Starbucks is #93 on the just-release Fortune magazine "100 Best Companies to World For"

Starbucks was #24 on the list last year, and #7 in 2008. It was #2 in 2005.|| Read "The 100 Best Companies to Work For"

Comments

[Asher]

I think what's truly shocking here is not that Starbucks fell so far down the list, but that it made the list at all...

[HarryWanger]

Better than being on the Top 100 worst places to work.

[Jason Coffee]

@Asher I am not surprised they are still on the list with the great health benefits they still offer. I do think however if they ever cut these benefits they will drop off the list forever. (or at least until they bring them back.)

@HarryWanger you made me smile. :-)

I will just say that I was not the least surprised to see them so far down the list this year. It has been a tough year for Starbucks. Hopefully in the days to come they will remember what got them where they are (or were) otherwise I don't think we will be seeing them on this list much longer.

Jason Coffee
Coffee Cup News

[So Over It]

I'm surprised we even made the list. The tactics this year to drive instant coffee have ruined our culture. Plus, major labor cuts (5-8% in store labor) are the real thing driving profits.

Why is no one seeing this?

[Pat Nerr]

MOOOO WAAHH HAAA HAAA HAAAA! Shocker!!!

[bayareabux]

Also on the conference call... gotta love all the ass-kissing to partner sacrifice and contributions without nary a mention of restoring personal days, vacation accrual, stock plan benefits, and god forbid we mention a cost of living adjustment... the company just can't afford it.

But we might start paying dividends for the first time in our history.

Oh, Howie, thank you so so much.

[Bearded Barista]

Dividends? Oh that would be sweet...

[SBUX Alum Bill]

Starbucks doesn't belong anywhere near this list. The "Great Places to Work Institute" (tel: 415-503-1234) needs to be educated about what really goes on at Starbucks. Starbucks' placement on this list is a testiment to its very effective PR machine - nothing more; nothing less.

[harmaa]

It's hilarious how huge the drop is, though I agree we should not be on that list at all.

[Barista Ben]

See, the frightening thing you all don't realize is that as bad as it is to work at the bux, it's still one of the better companies. Should they be proud they are on the list? Maybe, but to fall so drastically is very telling especially when a companies claim to fame is their great employees. It shows just how jaded a lot of us have become. It is extremly unfortunate.

[luvstarbux]

I once went to work at company that was on the "Top 100 places to work" list. Come to find out it was a nightmare. I did some research and discovered that they interview people ONLY at the home office location to base this on. Yeah, everyone at home office gets day care and a cafeteria and alternative work hours, and blah blah blah while the peeps in the field get none of those things. Unhappy employees = bad service. It's not rocket science.

[SBUX Alum Bill]

Oops! Sorry for the typo on my above post ("testiment" should be "testament"). I guess I was so shocked at Starbucks' inclusion on the "Best Places to Work" list that I temporarily lost my ability to spell.

[Pat Nerr]

remember that they pay to be on the list folks... they pay... Also, read the stats and YOU tell me if it's all accurate... Still, I bet there's lots of excuses internally as to why they rated so low...

[Melody (@Pat Nerr)]

Pat Nerr, how is the morale where you're at? I was going to drop by your store over this past weekend since there was a holiday (MLK day) but just didn't have the time. Maybe another time!

[skinnymocha]

Luvstarbux: its great that the partners at the office get all those perks but you are wrong about how fortune selects the folks that comlete the survey. In my 5+ years as a manager I've had 2 partners chosen for the survey. Its done randomly by an outside company that is hired by fortune. The partners take the survey (on the clock) in private and then the survey is mailed back in a self addressd postage paid envelope. It may seem as a joke that we are even on the list at all. But in light of massive layoffs, bankruptcies and the loss of benefits we are lucky to be here. I know plenty of people that have lost 401k contributions, vacation/leave days and raises. Not to mention the folks that have to take furlough days. That's like a vacation day without pay. At least we still get some of those benefits. . Of course there are those days that seem like the grass is greener on the other side of the counter. Do we have to work harder and do more with less....absolutely with out a doubt. Is my boss demanding and out of touch....most days yes of course. But that's how it rolls....downhill.

[Pat Nerr]

morale is pretty good at my store Mel... We pretty much have enough business to support plenty of labor and the tenure and experience of the partners is like 4+ years. We all think Howie is a big fat joke though. He's been in a couple of times and has no idea "Pat Nerr" is serving him a drink... that's when I start to hum to myself a little song...

just sayin'... suck it Uncle Cowie...

[Coffee Soldier]

Build-A-Bear with all those screaming little brats beat us out! Truly a disgrace...that job (well at store level) is nothing but stress & annoyance 9 out of 10 kids helped! They are very demanding little ones....hmmm maybe future Starbucks customers! Hehehe just playing!

[just a shift]

I don't think the health insurance can be counted as a plus anymore, particularly if we have to pay a fine for not accepting it (thank you, ersatz liberals.) I pay $200 a month for single coverage, and it only covers 25% of the retail cost of my meds. My emergency room co-pay is $200. It's suck-ass insurance if ever there was some.

A disgrace for those of us who came here to work for that very reason.

[drive]

NEWS ALERT: Good Morning America on Friday morning will have a report on harassment of teenage baristas by managers at Starbucks and other coffee stores. Promo is running on ABC this evening.

[Shift Supervisor]

When I started Starbucks a few years ago I would have rated them #1. But now and especially after all the changes last year. I not only wouldn't put them on the top 100 I would not even consider them at all.

[Really sad about this.]

I can't even believe this. Did anyone see the letter on the portal this morning, about being recognized on this list, and what an honor? Who'd they pay off to get on this list?

I like my store. I like the people I work with and most of the customers. I like Starbucks,and am passionate about the product.

What I can not understand is, are all regions run the same? Does everyone do 5 values walks a day and have to keep them in a binder for their DM? Does everyone have to call in Via goals and actual sales 2x a day? Does everyone have VIA goals listed as the #1 thing on their performance expectations for their review? I just need to know if this is a company initiative or if this is something just happening in the upper mid-atlantic. Please help me understand.

[microgrind]

The only reason sbux is still on this list is that partners say good things about the company in their own self interest. Say good things and good people may come to save me, is the thought process. Now that sbux has taken a dramatic fall it just shows how much everyone has given up. And with good cause. You are justified in giving up on this company and you should. The truth is they do not care about you. You owe them nothing. Take care of yourself and get out. Find something better and leave.

[ScrewedOver]

Yes, Starbucks is probably a better place to work than your average fast-food place or cafe, and a few years ago I agreed that it should be on that list. Not this year, though.

Not sure if this is happening everywhere, but I've been told over and over about how we're overstaffed with leads and every time my manager (who probably deserves some of the blame for making promises she knows she can't keep) tells me she'll schedule me for shift lead training, she finds out about a new promotion freeze that keeps her from promoting me. Unless that's just a line. I've worked at Starbucks for four years and have been trying to get promoted for the past two, and every time I've been told it's "next month" or "next week" it never happens. When I asked about being transferred to a store that might need shift leads, it's "I'll see if I hear anything, but everyone else in the district is overstaffed with leads too."

My store was promoting shift leads all the time the first couple years, and now it's like pulling teeth because they don't want students, or they don't have enough labor to earn another, or everyone else is in the same boat... Seems Starbucks cares little about advancement of experienced employees.

[Andy, Shift Supervisor, Maryland]

@Really sad
In my store we do 2 Values Walks a day, and call in Labor to our DM twice per week. it used to be 3 times per week but apparently we were consistently good on labor so its now twice per week which is how many times she has to report labor to her boss, the RDO.

[Nobody]

If this place is so bad...why do you all keep coming back? Pat Nerr, why bounce around to a couple of companies then come back to Sbux? SBUX Alum Bill was laid off last year yet he still lingers on this board. Many others whine on this site regularly yet they remain working at the company and return here to complain about it.

Why? What keeps you coming back? The answer my friends may be part of the reason this company remains one of the best companies in the country to work for -- as much as you don't like to admit it.

Don't agree? Ok! Then move on and go work for one of the others.

[east coast mgr]

@ ScrewedOver ... in my area you won't just be scheduled for shift lead/supervisor training. For starters you have to really stand out at the moment because training costs money and thats a no-no. But after 4 years you probably/hopefully do. Secondly you will have to go through (and pass) an interview with your DM, and lastly there has to be a spot for you ... as the BUX are very strict on shift comp (they amount of shift hours you earn and can spend). Something else to consider .. with all your reviews over 4 year, and subsequent high barista pay, will they still bump your pay 'significantly' to shift level? if not ... might want to reconsider if you really want to.

Never have to call in labor or VIA sales (thank god) Managing labor though is really easy and any mgr that cant do that should not be in position. We are inconsistent at best with our values walks, not proud of that ... but i just don't see the use of them.

Top 100 huh ... not so much!!

[SBUX Alum Bill]

@ Nobody:

The reason why I keep coming back is because the company is so ubiquitous & because it boasts so much about how enlightened it is. We constantly get bombarded with Howie's propaganda, and people believe it (as I did before I knew better). I hate to see Howie get away with it, and I don't want others to be duped the way that I was.

[KoffieTeef]

One by one, the company continues the 'starbucking' of decent partners who find themselves suddenly on an improvement plan and then get fired without any benefits or unemployment because of fabricated issues their managers create.
It's happened to a lot of people around here and it's the dirtiest way to cut costs. They get replaced by desperate newbies at half the pay and no experience. We'll be way off the list by next year.
Thanks again Howard.

[Pat Nerr]

@nobody... I came back PT just to get the free drinks and the pound per week... I see on the BPtW results that Starbucks now has a gym for me and onsite childcare... I'm not sure where they're at in my store, but I'm going to use them...

[(former) FLA SM]

@ Nobody:

First, there's a difference between whining and the airing of legitimate grievances.

Second, you are the reason we still keep coming back to this site. Some people still believe that Starbucks is a great company to work for when that is simply not true. Yes, there are many worse companies to work for, but at least they are honest about it. McDonalds doesn't say "Come work for us! We're different! We treat our employees with dignity and respect!" When you go to work there, you know what you're in for. Not so with Starbucks. They lie about the culture and working conditions. Someone needs to expose the truth.

Third, part of the reason Starbucks still shows up on the list is because they don't interview former employees who were forced out due to store closures or for being gay or any of the other numerous reasons you can read about on this site.

Don't agree? OK! Then move on and go to another website.

[@usorthem3]

I was told B4 that investors don't care if the employees are happy, what matters is the bottom line and their profit return. I bet Howard's father would be so proud that he raised such a "ligner" son. I guess this at least shows that some of the people that got to answer the surveys told the truth. I know I would have been fired for the answers I would have given. HA ha

I can hear the PR spin on this already: Katie Couric will surely have H on for another fluff/blah blah/ "The luster is back on the brand" interview and pay no attention to the man behind the curtain running the show, he will disappear from Ur vision as soon as the jet is fueled, Recommitment to Partner Experience? what a joke.

@Pat Nerr I think U and I would get along fine, I sing songs in my head to keep from saying what's in there at the time, and I would so love that snapshot of U serving Howie and him not even acting like Ur a human, LMAO

@Nobody I find it odd that U would post a comment like that and then sign it as NOBODY? If Ur nobody then Ur either an SSC employee scanning this sight for ammo against ppl who do post here or U really R a nobody that deserves no validity on the comment. I think it might be Ur Kool-aid and nap time, U seem cranky. #justsaying

[STARBUCKS GOSSIP webmaster]

I'm going to set something straight here --

COMPANIES DO NOT PAY TO GET ON THIS LIST.

If you continue to insist that they do, present me with the evidence.

[Pat Nerr]

Webmaster Jim... you are right, they don't "pay" to get on the list... but they do submit an application and pay a fee, they also go through a big production to put a box together with all of the employment brand crap and use company resources (i.e FTEs to make this happen... and it's not a couple of hours)... they also have a relationship with the folks who run the BPtW survey... my knowledge of this is from working on the data that gets submitted... and we embellished the info in the time I was there... by the looks of the info, they're still embellishing.

[hearbutloud]

Starbucks IS a good company to work for, still, despite all the crap.
Where our mistake lies is thinking that the company cares a bit about its frontline "partners." They don't - we are all easily replaced. As long as we understand this relationship and keep our loyalty on the surface, then we can work for Starbucks, like the job, and still be opposed to its new direction.

[Michael]

more sbux trash talk, shut-upppppp!!! look at the numbers, the improvements. look what schultz has done, look how we've come back, come on.

stop complaining for once, ugh

[ICU]

That letter on the portal about this left me with a mixed feeling of "LOL" and "WTF". It's an admission from corporate: employee satisfaction only gets lip service from here on out. Any half-honest company would send the letter but mention how disappointed they are that they fell so far (the farthest on the list than anyone else from what I read), and how they'll work hard to improve employee happiness. Any indecent but half-smart company would just not even acknowledge the list at all. Sbux has decided to go for broke and lie to our faces. "Yay we're on the awesome list, look how awesome we are for being so nice to employees!" I really wish there was an option to send an immediate reply to that letter, something along the lines of "Suck a fat one, you two-faced bastards." If only.

[spence]

HearButLoud, What you said was so perfect and correct. My feeling entirely which is why I am happier than most of these writers.

[ScrewedOver]

east coast mgr -

Thanks for your response! I've already gone through the meeting with the DM last year (after many many delays in scheduling the meeting, still being told promotion was just around the corner), in which she told me I'd be promoted in August. So I wait around, and come August, she says she's not allowed to promote anyone else. Then she tells me I'm going to be scheduled for training in the end of January after she loses someone who's stepping down, but at my review she told me once again that she wasn't going to be able to. I'm feeling very led on, especially because she constantly tells me I'm "promotion-ready," gives me great reviews, and tells me she'll do something about making me a lead. But I'm already making 9.85 an hour, so I wonder if the pay raise will be worth it.

[SCDL]

Having worked for a different company and being asked to go into the "great place to work" office in San Francisco to present our company, I can tell you my knowledge of the process. Fortune pays this company to do the ranking. This company sends surveys out randomly to employees at all levels, in the stores and the support offices. I went in with my servers and cooks and we brought food into the office. We told them how much we loved our company. There were employees from every company on the list coming in and bringing gifts. The people in the office were very nice but they did not ask us any questions about our company and we were in and out in less than 10 minutes. I genuinely believe they take the info for the surveys to rank the companies.

[Scootsy]

I think Starbucks is probably a great place to work. Too bad the one I work at has to have the worst manager in the history of the company so I don;t quite know how good of a company it is to work for...

[ICU]

Hey James, I will keep airing any grievances I have about Starbucks on a Starbucks website. If you have a problem with that then you can either eat me, or stop reading this Starbucks website that is about current Starbucks events. Whichever one sounds better to you, pal.

[(former) FLA SM]

@ James:

Were you trying to say that ICU is "whining?" Or maybe "winning?" Or did you actually intend to say that ICU is drinking a lot of wine? If so, then I also encourage ICU to keep on wining (and dining!)

[ICU]

Mmm, wining. In vito veritas. :D

[Angela]

@ScrewedOver...
I feel your pain. I was an ASM from 2005-2008, when I was part of the great management layoff. I personally called about 30 stores in our market, even trying to step down to SS so that I could stay, but everyone else was cutting people too. My store lost 3 out of 6 SS, one ASM, and our DM.

My only advice is to call other stores yourself, don't wait for the SM to do it. Form relationships with people in other stores...networking works!!

[Leslie Caccamese]

As some of you on this message board have already pointed out, the 100 Best list is the result of an extensive employee survey.

Participating companies elect to have their workplaces evaluated for the list. Participation for companies is free of charge. The list results from an intensive, voluntary, two-component research study. The majority of a company’s score is determined by the employee responses to a survey administered to a representative sample of an organization’s employee population. While each employee's experience at an organization may differ, a substantial number of Starbucks employees would need to have responded favorably to the statements on the survey in order to make the list.

The remaining third of an organization’s score comes from self-reported answers to a series of open-ended questions that elicit detailed information about a companies benefits, demographics, and special and unique perks. All of this is rigorously fact-checked by Great Place to Work® Institute before the final list is produced.

No one pays to get on the list. Survey's are sent to employees individual email accounts or home mailing addresses to prevent corporate from influencing their responses. And all in all, the utmost precautions are taken to ensure the integrity of the list.

I know that this information does not change the experiences many of you may have working at Starbucks, however, I wanted to take an opportunity to correct some of the assumptions in this thread.

[ImChiquita]

When I was hired, SBUX was the previous year's #3 Best Place to Work.

All these years later, look at us.

[jabanga]

wow pat i am surprised you could go back, even as a part-time barista. i just wouldn't be able to take working at 2010 starbucks.

[Juicy Couture Bags]

where did u find the bird, does it not on the tree?

[Cristal Mcmeans]

Even if it was one of the 100 best companies to work for, I wouldn't leave my current coffee place for Starbucks because of the great benefits I receive from my employers. They train me and my colleagues well, with Poka yoke presentation and SMED presentations/seminars among other bonuses! For me, my place is #1 on that list! Hahaha.