Starbucks Baristas: The daily grind
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I hate this job. (self.starbucksbaristas)
submitted by Tofukjtten
I love most of my coworkers. They are funny and cool to work with. It's the customers and this damn customer connection stuff. I'm trans and i get misgendered all day everyday which really makes me regret socially transitioning. I feel powerless to correct anybody on it. It just fucking sucks. I'm also neurodivergent and thus have auditory possessing issue and the customers get so rude when i don't understand them.
I don't know what to talk to people about when I'm waiting for our backed up orders in the window. I try asking open ended questions but i can only ask the same people the same low risk questions every day so many times. I'm sure they'd rather \*see\* me trying to expedited their order than have me asking about their plans for the day.
To top it all off my hours are unpredictable and it's hell trying to manage them. I wish i could just do 3:30am to 8 or 9 am every day. I actually like opening shifts.
I need this job but i hate it more everyday. And it's a reasonably good job.
I don't know what to talk to people about when I'm waiting for our backed up orders in the window. I try asking open ended questions but i can only ask the same people the same low risk questions every day so many times. I'm sure they'd rather \*see\* me trying to expedited their order than have me asking about their plans for the day.
To top it all off my hours are unpredictable and it's hell trying to manage them. I wish i could just do 3:30am to 8 or 9 am every day. I actually like opening shifts.
I need this job but i hate it more everyday. And it's a reasonably good job.
GayCrimeDuck 12 points 10m ago
I likewise have major auditory processing issues and am trans as well. I wear my pronoun pin and some of my “ally” coworkers correct the SM but customers are a different thing altogether, they will not care and are not thinking about you as a person. I’ve only been there a month but I’ve walked off the floor twice, it’s not gonna be any better at any other lowest common denominator fast food chain though
Tara_Kitten 5 points 10m ago
I'm pretty sure it's against policy for your SM to continuously do that. I'd imagine it's a form of disrespect/harassment, have you tried speaking to HR or your DM about it? Someone was recently fired in my district for transphobic comments.
Extreme_Income2539 6 points 10m ago
My best advice is a pronoun pin and when you’re overwhelmed/ tired with the window, close it. Tell the customer you’re going to go check on their order and close the window or say that’ll be right up and close it! If any shifts/ managers say anything I’d express that feeling to them:)
And shift consistency, update your availability to be consistent! Changing mine and working the same shifts makes life a lot easier.
And shift consistency, update your availability to be consistent! Changing mine and working the same shifts makes life a lot easier.
Lravs 2 points 10m ago
This is great advice! Honestly when I’m having a bad day and just not feeling my perky self 🙄I never hesitate to close the window. I just tell them that “I’ll have your latte/coffee/whatever right up- and close the window. Bam. Done. And also your other partners could jump in there and correct people on your behalf too..✌🏻
thefoolwitch 3 points 10m ago
Fellow trans partner here, I feel you. The misgendering over the headset with customers is awful and the feeling of being misgendered by other partners is even worse. I hear WAY too many “ma’am”s. For me, talking to the SM (or the DM, even better, if the SM doesn’t care enough) and saying “Look, the amount I’m getting misgendered is really affecting my mental health and my ability to do my job, and it directly contradicts the Starbucks ethos and third place policy. Could we look at the Starbucks resources about supporting trans partners and instruct shifts to help correct partners about my pronouns so that I don’t have to be the only one defending myself?” REALLY helped. I know it’s hard though. Crossing my fingers for you that it sucks less soon.
hotlinee 1 points 10m ago
i rarely do the customer connect stuff lol. i find that most people just want to get in and out as fast as possible w their drink made right. and to know whats going on, so i’ll tell them “your drink will be out soon” or “here’s x and x, we’re just waiting on the sandwich” etc. ask if they need a straw or napkins. but also I usually solo drive so I have to take the next order
[deleted] 1 points 10m ago
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