Does anyone else feel like people doubt how hard you work at Starbucks because it's simply "just making coffee", or it's "an entry level job"?

I feel like these observations are from people who have no idea what we deal with everyday and want to see it as a very simple job. When I look at comments in videos or posts online I often see statements like "it's an entry level job, why are you acting like this is a career"? These statements to me are infuriating. Why is it that everytime people hear about our experiences their first instinct is to doubt how tough and mentally and physically draining it is to be on the floor? I am tired of this job, and I want to leave, but I know if I leave my store will be in a place where there will no longer be any trained SSV's because we would have lost 2 at that point and we are running low on SSV's to begin with. I know that if I leave, someone will take my place and Starbucks will just continue to affect THEIR mental health because there will be no improvement to the job. I feel empowered to make something change, but I don't know what to do or if it's worth it.

I am given more reasons to support the (shhhhh!) "U-word" everyday. I was a part of a meeting today in which we discussed the schedule that our stores SSV's are concerned about, because our ASM is not scheduling partners according to their strengths. So we have dayparts that are full of new partners only, and the floor is complete chaos. These schedules were approved by my higher ups simply because they meet budgets and approved hours. Why are they the only ones who are able to approve a schedule if they have no idea what the strengths and weaknesses of scheduled partners are? My SM told me that they believe we are greatly overstaffing our night crew. This to me was insane to hear.

My store has so many new employees that I feel an immense responsibility to coach, but to also pick up the slack. I get frustrated with my baristas but have to ground myself and realize that I expect a lot of every single one of them. These are unrealistic expectations of anyone to have of them. Get drinks out the window in under 50 seconds, but talk to your customers! Sometimes my barista is one manning drive through, taking orders, cashing people out, and helping make drinks. My other barista is drowning in mobile orders and drive-through drinks, and trying to help with breakdown in between orders. It is insane.

We have been closing at 9:00 every weekend lately which feels like we are fighting our evening rush still, and my manager informed me that our DM wants us to start breaking down an hour and a half before close every night. We start breakdown typically about 4 hours before close and we still don't get out on time. I told my SM that if we lose anymore night staff, I can't promise I'll ever get out on time. He knows and he is also very upset about all the things he has to do.

My store manager is a good person, and he has his stores best interest in mind. He has been absent since my stores remodel in June and shows up every few months so my store has been led by our SSV's only, and my unexperienced ASM. I never received my SSV training, which made my development difficult. This is simply because our regional director and our DM want him everywhere else but his own store. He has been training other store managers outside of our city for the past few months, and is constantly driving to other cities for meetings or to watch a different store for a whole month. He is also tired and has told me he feels like he has lied to a lot of his staff because of the things that corporate has told him to say about unions.

Starbucks reputation is everything to them. The fact that they label themselves as such a progressive company but order us to take down flags or anything pride related, and then order us to not speak about unions, is disgusting. This is an image that they are selling, and all of the partners around me feel like they are part of a marketed image. This company is not progressive if it fires and purposely tries to frighten its employees over the subject of unions.

I am tired. I am angry. I often hear the question "if you hate your job, why don't you just leave"? I know that if I leave, I'm leaving behind and ignoring something I know is wrong. I feel like I am ignoring this issue that makes me so angry. Why should I just ignore the fact that this company is taking advantage of its employees and treating them as expendable? Why should I ignore the fact that no matter how much I speak up, the consumer will never listen? I have developed a serious dislike for customers because they are contributing to my stress levels everyday and they are giving MY employer money even though they are involved in such unfair labor practices. I know that the customer sitting in front of that drive-through order screen is oblivious that my baristas have been acting like robots for the past 4 hours, and I know that they simply see it as an entry level job. Something has to change. I just don't know what to do, or if I really want to do it or just to just leave.

If you made it this far thank you for reading my word vomit. I am frustrated with the company and I am frustrated with the customers and how they view us. I need opinions and or thoughts on if this is worth my time. I love the money but hate being at work. Does anyone else feel the same way?