This guy says stores should be closed on Thanksgiving, but I'm thankful Starbucks is open

The man behind Pat's Papers website says says that "stores should be closed on Thanksgiving to allow people to spend time with their families." Well, not everyone wants to be with their families, I suspect, and people (like me) need their coffee when they're traveling to be with their families. What are your thoughts on working on Thanksgiving? || Jump to the second page of comments.

Comments

[I.Heart.Spirit]

I love working Thanksgiving!

[kbee]

its not like partners couldnt book it off, if it was that important to them. hey, I'm even working Christmas day!

[Hipsterdufus]

no on in my store is working who didn't volunteer to do it.
everyone who requested it off got it off.

[Presto!]

My store is closed on Thanksgiving.

[Redd]

Partners in my area have to work a certain number of holidays...you kind of have to pick and choose, sacrificing 1 or 2 holidays to work to get another one off. I think it's silly that Starbucks is open on Thanksgiving and Christmas, but I understand that people are traveling and the stores are actually pretty busy on those days. It's just a little sad to see all the families come in and you can't be with yours. But we all know the drill...you picked that holiday to work, so keep your mouth shut, your chin up, and push that coffee!

[Hipsterdufus]

I could care less about working the holidays. If this wasn't my last day with the bux I would totally be working thanksgiving christmas and new years.

[ash_sk8s]

When I worked at an airport Starbucks, I WANTED to work on Christmas, mostly because I heard the tips were killer, and I'd be off by 12:30 anyways! Of course, I wasn't working at the 'bux by the time it rolled around, but I would have volunteered!

[Gobble Gobble]

If each store can find people who are willing and able to work I think it is nice that the store is open... it's a win-win for all those involved. However, it should be a store to store decision... customers would have to take their chances and be "thankful" if they found their Starbucks open :)

[hmpht]

I'm at a store where you have to pick 2 of four days to work (Thanksgiving, Xmas Eve, Xmas and New Years Day. It just makes me sad that anything but a hosptial is the only thing open. When did spending money become more important than quality time at home.

[Alberto Rodriguez]

I think Starbucks should be CLOSED on Christmas AND Thanksgiving. It's a holiday to spend with families and its WRONG that some partners have to pick and choose which holidays they have to work with. They are TWO MAJOR HOLIDAYS and people should be making their coffee at home with VIA if they want Starbucks.

[SweetDee-baristaaa]

I dont want to work on any of the holidays but I will because I need time & a half fo sure!

[Coffee Soldier]

You can bet the DM's and above are not working on Thanksgiving or Xmas anywhere!

I was told to FIND enough volunteers to staff my store on Xmas. Keep in mind next closest store is about 35 miles away...I asked my DM....he rolled his eyes when I said would you like to volunteer?

[Whatdoesitmatter]

I just asked my partners if they wanted to work. We have very limited hours on Thanksgiving and closed on Christmas. They are two shifts of 6 hours each and they are getting OT. The college kids jumped on it and the older "family" partners wanted it off. It worked out fine. I know my customers appreciate it and have thanked us all day today for being open even just a short time. Since I am off, I will also be dropping by right a shift change with a few "goodies" to make their day great.

[Gilgamesh]

I signed up for New Year's Even and New Year's Day, but somehow I'm stuck working Thanksgiving. I hate working holidays mainly because customers come in and say, "Oh wow, I can't believe you're open on Thanksgiving!" And then I have to just smile when I really want to say, "Well if you and everyone else here weren't standing in line, we wouldn't be open!" I hate my job.

[ViaYum]

I'm thankful Starbucks is open on the Holidays and like some people have already said, not everyone likes being with their family. It's an obligation not something joyful. I'm not being cynical, it's just a fact of life. If you want to be with your family, great, if not, be with those you want to be with.

Good drink: Gingerbread latte breve. Yum.

[Aaron]

"its not like partners couldnt book it off, if it was that important to them. hey, I'm even working Christmas day!"

Actually, it is like that. You can't "book" any days off, ever. You can request them off, and if the Siren smiles upon you, you get that day off.

"no on in my store is working who didn't volunteer to do it.
everyone who requested it off got it off."

I don't work at your store, and perhaps it is unlike most others described here, but at my store, like at everyone else's in this thread, you have to basically choose two holidays to work on. That is not the same as "volunteering" to work those days.

I agree that if people do want to *volunteer* to work on any holiday, the store should by all means stay open. But on major family holidays like Thanksgiving, nobody should be forced to choose which holidays they would least hate working on, and then have to work on them. That is not volunteering. Stores should close if there aren't enough volunteers. And coffee soldier, YES! DMs should have to work on holidays if they are unwilling to see their stores closed on them. They (and SMs) get basically *DOUBLE* time for working on holidays (they either get a rolling holiday they can take whenever, or just paid out for holidays, and paid normal time on top of that if they work, I don't remember which), compared to our time and a half, and they still don't wanna work the holidays.

[Darth Sidamo]

You can 'choose' to work the holiday at mine and after that the computer picks you. I would say only one or two people at my store would actually like the day however the ones that volunteered did so because I would rather pick my shift than get stuck working something like 10 to 6.

[Stan]

I am glad we're open. Thanksgiving in my house is disjointed and never on actual TG, same goes for christmas. Time and half, 12 hours. plus tips which usually work out to about 4-5 dollars an hour? sign me up.

[Melody]

I too always assumed that enough partners were volunteering for Thanksgiving that it isn't a big deal. I'd be tempted by time and a half too if I were working in a store! :)

[ImChiquita]

We're open.

And we're severely understaffed (only two shifts and a SM, plus eight Baristas).

Thanksgiving just happens to fall on the days of my availability. I traded with my SM for Christmas so I can be with my family when my son takes military leave in December.

Would I rather be at home with family than making bank?

Yes.
Actually I would.

[Name is required]

@melody what is squat x time and a half? Still squat wow if you work 4 hours you get paid for 6. Like a poster above said some volunteer in order to not be given the suckier shifts trust me nobody wants to work during holidays because the customers are not in a hurry so they have more time to be a hole s

[Coffee Ninja]

All the stores in my district are required to stay open normal hours for all holidays this year.
Sorry but my family is more important then serving coffee to strangers at 9:30pm at night on Thanksgiving or Christmas.

[usorthem3]

@Melody, to me it's a Thursday that I don't have to worry about rushing thru the deposit. Ha ha That's the only difference about the holiday. Some stores it's more of an issue than some others. People seem 2 assume that your "defective" if U work. I say, whatever, LOL The one that gets me is Xmas day when we are open and people call the store to ask which Sbux are open in other counties. Working in hotels so many years that Never close, U just seem to know how to fit it in your life.
@Stan High five for celebrating the day your way.

[Barista Ben]

Not everyone celebrates Christmas so for some they could care less about working that day. My manager is working thanksgiving but I would of been happy to work it. The day after is the scary day.

[Venti Urnex Latte]

In our store, people fight to work holidays. There are always too many volunteers.

Pat's airy-fairy statement that stores "should" be closed is offensive.

[BaristaBrenda]

Time and a half and extra tips...AND I'll be off by 3:45. No big deal. I'll still get turkey dinner <3

[Burnt SM]

Dear Aaron-Store Managers deserve an extra day off-we dont get tips and have to work if nobody wants to...When a manager works your tips are higher dont forget it...after my 5.00 a week raise for FY2010-the least partners can do is supprt their SM's!

[Charleen Larson]

I'm not an employee but I'm very grateful Starbucks is open on Christmas Day. Since we're usually at my MIL's house, early-riser me gets me hence to the sign of the mermaid to bag some chai. This Starbucks has a roaring fireplace and I get to sit around for a while with other early risers seeking a brief familial reprieve. Inevitably we laugh about the fact that everyone has a coffeemaker at home, yet they come to Starbucks. Then it's back to the house, where it's still quiet and everyone is still asleep.

[Catherine]

A couple years ago I had to work on Thanksgiving at a call center job I had. When I was on my lunch break and walked into a Starbucks that happened to be open. I was able to sympathize with the person working, and he gave me a free pastry. :)

[...]

Most SMs take all weekends and holidays off. The difference in tips is built into your pay and most will try to guilt baristas into working insane shifts rather than ever coming in.

[Ben Genuine]

I don't know who your SM's are, but I am almost always there every weekend and holiday unless I use vacation....

[Michael]

It's all about the mighty dollar. Thats all. I enjoy being with my family, making my own coffee,and not being at work. I'm sorry some people don't have families, or some place to go. Always wondered why those that don't celebrate a holiday get treated better than those that do. Stay home and reflect. it's one day!

[AgedSumatra]

@Charleen Larson

Wait, your Sbux has a FIREPLACE?! That just sounds like a disaster waiting to happen. 4 of every 5 crackheads at my store would try to mess with a fireplace or sleep in it or use it to cast evil witchcraft spells at me and my loved ones.
Or did you imagine the fireplace? Is it Charleen Larson or Charleen Arson? Hmmm...

[baristamclane]

Being closed on Thanksgiving could do wonders for our VIA sales.

[Burnt SM]

If your store manager doesnt work weekends call and report to corporate..Dont you dare lump all of us into that catagory as for your theory tips are built into my paycheck your sadly mistaken!
you dont work 60 hours a week...Some of us care but partners like you make it impossible...quit your whining and support those of us who still try to care about you...

[Aaron]

Dear Burnt SM, how much is your salary? I don't get a salary. I get however many hours my SM decides to give me. How much was your bonus last year? The reason you don't get tips is because you get a bonus directly tied to your store's performance. Tips are one kind of incentive, a bonus is another. And, BTW, baristas and shifts work their asses off so you can get that bonus. And we don't "deserve" an extra day off? If one of your family members couldn't make it to Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner because they had to work at Sbux, would you still argue that they don't "deserve" an extra day off?

Oh, and what do you think happens when a barista calls and reports their manager to corporate "anonymously". Any of your barista's ever done this? The manager is the first one to know, and often it's not that hard to figure out whodunnit, or at the very least make an assumption about whodunnit. I know people who have reported flat out racism from their managers, "anonymously", upon which nothing happened to the manager, and the barista had their hours cut from 35+ to about 12. Some managers aren't good people, and if they're the ones not working any weekends, there's a fair chance they're not above retaliating childishly at least, if not as badly as that person was retaliated agains.

[Ben Fardin]

Starbucks should all be open on Thanksgiving. Our local store was open until 3...that was fine. Packed with customers!

[Darth Sidamo]

Couldnt have said it better Aaron

[Stan]

I work Every thanksgiving, and this was the first i was completely properly staffed. I love my manager. She listens to my concerns... and works at a fix, or a compromise at the very least.

This was the best Thanksgiving i've ever had at the bucks. Oh yeah, and turkey is tomorrow night, with my family.

[Darth Sidamo]

And would like to chime in that you arent the person that hits all of your metrics and gets you that bonus. It is the employees who work for you that get you your bonus.

[anon]

So you get time and a half and closes at four so everyone can get gome in time for dinner. What's the big deal? If its that big a deal to work on some holidays don't work in the retail. Love it or hate it that's the retail environment.

[anon]

And in case anyone is wondering my sm worked today and was the only one to work a full 8+ hour shift.

[shift.misto]

we each get to pick one holiday off of the three (my store is closed on xmas). it works just fine for us, and we stay very busy on t-day.

@BURNT SM
seriously?
how about you stop whining, and quit. I'll gladly quadruple my paycheck in exchange for losing the $30 a week i get in tips when i take your job that you obviously are having a hard time dealing with.
I can't tell you how SICK i am of hearing SMs (including my own) throw little tantrums about how difficult their job is and how horrible life must be when your paycheck actually pays your bills, and the people who work under you, despite being consistantly sh*t on, still work way too hard to make you look good.
So heave a big sigh about your sacrifice and throw a little pity party, but don't you dare expect the rest of us lowly shifts and baristas to show up, we're too busy carrying your dead weight to acknowledge the strides you've made for the greater good.

[Aaron]

BTW, Burnt SM, I was saying that DMs and above should have to work some holidays, because I know that most SMs already do. I do think there are a lot of very hard working SMs. There are also some that don't work very hard, unfortunately. None of my comments are intended to negate that there are hard working ones, but some of your arguments are a bit out of touch.

[Petie]

Amen shift.misto.

[Hipsterdufus]

sorry shift misto and others, I completly agree with some of your points, but untill you walk a week in an SM's shoes, you have no idea how hard the job is, and how much they've had to put up with to get where they are.

I my self worked in an hourly job even WORSE than the barista position for 8 years until I was promoted to ASM there and eventually recruited to Starbucks. I am greatful starbucks is better than my last job, but it is still insane what is expected, and the good SM's actually take their job seriously and it takes a major toll on their emotional/physical well being. I have nightmares about partners calling out. First thing in the AM I grab my cell expecting calls from work. Partners are constantly contacting you about some problem (usualyl minute thatcould have waited till your next day of work) there is no such thing as a "day off". You are constantly on call, both literally in that any number of starbucks people will contact you with things on your day off, and in that you are expected to come in and cover any shifts that aren't worked. I can go on and on.

Not that it is all bad. Yes we make a decent wage (however when you include tips some of my shifts almost make what I make a week and if you factore in the extra unpaid hours they actually might make more per hour).

We all have the opprotunity to go get different jobs, if you don't like workign holidays, take your years of customers service and money handling experience to a bank. I was unhappy with how starbucks is handling their partners, and most specifically management, so I got another job, where everything I just complained about won't happen to me! And many many more SM's are following suit.

[Aaron]

Hipsterdufus, I've been with the company quite a while. I'm pretty well aware of how much is asked of managers. None of the things you said are news to me. I'm also very well aware of what is required of shifts and baristas, being a barista and former shift (yes, former, which I won't even get into how I was basically forced to step down). Are you really that aware of what our lives are like? Do you know how many of your employees qualified for food stamps, and most likely how many of them do now at your new job if you're working in a similar retail or food service environment. Do you know how much some of us struggle to pay our bills? Do you know how many hours a week most of us work at and outside of Starbucks in school or second jobs, only to make less than you do still? Do you know what it's like to not be able to plan ANYTHING in advance because you have 100% open availability to get as many hours as possible, meaning you could be scheduled basically any time from 5 AM to 11 PM, and managers are too concerned with other work to get the schedule out on time?

You say you've worked crappy jobs before, but you seem to have forgotten or stopped caring what it is REALLY like to work at a poverty wage job, because if you did, you wouldn't be as patronizing or condescending as you just were. Sure, you weren't as outright mean or straight up ignorant as some people who post here, and I do think you're trying to find some common ground, but to do that, you need to recognize how privileged you are to have moved up at Starbucks and then moved on from them, because those aren't things some of us can *just do*. And if you didn't know deep down how crappy and desperate that situation really can be compared to where you are now, a) you wouldn't have moved up, and b) you wouldn't have mentioned that you used to be there like some badge of honor. Think back on what it really was like, and then check back in with us.

[Coffee Soldier]

Enough about who is more stressed or works harder or gets to take what days off...obviously the company "value" of all it's partners has severely decreased this year. 13 stock options for baristas? 65 for SM's? This is insane considering a barista working 20 hours will recieve the same as a barista working 39.99 hours as well as a 32k manager getting the same as a 60k manager. To me there seems no point in longevity of service or FT versus PT in the new and NOTimproved Bean Stock Program.

[Charleen Larson]

"Wait, your Sbux has a FIREPLACE?! That just sounds like a disaster waiting to happen."

It's a brick fireplace with gas logs. Since I'm not a 'bux employee I guess I can identify the store:

http://www.starbucks.com/store/12192

[Burnt SM]

Thanks to those who got it...Im sorry some of you feel you are working below poverty level and are underpaid and not appreciated.your choice.I work hard to support my team and always work the garbage shifts..I am on call 24 hours a day 7 days a week as for baristas meeting the metrics at the end of the day it is the SM who is accountable..Contrary to your statements there are SMs who care and take endless phone calls/conversations on our time off and we are expected to absorb to better your enviroment...Its a damm shame and Ill say it again its partners like you with that kind of attitude that forces us to give up....There are plenty of managers out there who care too bad you feel the need to stomp it out..ONWARD Aron!