristas on bar.)
I wish I knew what the heck to do or what is even possible cause lmao??? They can’t even be considered new cause they’ve all been here more than 5 months.
Added: I should note I really don’t try or come off as intimidating or condescending either…like I’ve talked to a few of them before when they felt down or doubtful if they’ll ever get faster or in their own words “good as you”. I tell them to not to compare themselves to me because we are different people who have different places plus I’ve been at this for quite longer than they have, but have been in the same spot as them. I struggled a lot in the beginning too, but I guess at this rate now…oof I’m getting burned out myself cause I feel like my hands are tied of how else to help them improve.
Especially since I’m transferring to another state in a month, and already my coworkers are dreading it (even regulars..) cause mornings are gonna be rough for awhile.
Like I’ve been with the siren for 4 years now as a core opener on the weekdays and Saturdays, and there’s only maybe maximum 5 of us out of 27 people that have been with the company at least 4 years or more; one of my coworkers has been here almost 10 years. Our ages range from 23-31.
So the remaining 22 partners range from 299-321’s, and the age range is 17-23 mostly. So you know, not too young or anything but still has responsibilities in school and home.
Anywho, we were talking about how or what to do to try to help or guide our younger (in terms of partner # range) how to move with urgency? Like…it’s the same thing. They’re not really goofing off on phones or anything, not just my SSV but I also like to check in with fellow partners how they’re doing, most times everyone is good and chipper but my gosh…they move so slowly like the sloth from Zootopia.
A car waited at the window for 3:30 for a pink drink…a venti pink drink w/vccf.
2:30 for grande iced chai with oatmilk.
5:10 for a Venti mocha and a bacon Gouda. It wasn’t even busy because Good Friday was pretty slow for us.
Done extra coaching, done extra guiding, done the whole nine yards. 🫠 I’m one of the barista trainers alongside the SSV’s who are trainers too, and we’re all just confused & slightly frustrated??
Because of that, majority of the time us older partners end up on bar to keep times down plus keep up with mobile orders, but it’s still pointless cause unfortunately the newer ones will move just as slowly on oven and DTO/R to the point I’m bounced around different positions.
(And when I mean for moving slowly on DTO/R…I actually mean they just stand there like 🧍♀️/🧍 and stare at the baristas on bar.)
I wish I knew what the heck to do or what is even possible cause lmao??? They can’t even be considered new cause they’ve all been here more than 5 months.
Added: I should note I really don’t try or come off as intimidating or condescending either…like I’ve talked to a few of them before when they felt down or doubtful if they’ll ever get faster or in their own words “good as you”. I tell them to not to compare themselves to me because we are different people who have different places plus I’ve been at this for quite longer than they have, but have been in the same spot as them. I struggled a lot in the beginning too, but I guess at this rate now…oof I’m getting burned out myself cause I feel like my hands are tied of how else to help them improve.
Especially since I’m transferring to another state in a month, and already my coworkers are dreading it (even regulars..) cause mornings are gonna be rough for awhile.
lipz5 3 points 1y ago
So here’s the thing I’m a 16 year old barista trainer and they just gotta learn the hard way if they don’t show up ready to do there job the best they can then there not doing there job, everyone has rough days but if you consistently have the “I don’t care” attitude then why have a job ya know? Anyway that’s my 2 cents I think they just need to have a serious sit down 1 on 1 to scare them
aee78 2 points 1y ago
Could you pull them and put them somewhere else?? I've done that before and had to jump on bar to unbury ourselves.
I'm also a big fan of reward and punishment. I've always worked cafe stores, but you could probably make it work with drive thru times. I try to make it a game. For example, whoever out greets me, gets an extra 10. Who ever I out greet the most, is cleaning the rest rooms tonight. There have been times, everyone gets at least an extra 5 or I've let them have the extra 10 next shift we work together.
I'm also a big fan of reward and punishment. I've always worked cafe stores, but you could probably make it work with drive thru times. I try to make it a game. For example, whoever out greets me, gets an extra 10. Who ever I out greet the most, is cleaning the rest rooms tonight. There have been times, everyone gets at least an extra 5 or I've let them have the extra 10 next shift we work together.
uwumoment 2 points 1y ago
i like the other peoples suggestions here just don’t be like one of my ssvs and go “i need you to hurry up”.
cookiemonstah87 2 points 1y ago
Sometimes you can't, unfortunately. Especially if they're young enough that this is their first job or they just want some spending money and don't actually need it.
Ok-Inspector1108 [OP] 1 points 1y ago
I'm hoping that's not the case. If it is. I can definitely used some of the feedback that has been given by other redditors/partners.
CKBTB9504 2 points 1y ago
The easiest answer our store has found has to give them very specific tasks. Also and I know it’s not great, but don’t do everything, come Monday we are without our best barista as they have moved onto a different career… our peak is going to suffer, fingers crossed everyone steps up!
Ok-Inspector1108 [OP] 2 points 1y ago
That is also a good idea. How would you suggest doing this if their only role was drive bar?
CKBTB9504 2 points 1y ago
Are they starting the drinks as people order? Like if people say grande strawberry açaí lemonade refresher… that should be able to be done before dto pushes it through… obviously there are more complicated drinks that you really need a sticker for. When you have some downtime ask them what their having issues with. What drinks are hard for them, keep the communication open. We have two young kids that completely shut down when stressed… so if I see them getting overwhelmed I boost them up with encouragement… one is perfect on dto, the other is starting to kick butt in warming during peak… except when we get 10 grill cheese at 7:30am! Ha!
At night before your dto leaves make sure their area is restocked, while it’s slow they can make backup frappe roast, caramel, chai, etc. The more they stay on top of things the more practice time they can get. I know our DM,SM, and ASM would rather take a loss on a few practice drinks then lose customers permanently.
At night before your dto leaves make sure their area is restocked, while it’s slow they can make backup frappe roast, caramel, chai, etc. The more they stay on top of things the more practice time they can get. I know our DM,SM, and ASM would rather take a loss on a few practice drinks then lose customers permanently.
Ok-Inspector1108 [OP] 1 points 1y ago
In this particular case they did not wear a headset even though 4 were available. As for drink orders, things were definitely out of order. I should of paid more attention to what beverage they were on.
Time was 12:30p to 2:30p.
It really wasn't a busy time. Our Saturday peak is from 8:30 to 10:30, in the case of yesterday 7:30 to 12:00p. When they came in we had no line and was cleaning what we could after being short staffed.
Our ASM switched to dishes/ssv responsibilities. He is a green bean.
I did ask them what I could do to help and I got a snide response of nothing.
Time was 12:30p to 2:30p.
It really wasn't a busy time. Our Saturday peak is from 8:30 to 10:30, in the case of yesterday 7:30 to 12:00p. When they came in we had no line and was cleaning what we could after being short staffed.
Our ASM switched to dishes/ssv responsibilities. He is a green bean.
I did ask them what I could do to help and I got a snide response of nothing.
No-Pearl000 1 points 1y ago
at my store, we always help each other regardless of who’s on bar. whether it’s our fastest partner or our slowest partner. to be good at bar you have to have practice.
musically_shifted 1 points 1y ago
I think this is one SSV and manager to make sure training is to par. But what you can do is like people have mentioned, the faster we get through it the faster we can knock out closing duties and have a breather. Make sure for every critique you give two positives too! “Hey, you really crushed it on the last half. I would however recommend xyz. You are also so great at making beautiful beverages!”
catarinavanilla 1 points 1y ago
I honestly feel like it’s either you have it or you don’t kind of situation. I know countless people where things just literally don’t occur to them, and I mean that in the broadest sense encompassing just about everything in their lives. It’s kind of sad but I think it can be intrinsically taught with adverse situations where they only have themselves to depend on, i.e. life experience. But sometimes people don’t learn and just go through life oblivious af to their responsibilities to themselves and others
InstanceOk6411 0 points 1y ago
Offer to switch. Stick them in drive thru so they can see how it feels and better understand? Not sure!
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