Starbucks Baristas: The daily grind
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Would you walk out if… (self.starbucksbaristas)
submitted by sadthrow420
You were handed a double sided paper with “non-negotiable partner guidelines” such as (and this is a direct quote!):
“Partners are not socializing with friends and family unless on a break or lunch”
“Partners are to stay busy at ALL times. NO standing around with your hands on your hips or leaning on the counter. (You are stealing time when you are clocked in and on your phone or not task/customer focused)”
“There will be absolutely NO CURSING of any kind in the store. (This includes playing inappropriate music in the BOH.)”
“Eating and Drinking (this includes chewing gum) are prohibited in the Front of house work area.”
“Partners are not allowed to stand in the BOH and talk while on or off the clock”
“Partners are expected to arrive at work in dress code and to be clocked in on time every day. (Not a minute later)”
“No BREAKS OR LUNCHES DURING PEAK”
It ranges from just describing the job duties to being unnecessarily condescending.
Our store is quite well behaved (at least during morning shifts when I’m there), so I can’t imagine this is actually necessary! Only a few of our partners are under 18, most are over 20, so it’s not like we’re kids who need to be scolded. It seems disrespectful to me, like we don’t deserve to be treated like people. Instead they have us sign this excessive paper so they can write us up if we dare lean against a counter.
Like we can’t drink water in the front of house or back of house? We can’t stand still for too long? And instead of talking to us like people you write it down and say sign this or get fired? Seriously? I thought this store had a good store manager…
I’m seriously reconsidering this job if this is how they choose to solve “problems.”
*this was written by our store manager, not a district manager*
Edit: I put in my two weeks, my SM and ASM called me over to chat and we talked about the whole thing. They said none of the items on the list are directed at me and that I’m a great barista. I told them that doesn’t matter and that having a disrespectful and condescending tone toward any of the baristas reflects poorly on management. I said I didn’t want to work for people who were that condescending to their subordinates. They apologized and we talked about how they could’ve handled it better and some other issues I’ve seen around the store. Overall they were just as nice and respectful as they always have been. They acknowledged that it wasn’t the best way to create change and I agreed to not quit. We’ll see how it goes.
“Partners are not socializing with friends and family unless on a break or lunch”
“Partners are to stay busy at ALL times. NO standing around with your hands on your hips or leaning on the counter. (You are stealing time when you are clocked in and on your phone or not task/customer focused)”
“There will be absolutely NO CURSING of any kind in the store. (This includes playing inappropriate music in the BOH.)”
“Eating and Drinking (this includes chewing gum) are prohibited in the Front of house work area.”
“Partners are not allowed to stand in the BOH and talk while on or off the clock”
“Partners are expected to arrive at work in dress code and to be clocked in on time every day. (Not a minute later)”
“No BREAKS OR LUNCHES DURING PEAK”
It ranges from just describing the job duties to being unnecessarily condescending.
Our store is quite well behaved (at least during morning shifts when I’m there), so I can’t imagine this is actually necessary! Only a few of our partners are under 18, most are over 20, so it’s not like we’re kids who need to be scolded. It seems disrespectful to me, like we don’t deserve to be treated like people. Instead they have us sign this excessive paper so they can write us up if we dare lean against a counter.
Like we can’t drink water in the front of house or back of house? We can’t stand still for too long? And instead of talking to us like people you write it down and say sign this or get fired? Seriously? I thought this store had a good store manager…
I’m seriously reconsidering this job if this is how they choose to solve “problems.”
*this was written by our store manager, not a district manager*
Edit: I put in my two weeks, my SM and ASM called me over to chat and we talked about the whole thing. They said none of the items on the list are directed at me and that I’m a great barista. I told them that doesn’t matter and that having a disrespectful and condescending tone toward any of the baristas reflects poorly on management. I said I didn’t want to work for people who were that condescending to their subordinates. They apologized and we talked about how they could’ve handled it better and some other issues I’ve seen around the store. Overall they were just as nice and respectful as they always have been. They acknowledged that it wasn’t the best way to create change and I agreed to not quit. We’ll see how it goes.
bobbysangtheblues 43 points 1y ago
Ya fuck that
aee78 32 points 1y ago
"Eating and Drinking (this includes chewing gum) are prohibited in the Front of house work area.”
That one is actually legitimate, as it's a health code violation.
I wouldn't walk out over that list. Would possibly start take bets about if they'd really fire me over cursing in the back and if so when my last day would be.
That one is actually legitimate, as it's a health code violation.
I wouldn't walk out over that list. Would possibly start take bets about if they'd really fire me over cursing in the back and if so when my last day would be.
sadthrow420 [OP] 11 points 1y ago
Yeah, I don’t really need the job and things have been getting worse and worse the past few weeks. More strict over everything little thing (at least when the ASM/SM are around).
Been debating if it’s worth $12 an hour to put up with the annoyance.
Been debating if it’s worth $12 an hour to put up with the annoyance.
aee78 4 points 1y ago
That's fair. Probably worth looking for another job or just putting in your 2 weeks.
I personally just wouldn't put my coworkers in a bad spot over that list. Now how it's actually handled when the list isn't followed to tee, might be a different story.
I personally just wouldn't put my coworkers in a bad spot over that list. Now how it's actually handled when the list isn't followed to tee, might be a different story.
Ordinary_Theory8534 27 points 1y ago
Most of these seem just like common sense rules or standards that are in place. The only one I see that doesn’t make sense is the no socializing with friends or family during your break? I’m sure there is some leniency to these rules but most of these are things that should be coached/taught and you don’t need a piece of paper to tell you that.
bxthanyc 25 points 1y ago
You actually can get in trouble for drinks on the floor from the health inspectors. But you have a 5 minute grace period to clock in I’m sure you could find that stated somewhere. Also can’t stand in the back and talk? Like are they trying to ruin the moral? Seems odd..
OneRoseDark 7 points 1y ago
You cannot find that somewhere because Starbucks official policy is that any amount of time late is late. 1 minute late is late. and calling ahead is required but does not excuse you from being late.
sadthrow420 [OP] 6 points 1y ago
The only issue I see with “no drinks in FOH” and “no parters allowed in BOH” is that that means we can’t drink water while on shift. Which is an OSHA violation. Like I’m sure that’s an exception that they’d allow in practice but then I could get written up for being in the BOH even though I was just in the back getting a sip of water.
And if they’re being this petty having a paper with rules we have to agree to then it seems they’d be petty enough to write us up for dumb stuff like that.
And if they’re being this petty having a paper with rules we have to agree to then it seems they’d be petty enough to write us up for dumb stuff like that.
Broad-Flounder-4971 3 points 1y ago
The only way to make the wacky customers bearable is socializing with my coworkers. I actually work better when I’m talking to them because adhd. It helps me to stop overthinking bar and I am so much more efficient.
YellowSphinx 3 points 1y ago
As someone who used to have coworkers arrive in their pajamas, punch in and be missing for an hour. I kind of get it.
Caaboose 3 points 1y ago
The items on the list aren't really the problem so much as the attitude it was written with. It's condescending - at what point in time did bartering money for services become trading away 8 hours of my life to be disrespected and treated like an unruly child for pocket change? I'm way past interested in working for managers who see themselves as my superior and not part of the same fucking team.
Tallgirl_Pro 3 points 1y ago
This wording is super disrespectful
different_as_can_be 3 points 1y ago
most of these are/were standards, at least while i was there. but to me it would be the principle of the thing. the passive aggressiveness of handing me a paper listing the rules i already know with other ridiculous one(s)? nope. no clue what i would’ve done in reality, but i do know i would’ve been looking to transfer or for a new job. i don’t do that level of immaturity from managers, and i had a pretty shitty one at that.
sadthrow420 [OP] 4 points 1y ago
This! This! These are fine rules most of which I already agreed to when I got the job. But it’s such a bad way to get people to follow the rules. Like I’d follow any rule they wanted if I got paid more. I’d be fine if they had a conversation with us instead of threatening us with a snarky piece of paper and a write-up.
Adeptness-Lucky 3 points 1y ago
I gotta say I’m on board with these, in a perfect world (with the exception of not standing around talking in BOH off the clock…basically pretty silly)…but I truly take issue with how condescending and abrasive the wording is.
You can expect the best out of your team, but for goodness sakes no team is going to want to work that for a manger who treats them like naughty children.
You can expect the best out of your team, but for goodness sakes no team is going to want to work that for a manger who treats them like naughty children.
sadthrow420 [OP] 1 points 1y ago
<3 thank you for understanding my annoyance. They’ve been starting to enforce a bunch of stuff like giving every customer a genuine greeting when they walk in and wearing black shoes. But all that stuff they brought up through a discussion. “Hey we want people to feel welcome so no more robotic “welcome in!” You gotta make eye contact and say hello and follow them to the mobile orders if you’re on bar 2.” Like okay, cool. I think it’s weird and I wouldn’t like it if I was a customer coming in but fine! Just talk to me, treat me like a person deserving respect.
tinseltesseract 2 points 1y ago
These are technically all rules that already exist and either are or aren’t followed consistently depending on how seriously any given store takes them, but there’s absolutely no need for your SM to be this weird and petty about it, that’s overkill lol.
impasse602 2 points 1y ago
Drinking is prohibited? Isnt that like an OSHA violation?
TylerJ716 1 points 1y ago
Some of it I get but DEFINITELY not the first two
fuwaldah 1 points 1y ago
>“Partners are not socializing with friends and family unless on a break or lunch”
I would ask for more information.
>“There will be absolutely NO CURSING of any kind in the store.
That's a reasonable expectation.
>“Eating and Drinking (this includes chewing gum) are prohibited in the Front of house work area.”
That's a Starbucks policy dictated by health code.
>“Partners are expected to arrive at work in dress code and to be clocked in on time every day. (Not a minute later)”
Seems self explanatory. Get to work on time and be on the floor, ready to work when you clock in.
>“No BREAKS OR LUNCHES DURING PEAK”
Starbucks expectation. If it's not possible, talk to your SM about brining in another partner during peak so breaks won't impact things.
All in all, these are all Starbucks standards. I'm not sure why you're finding to be so egregious
I would ask for more information.
>“There will be absolutely NO CURSING of any kind in the store.
That's a reasonable expectation.
>“Eating and Drinking (this includes chewing gum) are prohibited in the Front of house work area.”
That's a Starbucks policy dictated by health code.
>“Partners are expected to arrive at work in dress code and to be clocked in on time every day. (Not a minute later)”
Seems self explanatory. Get to work on time and be on the floor, ready to work when you clock in.
>“No BREAKS OR LUNCHES DURING PEAK”
Starbucks expectation. If it's not possible, talk to your SM about brining in another partner during peak so breaks won't impact things.
All in all, these are all Starbucks standards. I'm not sure why you're finding to be so egregious
sadthrow420 [OP] 1 points 1y ago
It’s not the items themselves, but the condescending tone the whole thing is written in. Like we agreed to these rules when we were hired, if you’re having such a problem you need to type up a whole paper then just talk to the people who aren’t following them. I told my boss this, he said that most everybody is following the rules already, but some are abusing his leniency - so if only a few are the issue then why type up an aggressive sounding paper and ask everybody to sign it? Just talk to them like a person deserving of respect. He realized his mistake and apologized because he’s a good manager.
fuwaldah 1 points 1y ago
Ok then.
willardrider 1 points 1y ago
So…your boss texting or emailing you when you’re not clocked in at work would be stealing your time. Live by the sword, die by the sword, as they say. If you need a shift covered, make sure you only contact me about it when I’m on the clock.
trentablondelatte 1 points 1y ago
ew, that’s it’s, ew. Ur manager is running a prison. You should be able to have fun at work. Yes it’s work but if you’re not having a little bit of fun then ur not gonna preform ur best which is bad for the company. There is a few that make sense like no eating or drinking on the floor. But sometimes u just need a break and everything is cleaned and stalked so u just stand there for a minute. You’re manager shouldn’t be as aggressive as he/she is. If a family member or friend walks in why cannot you have a conversation while working? They are still a customer…. And you’re supposed to have customer connections….
Due_Ad_6793 1 points 1y ago
I'd convince as many of my coworkers as possible to come in 5-10 min early and stay over to 'finish a task' to eat through your stores hours. When your store starts losing multiple hours a day to this shit maybe your manager will understand that being a minute late isn't really an issue. I'm chronically late (working on it), but I stay over almost every day because I always finish my tasks. So my manager isn't really upset about it.
Also, have people set STRICT availability hours. You say you can only work until 7pm? Clock out and leave at 7pm. (You'll have to tell your shift, but what are they gonna do? Say no? You aren't available at 7:01, sorry, bye). Also, check your manager on every rule they give you. They have to follow those policies too.
On a petty level, if they miss your break before peak and you work 4 hours w/o one, bring up that they are breaking federal law. I went home early one day because they missed my lunch (6 1/2 hour shift), because I'm not obligated to work more than 6 hours without one. They haven't missed it since. Probably because the play caller had to take my place for 45 minutes.
Also, have people set STRICT availability hours. You say you can only work until 7pm? Clock out and leave at 7pm. (You'll have to tell your shift, but what are they gonna do? Say no? You aren't available at 7:01, sorry, bye). Also, check your manager on every rule they give you. They have to follow those policies too.
On a petty level, if they miss your break before peak and you work 4 hours w/o one, bring up that they are breaking federal law. I went home early one day because they missed my lunch (6 1/2 hour shift), because I'm not obligated to work more than 6 hours without one. They haven't missed it since. Probably because the play caller had to take my place for 45 minutes.
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