OPEN THREAD conversation-starter: Starbucks is #24 on Fortune's "Best Big Companies to Work for"

The rankings just came out -- and I know this will start another string of moaning and groaning about work conditions. But..... there's got to be some reason Starbucks landed in the top 25. Discuss this or anything Starbucks-related in the open thread. || Jump to the second page of comments.

Comments

[me]

A spell check would have done wonders. Sorry!

[GRTL]

This is so typical of this company. So typical of any corporation these days. I seriously am missing out on the exploitation of humanity train these companies are on. I should form my own corporation. Who's with me!?!

[Grande Latte]

so mad-
just another example of those who are old enough to vote yet insist on acting like and being treated like children. If you want to keep a job, make sure your outside activities don't get in the way. Don't equate skateboarding with riding a bicycle. Cyclists are far more visible. Maybe if your friend started using adult transportation he won't be at such risk in the future. Perhaps your friend could become self-employed so that the next time he is foolishly injured the only one he screws over will be himself. Ever stop and think about how much of a pain it is for your managers to make schedules for adults who act like children? I feel sorry for them. Cry baby employees are the ones taking advantage, but they are also experts at playing the victim.

[Going! Going! Gone!]

That’s right…let’s all give up any possible “risky” activities so we can all be at Starbucks beckon call. No enjoyable living allowed, Starbucks owns us 24/7. We mustn’t make it difficult for the company, no matter how shabby they treat us partners. SM’s shouldn’t be required to do THEIR job and schedule for problems because that might make things too hard for them. Remember everyone; we are so lucky to have these jobs and to work for a company that never makes any mistakes itself or hurts THOUSANDS of people in the last few years.

I don’t know about you all, but I feel honored to be on the same page with Grande Latte and to share a similar viewpoint.

[me]

Anyone ever heard of work/life balance?

Well, we should be allowed to do most things while off the clock.

As I said before, if Starbucks is paying me 24/7 with a salary that justifies them treating me as if they own me, they can have me. Until then, I do what I please on my time off.

If they treat me as if they owned me without paying me off, I'd call that slavery!
And last time I checked, slavery wasn't legal in most western countries.

[Grande Latte]

me-
work/life balance? baristas working thirty or so hours need to worry about that? Try getting a job where you put in forty plus hours a week, every week. Sorry, I forgot you need work/life balance so you can only work when it is convenient for you.
So you're treated like a slave because you don't control exactly when you work? Because you have a part time job where you make ten plus dollars an hour when you add in tips? Because you have flexibility in your schedule? Quit crying, the kleenex is running out. Those who moan the loudest are usually the first to be gone.

[me]

You have NO idea, Grande Latte.

My supply of kleenex is quite fine, by the way, thanks for caring.

Starbucks just needs to accept their people have a life outside of Starbucks. This could be school, family, a second or even third job. They don't even provide for a decent living for most of their employees, but act as if they own them.
By the way, they do want me to be available exclusively to them for about 100 hours a week to only give me less than 30. So even though I'm only working part time I can't really have an organized life outside Starbucks because they want me to keep myself available to their convenience. And this affects my work life balance more than my former 50 hours a week job, even though I'm actually working less than half of it right now.
For a company that prides itself in being so wonderful to their "partners", this sucks. And they will get to hear it at every opportunity.

All we "whiners" do is holding the company responsible to what they are preaching.

[Melody]

On a new topic, take a look at this news article and the La Marzocco machine being used by Intelligensia:

http://www.latimes.com/features/food/la-fo-intelligentsia29-2009apr29,0,7990950.story

http://tinyurl.com/cc33dg (Short link to same article).

Okay take a good look at the news article, and they say that the La Marzocco being featured at this very high end Intelligentsia came from the original Starbucks at the market in 1972. Somehow that makes me cringe.

Did Starbucks give up an old original machine to a competitor?

[BOSTON STARBUCKS REBEL]

Starbucks senior leadership is considering closing stores in major urban markets. The New York Metropolitan Region is seriously being considered to closing those stores as swine flu continues to grow in Retail North America.

[don't feed the trolls]

Grande Latte is a troll

[BOSTON STARBUCKS REBEL]

A national public health emergency has been declared in the United States.

[Sedg]

Melody: It's certainly the same model, though obviously with intelligentsia it's customised. Whether or not it's the same actual machine, unless starbucks says so one way or the other there's no way of telling. I could see them doing it, though. Also, I want to know where Intelligentsia gets their money from, because I want some.

[usorthem3]

grand latte---bitter much? ever have fun much? get off that pedestal much? again i state maybe you need to revisit the diversity tree and know that all are not like you and some of us like to have fun and do things like get on a bus(oops no it could crash) go to the mall(no they have shootings there) go out to eat( nope the swine flu could find me).
just keep sitting in your house and never leave, please the world might hurt you if you ever step outside.
what a psychotic person you must be. oh yea and an ass.

[Corbo]

@ Melody -- Oh. My. God. I am a dork, but I am seriously so jealous of that machine. I've never gotten a chance to work on a La Marzocco... and I feel like I have missed out on quite a bit.

The article was very interesting. I'd love to go to a place like that, although I'm sure that it would have to be very expensive given the level of service that they are describing...

[Melody]

I totally get that reply Corbo! I'm jealous too!

Hey on yet another new topic - LOL sorry to be so scattered - Here is the V2V page for the new Heritage Starbucks! I'm proud of this store!

http://www.v2v.net/starbucks/stores/us_14870

[anon]

@Melody -

Starbucks didn't give up the machine to a competitor. They gave up the machine to a company that actually cares about coffee.

It's a sad time for the siren.

[Grande Latte]

usorthem3-
with a response like that you should look into the mirror to see who the psychotic one is. I actually spend little time at home. WORK keeps me away a lot of the time. Work where I go when I am scheduled when I am scheduled without complaining like a little kid that doesn't want to take a nap. During the free time I have left I go out and do what I can fit in. It's my responsibility to work my private life around my job, not the other way around. Nobody owes you or anyone a job, let alone the ability to pick and choose when and where and for how long you work. If you don't like your schedule, go elsewhere. Maybe kleenex isn't what all you whiney baristas need. Maybe it's toilet paper. But then again you would need someone to use it on you.

[california barista]

grande latte---can you say loser? you're either working, or at home checking this site. Either you're a loner with nothing to do, or you're bitter about others having a life (outside of work) that you don't have.

It's work. there will always be ups and downs-good things and bad things. Many of us just need to vent to someone (in some of our cases, it would be here..) to keep sane.

[Realtalkforreal]

You all want to know what happens in the Starbucks in the city that never sleeps (NYC)? Get ready for some realtalk, from the one that's going to spill it all. Keep in mind, I'm exercising my freedom of speech, so for all of you who ain't ready, y'all better get ready. Here we go.......(drumroll please)!!

I work at a store that's got a manager who has scheduled people for shifts with no break, for an entire week straight. Do I have your attention? It gets better, our ASM is accused by multiple employees of touching them inappropriately you know what I mean (wink, wink). Of course we have our staffing issues as well, with the reject from the bottom of the barrel of management running things, it's no surprise to any of us that this is happening. Partners ain't happy, being used like meat puppets to have to conviently work "extra" time and taking one for the team, some of us leaving as much as an hour later than expected. Did I mention some of us don't get meal breaks, and when we ask for them, we catching straight lip? Oh, no!!! This is your company allowing this.

On top of this, we had a district manager come in catching an attitude outta nowhere, pissing partners off, talking down to them, etc. Don't be up in the kool-aid if you ain't the suga, heifa!!! How oddly appropriate that this is all happening right now, when our store is at a 44% customer service satifaction rating. These managers act like they are in kindergarten, trying to roll with people who have educations and know that labor laws and policies. The mutiny has only begun!!! The captain and her first mate are about to get fed to the sharks!!! ARRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!

[Grande Latte]

california barista -
no life outside of work? work pays the bills, what goes on outside of work IS life. Maybe some day you'll find out that the world does not revolve around you. That your problems are High Rent problems. Look around, I'm sure if you can wipe the tears from your eyes long enough you'll see that there are loads of people with way more to bitch about than you who DON'T complain. They suck it up and put others first rather than wallow in their own tears.
It's not me that needs to get a life. Your lack of one speaks volumes of your inability to deal with reality without pointing fingers.

[usorthem3 living every minute of it]

grande latte you just need to take a valium and learn that life doesn't come after work when you enjoy your job. i never said anything about my schedule which is all over the place i make my life part of my job unlike you who seems awfully work and nothing else oriented. you again need to visit the diversity tree and maybe seek therapy for the angst you feel because some of us actually enjoy our lives, work and personal. go find a mate if you can maybe that would help. do something instead of coming here, jeeezzz. maybe just step away from the coffee. i hope you allow people to cry when they are sad or is that to be taken away by you as well. again bitter much? a type personality much? perhaps it is you who need to find a new career that will allow you more personal time or are you just trying to impress someone? live life like it might be your last minute because in this day and age if very well could be and how have you spent this life you have been given? all work?

[Melody]

I need an open thread to say this in: I'm hugely disappointed to see that Starbucks has removed the Whole Bean menu from the FIRST Starbucks.

That's a tiny little store with no warming oven, no food, and the birthplace of Starbucks Coffee Company. The Whole Bean menu hung from 1971 to 2009. 1971 - 2009. R.I.P.

But if you're not in the coffee business, no need for visual clues that you sell coffee like a whole bean menu board.

I've been disappointed for a while to realize there is no whole bean menu anymore, but I'm doubly disappointed to see that it's been removed from the store that deserves it the most. Instead, we get chalk art of the unique tumblers that can be purchased at 1912 Pike Place. Starbucks, now in the tumbler business.

I'd love to know who thought the whole bean menu board was unimportant to the First Starbucks.

[Grande Latte]

usorthem3-
After that somewhat insane rambling, there's not much that needs to be said. Just remember that some inhalants cause brain damage. I hope that you can find validation in your work. It's a shame that you need your job to make you feel good about yourself.
PS-I love my job and have as much personal time as I'll ever need. Each day is a gift, that's why I don't bitch about the wrongs others have done me.

[Kevin]

This was really interesting and taught me one things or two.

[pApI]

MAMI MEL

That's horrible they took the bean sign down, I have to visit the store today to see this horror :( What's going on with our Coffee House?? HELP

[Melody]

pApI - I think you're playing with me and I definitely never thought you're in Seattle. But here is a link to a thread to keep the Whole Bean Menu at the Starbucks at 1912 Pike Place:

http://mystarbucksidea.force.com/ideaView?id=087500000005MjzAAE

My name (for this post) links to same MSI thread.

[pApI]

Thanks MAMI ;)~

[pApI]

Hey MEL

By any chance do you know if Howard is appearing at any stores anytime soon?? If so when and where?? Anyone else hear any info?? Thx

[coffee drinker west]

Grande Latte is a troll

[mudd]

So glad others noticed the cookie box. One of our older partners was reading it to us in the back room and all of those who saw it were in tears!

[Jim]

We have recently aquired a Mastrena Data Card. It is white, credit card size with the gold chip. The writing on it says "DATA card plus Mastrena 03-2009". Does this have any value?