Starbucks Baristas: The daily grind
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Advice please :( - Calling out/Got hurt on the floor (self.starbucksbaristas)
submitted by Jaansi_
I was working DTO/window this evening and in a freak accident got stung by a bee. I’m quite allergic to insect bites, though I’ve never been stung by a bee before. I’ve grown up with allergists telling me in probable likely anaphylaxis severity and to not take bee stings lightly. I am swelling up extremely bad and in a lot of pain. I had to run to my car to get my little emergency kit as we did not have antihistamines in our first aid kit. I’m most most probably going to need to go to urgent care in the morning (why are bees around at closing shift time anyway..? Lol) My manager is going to be livid with me if I call out because I work closing shifts and my shift tomorrow is on a Saturday. My manager has been petty with me in the past because I have other health issues that arose on Saturdays coincidentally. And has made comments such as “you can’t call out sick its memorial day weekend” or mentioning to other baristas that I call out a lot. I have extreme anxiety, depression and PTSD and the fear I have for calling out because of said manager’s responses is giving me so much anxiety/panic. I called ethics and compliance and they are just documenting if I call out it IS due to a health emergency.
Update: manager said “please find coverage. We can’t run short staffed”
Any advice?
Update: manager said “please find coverage. We can’t run short staffed”
Any advice?
zedazeni 17 points 11m ago
Send your SM a photo of your bill from the urgent care center and then a picture of the call-out policy followed by a message saying “not my problem, I’ll be in as soon as I’m physically able to work again.”
Edit: you absolutely did do the right think by calling ethics and compliance. Get this documented
Edit: you absolutely did do the right think by calling ethics and compliance. Get this documented
SelocAvrap 9 points 11m ago
Don't send the photo of your bill. Those have lots of identifying information on them. Sending the call out policy is an excellent idea though
zedazeni 3 points 11m ago
Well…blur out that info, but i don’t think leaving the date, purpose for visit, and your own name on it would be that damaging. I figure showing this is an excellent way for OP to prove that OP wasn’t overreacting and had a legitimate reason to call out, plus it puts this on record that OP fully informed his/her SM on the nature of the injury and the resulting treatment.
SelocAvrap 2 points 11m ago
OP shouldn't have to share their medical info to be believed. The purpose for the visit should be allowed to remain private. Calling ethics was the right thing to do
Unrelated, you might find it's easier and more inclusive to say "their" instead of "his/her"
Unrelated, you might find it's easier and more inclusive to say "their" instead of "his/her"
Jaansi_ [OP] 2 points 11m ago
I actually did that though and SM got mad saying they aren’t allowed to look at doctor’s notes theres no winning
zedazeni 0 points 11m ago
I only say this because it’s very clear that OP’s SM either doesn’t know or doesn’t care about Sbux’s sick policy, and if I were in OP’s position, I’d certainly rather play it safe and go above and beyond with the SM than give the SM any reason to blame me (OP).
On your note: in English, using his/her (or her/his) is a grammatically correct way to address an unknown 3rd person singular. If OP wants to share his/her preferred pronouns, then OP will share her/his pronouns, and I will thenceforth address OP as such.
On your note: in English, using his/her (or her/his) is a grammatically correct way to address an unknown 3rd person singular. If OP wants to share his/her preferred pronouns, then OP will share her/his pronouns, and I will thenceforth address OP as such.
Jaansi_ [OP] 2 points 11m ago
Your response made me smile. Kinda like a little virtual pat on the back! Thank you very very much for your response! I’m so scared of retaliation that I feel if I were to send SM the policy they’d get so petty and hate me even more. SM has forced me out of the company soon, as soon as I find a better job I’m OUT (sad though because I do love my barista babes)
fuwaldah 2 points 11m ago
> followed by a message saying “not my problem, I’ll be in as soon as I’m physically able to work again.”
It wouldn't hurt to be polite.
It wouldn't hurt to be polite.
zedazeni 3 points 11m ago
It wouldn’t hurt for the SM to know Sbux’s call-out policy regarding injury and illness…if you’re an SM you better know every policy. There’s little excuse for this, and it seems that what OP is complaining about in this post is just the latest in a pattern of mismanagement.
Jaansi_ [OP] 1 points 11m ago
100%! This!!!
jazzysoranio 4 points 11m ago
Oh, your manager is awful. It is NOT policy for you to have to find coverage for medical emergencies or illness. You are only required to find your own coverage if you are trying to plan something. Illness and emergencies are NOT planned.
If you need to, go to the hospital. Notify whoever you need to and then ignore everything else until you are out of the hospital/urgent care. They may try to penalize or retaliate afterwards but they may not. If they do try to penalize you in anyway then you need to contact either your district manager (if you feel like you trust them) or partner resources. It is literally policy that you are not required to find coverage for a medical emergency. Starbucks corporate will back you up if you made your case the right way in that situation because the last thing they want is a story in the news about someone who suffered an avoidable serious medical injury because they were more concerned about showing up for work than taking care of an injury or were busy finding coverage when they should have been going to the doctor. Especially during the “threat” of unionization, a story about someone getting hurt like that and being gaslit into working instead of seeking help resulting in the injury becoming more serious would be huge. Not to mention, they also won’t want to deal with the possibility of an easily avoidable workers comp situation when NOT seeking immediate help results in anaphylactic shock.
Go get the help you need. Screw your manager.
If you need to, go to the hospital. Notify whoever you need to and then ignore everything else until you are out of the hospital/urgent care. They may try to penalize or retaliate afterwards but they may not. If they do try to penalize you in anyway then you need to contact either your district manager (if you feel like you trust them) or partner resources. It is literally policy that you are not required to find coverage for a medical emergency. Starbucks corporate will back you up if you made your case the right way in that situation because the last thing they want is a story in the news about someone who suffered an avoidable serious medical injury because they were more concerned about showing up for work than taking care of an injury or were busy finding coverage when they should have been going to the doctor. Especially during the “threat” of unionization, a story about someone getting hurt like that and being gaslit into working instead of seeking help resulting in the injury becoming more serious would be huge. Not to mention, they also won’t want to deal with the possibility of an easily avoidable workers comp situation when NOT seeking immediate help results in anaphylactic shock.
Go get the help you need. Screw your manager.
Jaansi_ [OP] 4 points 11m ago
Thank you thank you thank you! All day I have been feeling so ashamed at myself and absolutely am gaslighting myself exactly how my SM is. I don’t trust my DM
I actually found a news article today while being so groggy in bed of how in NYC SB partners won because finding coverage while going through a medical emergency is illegal (i skimmed, don’t quote me) from the eyes of my manager, there really is no winning.
Also, my scheduled shift lead called me asking where I was and i said “have you talked to SM?” And they said “no?” And i explained and told the shift lead what the whole situation and what my SM told me and he said “wow what a nice thing to tell someone who’s going through an emergency. I hope you feel better, rest up” which means my SM didn’t tell the supervisors… I want to trust corporate and I already made claims through Sedgwick and Ethics/compliance. Its not even about the money/pay for me. I just don’t want to have a pit of anxiety in my stomach going in my next shift or communicating with my SM. I do feel gaslit and I can’t get out of my own head. Like I almost feel embarrassed as if my whole store is thinking “aww a wittle bumblebee came and bit me :( poor OP” while being short-staffed because its MY fault. I understand thats not at all reality but ugh anxiety
Again, Thank you from the bottom of my heart because you gave me such good reassurance ❤️
I actually found a news article today while being so groggy in bed of how in NYC SB partners won because finding coverage while going through a medical emergency is illegal (i skimmed, don’t quote me) from the eyes of my manager, there really is no winning.
Also, my scheduled shift lead called me asking where I was and i said “have you talked to SM?” And they said “no?” And i explained and told the shift lead what the whole situation and what my SM told me and he said “wow what a nice thing to tell someone who’s going through an emergency. I hope you feel better, rest up” which means my SM didn’t tell the supervisors… I want to trust corporate and I already made claims through Sedgwick and Ethics/compliance. Its not even about the money/pay for me. I just don’t want to have a pit of anxiety in my stomach going in my next shift or communicating with my SM. I do feel gaslit and I can’t get out of my own head. Like I almost feel embarrassed as if my whole store is thinking “aww a wittle bumblebee came and bit me :( poor OP” while being short-staffed because its MY fault. I understand thats not at all reality but ugh anxiety
Again, Thank you from the bottom of my heart because you gave me such good reassurance ❤️
jazzysoranio 3 points 11m ago
Unfortunately, that’s how they get you. They know they can prey on your sense of duty and responsibility and guilt to get you to do what they want. Rest up. None of this is your fault.
frappeyourmom 3 points 11m ago
Make sure to get this documented and start the process with Sedgwick. I made the mistake of not doing either when I got hurt on the clock and trusted corporate to do the right thing.
Spoiler alert: they didn’t do the right thing, I got a final write up for missing a shift, then they allowed the SM to deny my transfer across the country when I was moving which ended up causing me to get separated.
Spoiler alert: they didn’t do the right thing, I got a final write up for missing a shift, then they allowed the SM to deny my transfer across the country when I was moving which ended up causing me to get separated.
Jaansi_ [OP] 1 points 11m ago
As soon as I read this i grabbed my computer and went to Sedgwick. I completely forgot about that too! Thank you! I’ve done Sedgwick and Ethics/compliance reports. So thats already 2 for me! Thank you!
spicedtear 3 points 11m ago
I’m very allergic to bees. Epipen allergic. Same thing happened to me last fall- got stung, used epi, to ER. Starbucks said that it wasn’t their fault because it was a bee stung and , they can’t control insects. I ended up paying the full bill, and also, they didn’t pay me for the rest of that shift. Unfortunately from personal experience you may be out of luck
Jaansi_ [OP] 1 points 11m ago
Honestly thank GOD I can commiserate with someone else! It was such a freak accident with my allergy too like it literally could have gotten anyone else but nooo it had to 🐝 bee me and you haha
Honestly if I can get money hell yeah thats great! But if not oh well. I sorta do agree with that judgement, although that does such. I have such a soft spot for any insect/animal like they just want their hive not some drive through in the middle of their environment
I just don’t wanna be fired and deal with feeling so shameful
Honestly if I can get money hell yeah thats great! But if not oh well. I sorta do agree with that judgement, although that does such. I have such a soft spot for any insect/animal like they just want their hive not some drive through in the middle of their environment
I just don’t wanna be fired and deal with feeling so shameful
astivana 3 points 11m ago
You might even be able to get the company to cover your bills because it happened on the clock!
newday2001 4 points 11m ago
yeah call sedgwick!! they can help cover costs of work-related injury, being exposed to the environment on the clock is a part of working at sbux and especially dto stores , they should cover your treatment
Forsaken_Highlight_7 2 points 11m ago
Call out. Was an incident report performed? If not I would call the partner contact center.
Jaansi_ [OP] 1 points 11m ago
I did call out, I didn’t really have a choice. I’m not scheduled till next Saturday. But im already so scared of my manager calling me when they see the notifications from Sedgwick. I feel that they’d feel that I am being petty or will retaliate. The night of the incident an incident report wasn’t made by my supervisor. I didn’t even think of that in the moment So I am worried about that. So far I have filed a report on Sedgwick and with Ethics/compliance
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