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

[Waltie]

"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."

You're right, it's not volunteering. It's called having a damn job. We work for a company that is open 365 days of the year. Deal with it.

Oh, and if you are a customer who comes in when I'm working on Christmas and offers sympathy, shut up. I'm not Christian! I don't care about Christmas! Why should I not work because somebody else celebrates a holiday?

[otterinthewater]

It seems to me that the fountain of emotion flooding this thread is stemming not from frustration regarding working a specific day, but from frustration with the job that one has. Completely understood, as a very skilled partner at the store level who feels like a dessicated lemon out of which more juice needs to be squeezed or it's the dustbin.

Face it, kids- the company will continue to do this to us! Starbucks cares little about its employees at store level. And that is now what it is. It. Is. I suggest we all do as I'm trying to do now! Leverage that still excellent (not for long, I'm sure) reputation the Bux has for turning out great employees into a better job.

Don't let this hideous situation determine your self-worth. Use what you've got to get out, get better and let the company crumple into the true McDonald's of coffee.

[SMan]

"They are TWO MAJOR HOLIDAYS and people should be making their coffee at home with VIA if they want Starbucks."

Well, that would be one way to keep the relatives away.

[Waltie]

"They are TWO MAJOR HOLIDAYS and people should be making their coffee at home with VIA if they want Starbucks."

Two "major" holidays in your household, and if you want to celebrate by staying inside all day, that's fine. But don't presume to speak for how the rest of the country should spend those days. Personally, I love that things are open on Christmas, because it's convenient if you need something (maybe you ran out of milk for your cereal) and it's fun to have somewhere to go, either as a family or to get away from family for fifteen minutes.

[Name is required]

@waltie we know we work in a company that s open 365 days a year but we are arguing it shouldnt I think partner morale would be higher. Im not a pilgrim but I still celebrate thanksgiving , even if I was nt christian I would still celebrate christmas because these holidays are about family now adays anyways

[Name is required]

@ waltie yes some things should be open on christmas should be open like a hospital a store like you said to buy milk those are necessities and sbux is not one of them.

[Waltie]

"@waltie we know we work in a company that s open 365 days a year but we are arguing it shouldnt I think partner morale would be higher."

How would morale be higher by taking away even more hours for the store level employees? Aren't people complaining all the time about losing hours on this website? I would be pissed if they took away a paid holiday where we split the tips. I love working on Christmas, and I've worked with so many people who agree with that. When store managers put up the holiday sign up sheets, Christmas always fills up first in my experiences.

Lots of people want to work on Christmas. Lots of customers want to come in on Christmas. That's why we are open on Christmas. End of story.

If you don't want to work that day, don't. If you are schedule, call other stores and get it covered. I guarantee there are people out there who would jump at the chance to get holiday pay and extra tips. If you don't want to go to Starbucks on Christmas, stay away.

But for the love of god stop saying that our stores "should" be closed on Christmas. We've not talking about slave labor. We're talking about a coffee shop. We've always been open 365 days a year (most locations, anyway), and it always works out fine.

[name is required]

Partner morale would be higher because it would show that the company actually gave a crap about you and wanted EVERY partner to have the opportunity to be off on this day. really you can guarantee me there is someone who would cover my shift? maybe on christmas you can help me find someone who is willing to cover my shift. wow like 4 freaking hours that a partner would loose would make that much of a difference on that partners total hours for the year.

[kate]

dude. time and a half, who doesn't want to work holidays?

[Waltie]

" maybe on christmas you can help me find someone who is willing to cover my shift."

Well, if you're dumb enough to wait until Christmas day to get your shift covered, you're on your own. But if you start calling around now (a month before Christmas!!), chances are good you'll get it covered. Not everybody agrees with you that Christmas should be a day spent at home. As I said a few posts up, I'm not a Christian so the idea that every store should be closed is kind of offensive to me. I think the people who want it off should get it off (if possible), but the people who don't care should be allowed to work if they so choose.

End of debate. You're wrong. Sorry.

[Name is required]

Yea I'm going to look for someone now because managers always post the schedules a month ahead. And your calling me dumb. Everyone may not agree with me but the same goes for you not everyone agrees with you but I'm sure more than half agree with me. End of debate ? Are you kidding me is this your site?

[Venti Urnex Latte]

There are two kinds of people in this world: Those who want the holidays off so they can be with their families, and those who don't.

[Judy]

I thought the only thing closed on Thanksgiving was that dump out near Alice's Restaurant! :)

[Waltie]

"Yea I'm going to look for someone now because managers always post the schedules a month ahead. And your calling me dumb."

I didn't call you dumb. I simply pointed out that anybody waiting until Christmas day to get a shift covered on Christmas is dumb. Don't do that and you won't be dumb. And if your manager hasn't already scheduled you to work on Christmas, why are you complaining already?

"End of debate ? Are you kidding me is this your site? "

Nope. I'm just the guy who won the debate. You were saying that because you think Starbucks should be closed on Christmas, everybody should follow your opinion. I was saying that everybody has different opinions, so it makes sense to have the stores open so the baristas have the option to work and the customers have that option to come in and shop. You really thought you were going to win that one?

[I <3 music]

Waltie you are unpleasant.

[Waltie]

I find you to be unpleasant, so that makes even.

[I <3 music]

@waltie....that was kinda funny:)

[Aaron]

Okay, I had resolved to leave this thread behind and not post anymore to it, and everyone else is probably just reading the latest threads now, but Burnt SM, first of all, I have nothing against you. Really. It's great that you work 60+hours a week to get the job done. A lot of managers don't. You're doing the right thing there, as opposed to some managers I've had who inevitably do all the things their DMs and above need them to do, and slack on things those of us in their store need them to do, like posting schedules on time, etc. I don't know you and I'll therefore assume you do a good job. However, just to clarify things: I don't just "feel" that I make a poverty wage. Starting pay in my area is a few cents above minimum wage. That is a poverty wage, period. And it doesn't matter what other benefits you get if you can't afford the out-of-pocket expenses on them because you first must pay for rent, groceries, car payments or bus fares, etc. And considering it's not possible to get 40 hrs, it's waay below poverty level. Obviously, just looking for other jobs doesn't work. If "the labor market" worked, companies would simply not be able to pay below the "cost of production" of their labor, but they do. It inevitably is supplemented by college loans, money from family members, government assistance, or simply living in squalor (I had to live 4 people to an appartment zoned for 2 recently to get by).

[equal opportunity posting]

the webmaster not only blocks insults/profanity but also normal arguments he doesn't agree with. He is obviously running a great site here. while letting melody, waltie and others say whatever nonsense they want.

[adoubleshotofclarity]

Waltie, I love you.

[newbie no more (was sbuxnewbie)]

I don't celebrate Christmas. For me, it is just another day, so why should:
a) ALL stores be closed? and
b) I be penalized for being available and willing to work?

Only 3 stores in my district are open on December 25, and I always volunteer to work - sometimes I am asked to work, sometimes not.

When I don't have the opportunity, I go to the open stores, and spend money, leaving tips for the folks on duty.

It isn't much, but an additional $5 or $10 in the tip jar at each of the stores can do wonders for some of the baristas.

Oh yeah - My manager is at the store on her own time on Christmas Eve and Thanksgiving putting together coffee services for people who volunteer at the local homeless shelters and food banks. yes, Starbucks provides the beverages, but she does it all on her own time, and still does her job the rest of the week.

[Icey Girl]

I am sorry to those upset working on the holidays. When you apply and accept a job at Starbucks or any retail position holidays are part of the deal. I ask my team to pick 2 out of 4. Those being Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, New Years Eve and New Years Day. We close at 4pm on Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve. Our store is not open on Christmas Day. There is one store in our area open and it is totally a voluntary thing to work that day. But seriously, don't complain! Go get a position in a bank where they are closed on holidays. Be thankful you have a job during the holidays. Some people would love to work on a holiday!

[Coffee Drinker]

in response to those who've said they aren't Christian so working Christmas and being addressed as if...not all Christians "celebrate" or are into the worldly Christian thang. Others do and are, as are many of all beliefs. I find celebrations, connections, lights, fruit cake and common ground good.

I do what's now called "alternative" holidays and have most of the last few years; however, I still enjoy the spirit and participate in certain events.

Just know that your customers appreciate you, and when they notice you're working a holiday you may or may not believe in, and are appreciative in any way, they're just being decent human beings. Come on now. Enjoy a little good will your way!

People who work at SBUX are like anywhere else; there are those who have their hands out to take, others have their hands out to give. Welcome to the world. I've worked in "important" jobs (ahem) and the behaviours were the same though the pay and perks were higher.

However, life is short, and anyone who is unhappy at anything, I encourage to create happiness from the inside out, and to change a demoralizing situation if they can. I've left "dream" jobs for that reason even knowing grass ain't greener anywhere. It's said that who you work with is more important than what you do.

Best wishes.

[Tropicalbarista]

I am glad I worked on Thanksgiving. I just got my first pay raise and working on thanksgiving has pushed me over 30 hours on my paycheck since this current semester of classes started. I volunteered to work christmas too because to me, it's worth it.

[karldotcom]

I went to a Starbucks on Thanksgiving and it was packed! I was surprised. Then I went to a hockey tournament (they hold those over holidays too....oh, all those poor hockey players...boo hoo)

[brittany]

my store was open on thanksgiving and christmas and i usually volunteered to work one or both because working and getting paid was better for me than having to sit through another failed holiday dinner where everyone would scream at each other and tell each other how much we all hate our family. my real family is in new jersey and queens and i don't get to be with them until after christmas, so it's a win-win for me.

[TG]

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