Starbucks Baristas: The daily grind
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MY COWORKER WAS FIRED ON HER BIRTHDAY FOR AN ARGUMENT WITH A CUSTOMER (READ) (self.starbucksbaristas)
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Accomplished-Bad3856 143 points 1y ago
When you have a difficult customer and you feel threatened, (for whatever reason including being recorded against your wishes) retreat and turn the interaction over to your supervisor. It’s their job to smooth the interactions that you cannot. You might get a write up for walking off your position, but you won’t get HR up your tuchus.
[deleted] [OP] 1 points 1y ago
[deleted]
Brgnbo 100 points 1y ago
I understand that its difficult to bite your tongue but in all honesty there’s so many better ways to handle it. Instead of talking back to him, brush it off and walk away. Instead of giving him something to record, walk away. Instead of touching his property (in his car which is also his property), walk away. Not saying he wasn’t a jerk and not saying she wasn’t justified but this could’ve been handled better.
jazzysoranio 23 points 1y ago
Yeah, it’s absolutely NOT easy and NOT fair that we have to do that. But if we’re putting our own best interests first it’s just what we need to and should do. Reacting by knocking the camera away and voicing some comebacks is totally and completely justified in my opinion, BUT that doesn’t mean you’ll like the outcome if you do it. Sometimes it’s the better choice for ourselves to just let assholes like that customer punish themselves.
Brgnbo 9 points 1y ago
Exactly, sometimes you just gotta make that realization that you’re at work and your actions (right or not) do have consequences. I like to let the customer throw a tantrum so in the end they look stupid and I got a show.
jazzysoranio 3 points 1y ago
I know right! Customers don’t realize that they’re punishing themselves when they do that because A) if they ever show up again we’re all gonna remember them B) all the other customers see them and know what a piece of shit they are C) if they’re that way at Starbucks you know they’re that way EVERYWHERE, which means they probably have a long trail of people around the world who hate them. And if they act that way here, they act that way at every restaurant which means you KNOW they’re regularly getting waiter spit in their food. (btw, that’s a felony, don’t do it. But you also know it happens! So just don’t be a dick to your wait staff!)
As a customer service worker in those situations I just take it as the universe showing me a glimpse of how awful of a person I could be if I were in their shoes. Seeing those awful people just makes me feel better about myself knowing that people actually care about me and I don’t have to throw adult tantrums just to get attention. And that knowledge gives me the strength to stand there and not crumble when a customer is mean to me. It actually takes a potentially horrible experience and honestly makes it positive and a little entertaining.
As a customer service worker in those situations I just take it as the universe showing me a glimpse of how awful of a person I could be if I were in their shoes. Seeing those awful people just makes me feel better about myself knowing that people actually care about me and I don’t have to throw adult tantrums just to get attention. And that knowledge gives me the strength to stand there and not crumble when a customer is mean to me. It actually takes a potentially horrible experience and honestly makes it positive and a little entertaining.
Freezykiwi 79 points 1y ago
I'm going to be honest . . . he shouldn't have been recording her but unfortunately that doesn't justify her knocking the phone from his hand.
Ricepaper97 38 points 1y ago
"I'm sorry, I do not consent to being recorded. This conversation is over until you put away your camera."
Then walk away, get a SSV or manager if theyre there. Have them handle it.
I dont think she should've been fired but there was definitely better ways to handle this situation.
Then walk away, get a SSV or manager if theyre there. Have them handle it.
I dont think she should've been fired but there was definitely better ways to handle this situation.
YslMarco 19 points 1y ago
See if we had a union, she would have someone in her corner with bs like this
rlogranite -20 points 1y ago
A union would only make things worse.
YslMarco 11 points 1y ago
Oh really? Plz explain. Idk how better pay and leverage against employers is making things worse
rlogranite -14 points 1y ago
I don't think that would be the case but we can respectfully agree to disagree.
Murder-of-Crows8 6 points 1y ago
Wake up - a union isn’t going to fix rude, entitled customers. Frankly she threw the first “punch” with the “waiting like we learned in school line”. Stop and think before you say anything.
BlackberryOpposite31 17 points 1y ago
I agree with other commenters. She should have just walked away and let the SSV know what was happening. There was no reason for her to walk up close to him and knock his phone from his hand. He was obviously being an ass and I understand she felt threatened but sometimes it’s best to just walk away.
aspiringgrandpa 16 points 1y ago
it sucks but it’s a lesson in walking away. hitting someone even if it’s just their phone usually isn’t the correct response in these situations.
peepeepoopaccount 14 points 1y ago
Oof. A very rough situation unfortunately and sad she was being harassed, but I can see how knocking a camera out of his hand can be considered a fire able offense….. does kind of suck though how customers can get away with much more.
rlogranite 12 points 1y ago
Honestly, she should never have knocked the phone from his hand. In most states that's an assault and can get you arrested. That will get you fired from any job.
throwawayfornsq1 11 points 1y ago
IANAL, but two things.
1) If she touched the camera only, its not battery. It seems charges wont stick but “investigations” do involve suspensions usually.
2) some states are either single-party or multi-party consent states.
Was she fired or suspended? You can/might argue about civil harassment, but i can not know if that can stick or succeed. Once again, NAL.
1) If she touched the camera only, its not battery. It seems charges wont stick but “investigations” do involve suspensions usually.
2) some states are either single-party or multi-party consent states.
Was she fired or suspended? You can/might argue about civil harassment, but i can not know if that can stick or succeed. Once again, NAL.
rszdemon 6 points 1y ago
It’s assault, though. He can claim he felt threatened because she touched the camera and did not ask for permission. Assault just means it was an attempt, and is much harder to defend against than battery. Especially if he has video of her even TOUCHING the phone.
ThisGuyTokes420 9 points 1y ago
Yeah, I'd fire her too. Obviously can't handle someone being impatient, don't need to be snide just because someone is impatient, and it's common sense not to engage if someone wants to record.
Customers and the general public are GOING to be difficult, especially if they've never worked in the service industry. If you can't handle just a little bit of impatience, then you don't belong in a high stress work environment.
Customers and the general public are GOING to be difficult, especially if they've never worked in the service industry. If you can't handle just a little bit of impatience, then you don't belong in a high stress work environment.
Euphoric_Collar565 -8 points 1y ago
Hey newbie I hope your shifts and baristas don’t defend you when you finally meet your match at work. I can’t believe your a new employee and have the audacity to give your opinion about how she handled her situation. I asked for how we can seek justice for this situation not your high school opinion. Thanks tho loser
ThisGuyTokes420 6 points 1y ago
Lmao I've dealt with customer service for over 10 years and made it to manager at 2 fast food places by the time I was 20. I've taken over 100 college courses ranging from business to welding to finance... I'm 25, have my own home, am very close to becoming a certified golf pro, and I'm sure I have the emotional maturity to say that IF I ever meet my match, I would handle it in a way that doesn't give any reason for anyone to say I had done anything to instigate.
Good luck trying to get "justice" and enabling entitled and bratty behavior while at work. ✌️
Good luck trying to get "justice" and enabling entitled and bratty behavior while at work. ✌️
symebe 5 points 1y ago
It’s so hard for people to say what she should’ve done in this situation but who really knows bc you’re not her & it didn’t happen to you. Imagine having to constantly deal with someone degrading you and ruining any potential job you’ll have in the future just bc they can’t wait in line like everyone else. She’s a person first… the job comes second. Don’t record without permission.
drinkliquidclocks 5 points 1y ago
It’s sad she got fired but yeah, she should have walked away the minute it started escalating at all. That’s what managers are for.
darkwolf523 5 points 1y ago
Wasn’t there a thing in a weekly update from Starbucks that we have to tell customers to not record? I can’t remember but also why tf did he decide to record her in the first place? It’s legit wasn’t her fault that the DT card reader was down. She was only doing what was right by telling customers that the card reader wasn’t working and to probably come inside if they had cash on them instead. (I’m assuming this is when Starbucks decide to poop on the card readers for a whole day)
mewwissa 3 points 1y ago
Did the guy deserve it? Yes. But now she’s caused a liability for the company. Starbucks will have to answer to that creep now. There’s better ways of handling people like that and shutting them down instead of giving them the power.
mission_accident-773 2 points 1y ago
y'all need to learn that in customer service retail or any customer interaction unless youre a manager when things get heated stop and go get a manager it has nothing to do w you and you do not get paid enough the moment they start recording is the moment you ignore them and have a manager handle it you are not trained by the company to handle these issues you are not trained in deescalation and you were not trained to handle things the company wants done a certain way get a manager always I dont care what the customer did before the girl hit his phone she did something she wasn't suppose to and she has to deal w the consequences that follow in the future learn from her bad choices get a manager and stop even acknowledging a customers existence the moment a recording is happening
mission_accident-773 2 points 1y ago
like the one thing I beg yall to become comfortable with is let me go get my manager for you and if a recording is happening DONT EVEN ACT LIKE A CUSTOMER IS THERE literally say nothing to them dont even look at them go get a manger youre not trained nor paid enough to deal w these issues
Teftthebridgeman 2 points 1y ago
yeah, what sucks is you have to know when to walk away from customer service situations which feels really wrong if you dont have experience with it.
It is something that took me years to accept, but sometimes no matter how you act, things will be going south for you if you continue interacting with that person.
Its time like this you take a deep breath, make an excuse to walk away, contact your shift/manager and let them know they need to deal with said person directly.
overall, just a bad situation that turned out poorly.
It is something that took me years to accept, but sometimes no matter how you act, things will be going south for you if you continue interacting with that person.
Its time like this you take a deep breath, make an excuse to walk away, contact your shift/manager and let them know they need to deal with said person directly.
overall, just a bad situation that turned out poorly.
KiwiBeginning4 1 points 1y ago
she couldn't control her emotions but she shouldnt have been fired. typical starbucks
kristis3233 -2 points 1y ago
I would be the instigator in that situation 😈 “ oh you wanna record me, be sure & get my good side
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