Starbucks Baristas: The daily grind
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How Do You Deal with This? (self.starbucksbaristas)
submitted by astrenixie
So, about four of us were on night shift, and it was maybe around...6, I think? Our shift lead was in the back doing the pull. We had a decent shift since we were actually properly staffed, and then a man with two kids comes in. He seemed polite enough when he ordered, and then the three of them go to handoff to wait for their drinks. And then we notice that one of the kids is pointing a camera at us.
I ask my coworkers over the headset if they are sure it is a camera. They confirm it, and I tell them that we can ask them to stop. None of them felt comfortable, and my shift lead was not available at the time, so I went over and tried to talk to him about it. When I asked if the kid was recording, he got defensive and said that it was fine because they wouldn't post it anywhere and that it was for her "first Starbucks experience." I was going to ask him to delete the footage, as all of us were extremely uncomfortable with being filmed without consent, but all I got out was that they absolutely cannot post it anywhere because we could get in trouble. I wish I had been able to say what I needed to, but I'm just a barista, and the entire situation was making me feel extremely uncomfortable and anxious.
Anyways, they eventually leave, and my shift comes back to the floor. They let us know to talk to them about it next time, but this shift is particularly not good at handling confrontation. Another shift had to ask some guys who were banned from the store to leave because this shift wouldn't do it. I'm now sick to my stomach at the idea of someone having footage of me. We have also had issues with a man who still comes to the store taking pictures of baristas. He has not been banned yet.
So, I guess... How do you all handle that kind of thing? Is there some rehearsed thing that we can say? Everyone was very upset about it, and I do *not* want something like that to happen again.
I ask my coworkers over the headset if they are sure it is a camera. They confirm it, and I tell them that we can ask them to stop. None of them felt comfortable, and my shift lead was not available at the time, so I went over and tried to talk to him about it. When I asked if the kid was recording, he got defensive and said that it was fine because they wouldn't post it anywhere and that it was for her "first Starbucks experience." I was going to ask him to delete the footage, as all of us were extremely uncomfortable with being filmed without consent, but all I got out was that they absolutely cannot post it anywhere because we could get in trouble. I wish I had been able to say what I needed to, but I'm just a barista, and the entire situation was making me feel extremely uncomfortable and anxious.
Anyways, they eventually leave, and my shift comes back to the floor. They let us know to talk to them about it next time, but this shift is particularly not good at handling confrontation. Another shift had to ask some guys who were banned from the store to leave because this shift wouldn't do it. I'm now sick to my stomach at the idea of someone having footage of me. We have also had issues with a man who still comes to the store taking pictures of baristas. He has not been banned yet.
So, I guess... How do you all handle that kind of thing? Is there some rehearsed thing that we can say? Everyone was very upset about it, and I do *not* want something like that to happen again.
xCherryBombshell 10 points 11m ago
File an incident report every time it happens. All you can do is ask them to stop, but unfortunately you can't force them to or force them to leave unless they were breaking a law or disrupting other customers.
sirencursedwithrage 1 points 11m ago
asking for myself, what do you fil3 it under?
Affectionate_Fart 6 points 11m ago
I mean if you really wanted to push it, you could tell them they’re breaking the third space rule (where everyone is comfortable and welcomed, between partners and customers). Personally, I would’ve gone to dad and said “hey, it’s making my baristas uncomfortable to have them recording. Do some parenting.”
This article has some intriguing information regarding “private businesses” like sbux and whatnot. https://www.theverge.com/2018/10/24/18015374/whyd-you-push-that-button-record-stranger-public
Honestly, if your shift has an issue, Stand up to them and say “I have a right to feel comfort in my work, then recording me makes me uncomfortable.” Which is absolutely fair. Reiterate the third space and everything should be fine.
I hate kids for this, they’d be so annoying with their TikTok BS. it’s absolutely within your right to establish boundaries (like if a customer leans down into your personal space or tries to reach over bar…tell them they need to be respectful of the boundaries. You don’t see strippers being groped and recorded by customers…same rules apply.
This article has some intriguing information regarding “private businesses” like sbux and whatnot. https://www.theverge.com/2018/10/24/18015374/whyd-you-push-that-button-record-stranger-public
Honestly, if your shift has an issue, Stand up to them and say “I have a right to feel comfort in my work, then recording me makes me uncomfortable.” Which is absolutely fair. Reiterate the third space and everything should be fine.
I hate kids for this, they’d be so annoying with their TikTok BS. it’s absolutely within your right to establish boundaries (like if a customer leans down into your personal space or tries to reach over bar…tell them they need to be respectful of the boundaries. You don’t see strippers being groped and recorded by customers…same rules apply.
astrenixie [OP] 1 points 11m ago
Thank you! I know there are some policies that can be referenced to handle these issues, but finding all the information feels like sifting through sand with how awful the Starbucks websites are. I'll definitely keep this in mind.
Affectionate_Fart 2 points 11m ago
It’s absolutely difficult to find policy and procedure. Honestly your store should have a poster up, green with the siren quoting the mission and it’s values (eg. respecting our space, the third space, ect).
fuwaldah -6 points 11m ago
Unfortunately, they didn't break and laws nor did they violate Starbucks policy. People are allowed to record in a public place.
I don't think these kids are going to do anything illicit with this footage.
I don't think these kids are going to do anything illicit with this footage.
astrenixie [OP] 7 points 11m ago
I actually did look up the laws surrounding this, and Starbucks is not a public place. It is private property, and employees can ask not to record. People who still record can be asked to leave, and staying is trespassing at that point.
And it doesn't matter what the kid wants to do with it. This is an issue of consent. Many at my store have trauma and/or neurodivergence that make occurrences like this very serious for our mental health. Nobody should be recording our faces while we are at work.
And it doesn't matter what the kid wants to do with it. This is an issue of consent. Many at my store have trauma and/or neurodivergence that make occurrences like this very serious for our mental health. Nobody should be recording our faces while we are at work.
fuwaldah -8 points 11m ago
Starbucks is a public place, and Starbucks policy says people are allowed to record in our stores. It's in the handbook.
> This is an issue of consent.
As a Starbucks partner you granted that consent. You signed a form agreeing to the policies in the handbook.
> This is an issue of consent.
As a Starbucks partner you granted that consent. You signed a form agreeing to the policies in the handbook.
aee78 8 points 11m ago
Starbucks is not public property. It is private property. Personal recordings is allow in our stores, they are NOT allowed to record baristas or other customers without permission. That is in the handbook.
If a customer or barista says they are uncomfortable, you are allowed to ask them to stop. If they refuse you can ask them to leave. It's on page 39 of the partner guide and can be found on partner hub.
If a customer or barista says they are uncomfortable, you are allowed to ask them to stop. If they refuse you can ask them to leave. It's on page 39 of the partner guide and can be found on partner hub.
astrenixie [OP] 3 points 11m ago
Thank you so much for answering this! I had to find the handbook today, and it was indeed on page 39.
rszdemon 4 points 11m ago
>starbucks is a public place
Man, it must be hard being that wrong.
Try filming something inside a starbucks and then monetizing it. You’ll get taken to court real fast. Then try saying “it’s public space”. Because that has happened multiple times, and was even the basis of an episode of Nathan for You
Man, it must be hard being that wrong.
Try filming something inside a starbucks and then monetizing it. You’ll get taken to court real fast. Then try saying “it’s public space”. Because that has happened multiple times, and was even the basis of an episode of Nathan for You
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