A Starbucks barista's letter to customers

A Starbucks barista writes: "Starbucks is in trouble, and its not just the economy. I think they are making the wrong decisions, they are burning out their best people while letting them know that they are expendable. This is my letter to customers as a Starbucks barista of over 3 years." [Note: I've trimmed it a bit -- Starbucks Gossip webmaster]

Starbucks has been my home now for a number of years. It has been a fantastic place to work for, one I wouldn't hesitate to enthusiastically recommend to anyone. I can't do that anymore. ... Here's the thing, we are as busy as ever. Yet the powers that be have told us we have to cut labor, be more efficient, sales are down. Less experienced baristas are having their hours cut to near or below the level of even making them worth having around. That puts more weight on the experienced baristas. But they are cutting the margins on the experienced baristas and shift supervisors as well. And the weight on the managers is intense by this point. Basically without saying it, they are telling us to work off the clock.

...The only reason I don't leave is because who can pay me what Starbucks does and give me time to go to school, with this economy? For others the question is who else can provide me with the same great insurance that Starbucks provides? This may sound like whining to those who don't have a job at all, but you have to put it in context. If we are only staying because we can't get by the same somewhere else, then how are we supposed to be enthusiastic about our service to Starbucks? These are the baristas who know your kid has his big soccer game today, know that you like an extra shot of espresso Monday morning, and can have your order finished without you have to call it out. I understand that they are hoping we take up the slack so that they won't have to lay anyone off. But the reason sales are down is not the lack of coffee selling, it's the products in the store that aren't selling. All those glorious coffee machines and French presses and chocolates and books and ornaments.

If they want to cut labor why not close an hour earlier on a store by store basis. If you have only three customers in the last hour with two baristas closing, the cost of the store being open and the two baristas working outweigh a few mochas. ... I know everyone is forced to do more with less right now, and I know a good, quick short term fix is to cut labor. But cutting labor will hurt Starbucks bottom line in the long run, it will just be harder to calculate.

This isn't a letter asking for pity from the customers. This is a letter to explain to the customers why the waits are longer, the baristas look shell-shocked, and the faces are changing at your local store. The Experience isn't the same anymore.

Comments

[bigredbarista]

I agree with you 100% you couldn't have said it any better!!!

[concernedcustomer]

It sounds to me like perhaps Baristas should consider whether organizing into a Labor Union would benefit them. Collective bargaining would give them influence over aspects such as wages and hours. Together as a group, Baristas could be a force. Presently, Starbucks seems to view them as interchangable, replaceable semi-skilled labor.

[Barista Joe]

The Labor Union idea seems to be a good idea to me. Enough already with the unreasonable expectations. My DM came in the store yesterday and "observed". His conclusion? We needed to be more efficient in our "down" time.

And so I continue to put out applications and hope for something better...

[humanbean]

You are indeed correct, and echoing a sad sentiment from all of us who ever dared to believe, believe that passion, and knowledge, and hard work, and talent, could in some way make a difference. I joined Starbucks 4 years ago, cynical from a lifetime spent in an industry where respect, integrity, creativity, and dignity were often foreign concepts. I came from an environment where my values, morals, and integrity had forced me to leave lucrative positions more than once. After all, what's right is right, and I am fortunate enough to be good at what I do, so job prospects have typically been plentiful. Although great jobs, in an amazing environment, with people I cared for and respected, where I could maintain my ability to look myself in the eye everyday with my head held high were a little tougher. I was gradually awakened to the concept that a job could be so much more, that a company could be so much more, and so could I. An epiphany you might say, through something as simple as a genuine connection. In that time, I went from manager to leader, talented, creative, passionate, inspired, and valued, with the ability to recognize and inspire that in others. I held customers while they cried thru family tragedy, supported customers through life shattering illness, inspired partners and watched them shine, and held them as they cried. We provided coats, meals, holiday gifts, school supplies, and medical treatment for ill and needy children. I watched as adults in thier 20s, 30s, 40s, 60s, and 80s, watch in wide eyed, child like wonder at the holiday magic of live reindeer dancing on our lawn. And then, I watched it wither and decay into a company I no longer recognized, nor do many of the partners in my district. Gone is the passion which lead to the talent, and the connection, and the credibility. Leaving those of us who loved our community, our partners, our guests, and our company, manipulated, lied to, disrespected, and most of all devalued. Thus, valued, respected, talented, enthusiastic partners are now crushed, faithless in our leadership, and dejected. And sadly, the customers and communities we were so encouraged to connect with are suffering. Their experience is suffering. The leadership that made such greatness possible have been replaced with less expensive restaurant, retail, and fast food stand ins who may understand a P&L, but not why we do this, our values, our guiding principals, our culture, or what amde us great. Sadly, I aplogize as well, to the customers who became like family, then demoted to a number in que, and to the others like me, who dared to believe in something more, and were wrong. Unbelieveably, I find myself again forced to walk away from a job I never thought I would for reasons of credibilty, professionalism, and integrity. The hipocrasy and dishonesty of the face this company portrays to the public is astounding and manipulative.It shows. This once great company that served as a role model for employee development, retention, and success, as well as creating the guest expeience is foundering because of it. It's like watching the slow. painful death of someone you once loved. Happy holidays everyone. Howard, I hope you're listening for the sake of the partners and customers you have left.

[wholahay]

Amen Humanbean! It's good to know i'm not the only one who's having the exact same experience. I've shed tears many times over the last year, mourning what starbucks once was, and frustrated with what it has become.

[islandSS]

AMEN. I've been thinking this for the last 2 months. Whats with the mass production of more ugly cups that don't sell? why are they spending fortunes on wacky colored coffee presses and 300 training guides when we dont have the time to train or sample presses anymore? the only 2 things keeping me here: the benefits and my baristas. i know i can bust my butt and get through that 15 people line wrapped around the front of the store by knowing everyones drinks and being a serious multi-tasker. i can warm pastries and make peoples drinks before the new frazzled barista can get them rang up. and thats the point: i cant just let that frazzled barista and the other growing partners (including the 3 new shifts) just crash and burn. but we all have to take care ourselves too. the next great benefits job that comes along, im gone. and i'll get a side job at a coffee booth that makes 100 in tips a day so i can remain in the atmosphere that i came to starbucks for in the first place. Without the corporate nonsense. sorry that starbucks isnt keeping the corporate giants billion dollar salaries going strong, but im having a hard time paying rent and buying groceries. realize it starbucks- your losing everyone that cares. and everyone that has built this company into what it was when it was great. the third place is starting to be the place no one wants to be at anymore.

[Coffee Mistress]

Wow. That's all I can say. All of the above needed to be said so badly; both the letter and the post from humanbean. I wish that I could hope that Howard would actually pay attention to those of us working in the stores...I'm past hoping. Oh, and the union thing? No way! I see a lot of people in my store that have been negatively impacted by their own union. Granted, they are in a different industry but, the hell these people have been put through isn't worth the dues they paid into membership.

[Sara]

I've been with the company for 3 years and I'm a shift supervisor. They are changing the hours of our store and we're closing an hour earlier. We've cut everyone's hours and because of that, people like me are leaving. We're losing the great, experienced baristas because we're not getting paid enough! I'm putting out applications at other places and with my skills as a shift, I can make more money and work less hours at a job where I don't have to deal with some of the stuff i'm dealing with now. I LOVED my job. Now, I hate working for Starbucks.

Hey, Uncle Howie...how about we trash everything in Starbucks and start over? Let's start as just a coffee and tea store. Screw the lattes and machines. Just sell coffee and tea. I'll come back and work at Starbucks.

BTW, my SM is awesome. She's really upset about what's happening and she's doing everything in her power to keep us experienced morning crew baristas because we're what keeps the store running.

Starbucks, you have failed me.

[carczar]

they will shed SM and ASM.

SS left.

DM so much more.

[Deadtiredinla]

WOW! That was beautiful. Humanbean, you sumed it all up. The sad thing is Howard will see it. He just won't care. Onward.

[Coffee Soldier]

I would think by now Howard would have tried to make some inspirational speech either via voicemail or email or even the portal to us all. For a week partners have been voicing their opinions on here, on mission reviews, letters to DM's, RD's, RVP's and everyone up to Howard...I'm very surprised he's made no contact with the field partners what so ever....Is he really that blind or does he really not care anymore? He choses to act like everything is fine on TV for the benefit of customers and shareholders....but what about the unrest in the stores with his partners?

[Me]

I complain a lot here as well. And I also refer to the good old times sometimes. And customerservice at starbucks goes down the drain. True!
BUT: Even though the starbucks experience is watered down a lot compared to the experience two, three or even more years back, it is still mostly a good experience. I recently fell into that trap everyone seems to fall in right now: "Service at starbucks is bad these days."
Well I had the pleasure of a road trip today. While driving around I visited 1) an independent coffee shop
2) Tim Hortons
3) McDonalds
Unfortunately there was no starbucks around (next time I better plan ahead :-) )

Well, at 1) I didn't buy anything but a bottle of water since the whole store was dirty, the menu confusing and the only person around behind the counter was more interested in her cell phone than me as a customer.

at 2) I wanted to buy a hot chocolate for myself and one not so hot one for my kids. They looked at me as if I was out of my mind. "What do you mean, not so hot?" They offered me to put some cold milk in it after it comes out of the machine. After they did I only had to wait another 15 minutes until my kids eventually could drink it. Try dealing with impatient kids sitting in front of a hot chocolate they can not drink because it is too hot. Oh, and they told me to sit at another table with my kids than the one I wanted to "because this one was just cleaned". Seriously, that's what they said.

At 3) they first let us wait for no reason, then two guys behind the counter literally fought over the fries, whose customer gets them first, then they forget to add one of the ordered and paid sandwiches into the bag. After I told them, they unpacked the bag, looked at me as if I pulled a disappear trick at them (yes, I palmed a burger and try to steal another one...) then they packed it all into another bag, added the missing sandwich and said "here you go". No apologies, no coupon, no nothing.

Today I got reminded even a bad experience at starbucks still outruns an average experience at a lot of other places. And this is, why we still have lineups, even if we aren't able anymore to provide the customer service we would like to. It is still a pretty good customer service.
After today's experience I feel a little bit better about starbucks again.
Thank you 1), 2) and 3)!

[BusinessLeader]

Well, if we're going to start writing to Howard, I might as wll add my two cents. I don't blame you nearly as much as the few that post here over and over again. I think there are a lot of fair-weathered partners who were willing to ride the train while things were glorious, but who don't hold enough conviction to sacrifice and keep a clear perspective when things are tough.

I do ask, Howard, that you would be more clear and direct with these types of partners, because sugar coating where we are right now is only making it worse for them.

The rest of us get it. We know we must personally sacrifice for the good of the whole. We know how to share with others the "why" behind this. We know how to empathize with how others are feeling, but we also know that at the end of the day, you are looking for business leaders who can make critical decisions in good times and bad.

Howard, my hope is that you provide clear, strong, and direct communication that we are living in a new reality, and we as partners have a choice to make. You are in, or you are out. Those who are sticking around because of the economy are doing more damage to this company than the new hires who come with fresh ideas, an open mind, and no preconceptions of the illusive past.

I am a long term partner, and will continue to serve this company while providing direct feedback about the implementation of new processes or programs. And I acknowledge that I will never agree with every decision made, but will stop and attempt to learn more about the criteria used to make the decisions before I give my feedback.

[Ex Bux Pgh]

Well, it's nice to see that people are finally waking up and realizing this isn't the company they signed on for 2, 4 or more years ago. And if you think for a moment that your DM or even SM feel the slightest bit of remorse for what they are putting you through, I have a bridge to sell you. Don't even think for a second that anyone above the DM level cares one whit what your life is like. All they care about is their bonus. If your regions are anything like the one I left, all of the managers who actually cared are long gone, driven out of the company by those who are heartless and calculating. Starbucks has become just like any other company, although in some ways they have become worse. They still try all the touchy-feely lines from the Mission Statement and Guiding Principles as if they mean something anymore. Everyone I know who is still with the company, at least those who don't have a bonus and fat raise at stake, is really feeling the pain that incompetent management has wrought.

I think those above me have it right. It's time for Starbucks to unionize. Nothing would get across a message like a united front.

[1234]

"The rest of us get it. We know we must personally sacrifice for the good of the whole. We know how to share with others the "why" behind this. We know how to empathize with how others are feeling, but we also know that at the end of the day, you are looking for business leaders who can make critical decisions in good times and bad."

NO. I don't get it. I don't understand why I have to personally sacrifice my rent, money to buy food, pay bills, etc, when the head honchos are STILL making multi millions of dollars a year - and they're not taking a pay cut. I believed in this company and I still take pride in what I do - but no, right now, I do not understand why I have to sacrifice when I'm barely scraping by as is. Let those people sitting on top living on Park Avenue sacrifice a little, then we'll talk.

[anon]

Is there anyone in this company who can acknowledge that baristas work to pay actual living expenses?

It's like we come in just for the fun of it and there will be no consequences if my hours are cut from 32 to 20 or less. Do they think all of us have mommy and daddy standing at the ready to bail us out if we don't make rent next month?

Might as well fire some poorly performing baristas than drown us all. I officially support a national barista call-in-sick day. That's the message we need to send.

[islandSS]

First of all, i am not a fairweathered partner. I have been here for 3 years (granted, not 10) and i used to LOVE everything we stood for. Making the WHOLE experience. Being different. taking the TIME to train partners from start to finish (remember all the classes and training plans and even the barista 200?). Taking the initiative to do everything possible to bring your customers back. Taking time on your lobby slides to chat it up and get to know your guests personally, beyond the "thanks have a nice day" spiel. We closed down the store for 2 hours NATIONALLY where we were all REQUIRED to attend so that we could "get back to the basics"!!!! Is this getting back to it? Does anyone have time to even do a lobby slide anymore, let alone get to know those new customers (Praying there are anymore)? I can hardly look up from the drinks on the bar and the beeping timers on the expired coffee and the empty pastry case and the crumbs on the floor and tables and lets not forget the pile-up of garbage not only out in the lobby but also in the back room because when was the last time we had time to run it out? I'm all about thoughtful feedback, but i would like my company to be honest with me for once. Pretty sure the last important voicemail consisted of "happy thanksgiving" and the other one was "dont forget partner shopping days!"
Please. dont preach to me about sticking through think and thin. that only works when the company makes sure to take care of me too.

[beachbarista]

AMEN! I completely agree .... i've been with the company for 7 years now, and they sure are losing MANY amazing and experienced Baristas because of all the labor cuts and changes they have made. Our shift leads at our store can't even get more than 20 hours a week now, how are we supposed to pay rent? ridiculous

[a]

A few thoughts,

First off, whoever keeps posting SMs are next is of the same misguided nature as the poster who kept suggesting ASMs were next to go.

Honestly, they just changed the DM job description to be LESS focused on store management and MORE focused on problem solving and optimization... so the SM is still an essential role, not to mention the company-wide DM target (for positions) is LESS than it is now, meaning one DM might oversee 14 or 15 stores. Now think 40hrs a week in one store... how are we getting 15 stores in the mix?

Second, I think that Starbucks did the right thing and is doing the right things, however we have a problem with COMMUNICATION. Where is a compelling WHY? behind everything.

e.g. We need to cut labor, so run -3.5% VTI until January.

or...

e.g. We need to cut labor BECAUSE _____________ and we've looked at EXAMPLE and EXAMPLE and EXAMPLE. We've talked with a sampling of SMs and DMs and Baristas and we've come to the conclusion that we need to run -3.5% VTI until January BECAUSE _____________. Here's how to do it _____________ and here's how we're going to make it back to you.

I think if they did the latter, there'd be a lot less complaining. A compelling why... Starbucks should try it sometime, afterall, its the advice they give us SMs...

[BAYAREABUX]

Can we get the labor back and just post an f-ing loss for a few quarters while the economy falters?

The almighty shareholders have more than bailed on the stock and anyone with a brain still holding SBUX must already fiercely believe in the long-term value of the company... which isn't served by running understaffed!!!

Seriously, the stock can't get much worse as it is, we're still viable as a company, why not just do the right thing and keep paying people their wages.

[Andy, Shift Supervisor, Maryland]

Leadership

One reason that Starbucks no longer provides great customer service is because the stores face too much pressure from above. Regional Directors and District Managers micromanage stores.

The former President of Starbucks North America, Howard Behar, writes that Starbucks’ goal was to grow into a big corporation but still act small. But to do that Store Managers have to run their stores. Not corporate. Some district managers visit stores and tell partners to dust ceiling vents.

We’ve gotten into this situation from factors both good and bad. Early and current leaders of the company were committed to success and wanted to help their stores achieve it. For most of Starbucks history, the energy was a healthy mix of positive encouragement with caring worry. At some point a few years ago and continuing through the current day, the balance tipped. We are now more in worrying mode, which is draining the positive energy.

There is fear, but there doesn’t have to be. If Store Managers were given the freedom to run their own stores, aggregate results would improve. The vast majority of great leaders have the freedom to create.

It is a **good** idea to promote good leaders to middle/senior management and have them still manage stores. But it is a **great** idea to keep the great leaders in the stores, at that level, where they are closest to success.

[Scribelrus]

A-fricking-men! I used to love it here, but not so much right now.
There's still time to turn around, Howard! Please do it!

[Melody]

Beautifully written Andy. Props. I'd also say that there is generally too much middle to upper level management.

[humanbean]

p.s. Dear a,
It is you who are sadly misguided, or your district is some sort os rare utopia. There are no ASM's left in our district or the neighboring districts. They have all been demoted or resigned instead. More incredibly talented, passionate people, who I might add also understood the business, but tempered it well with great leadership skills, were just lost. I know, I helped train them. Guess how proud I am.

[San Diego Barista]

I do not understand the majority opinion present in this post. Most, on this thread, have decided that, as the opportunities present themselves, they will leave Starbucks for a different job, a job they claim will represent the values Starbucks apparently has forsaken. They think that Starbucks (Howard Schultz) has let them down. I cannot believe that mentality. The flow of logic I see in the posts on this thread looks like... “Starbucks, for 15 years, has gone above and beyond the standard level of commitment to its employees. Some examples include (but of course are not limited to): We, as employees, have received wages higher than minimum. We receive free pounds of coffee every week, or a box of tea if we prefer. We receive 30% off all of our purchases. During Christmas we receive 40%. We are eligible for academic reimbursement. We are eligible for various insurances. We are offered exceptional flexibility as far as our school schedules are concerned, or flexibility for any reason. Are wages are eligible for raise every 6 months. And lastly, if we need more hours we are allowed to work at different Starbucks. But, the sad fact is, in the last year or so I have been disappointed in Starbuck’s commitment to myself and others. Even though Starbucks has not discontinued any of the previous listed benefits, I do not like that they are cutting overall labor in the company and I don’t feel like they really put there partners first anymore. Therefore, and I say this with a heavy heart, I no longer trust or support this company and I will leave as soon as it is economically possible.”
Are you kidding me? Maybe the reality of the economic situation right now is not that apparent to you. EVERYONE, every single company in America, is making sacrifices right now. This includes Starbucks. Starbucks is cutting hours because they have to, not because they want to. I feel like no one appreciates this. Starbucks is not out to destroy your commitment or trust in their company. They are not doing what they are doing right now because they want to. They are making sacrifices. Sacrifices involve hardship. People talk about their trust being broken in Starbucks because of the last couple years, and their response is to leave Starbucks. That is so ridiculously self-centered. I understand that everyone needs to take care of themselves. They have families to feed. So if someone needs more money, and that is their reason for leaving Starbucks I have no issues. But don’t preach a self righteous “broken values” or “broken trust” message as a reason to leave Starbucks. I love how people are going to work at Starbucks until a better opportunity arises, because right now Starbucks is the only company that enables them to do the things they need to do. That is not commitment and it is a deplorable work ethic. Starbucks has had our backs for all these years. Now they need us to have their back. We are partners. We work together. The demise of this company will not be its “forsaken values”, but rather it will be people that failed to help support the company when times were hard. I would encourage everyone to do the best with what they have right now. We need to thank Starbucks for all they have given us over the years, not by leaving them, but by continuing to work hard. Yes, we are short-handed, but do not let that dominate your outlook. If you want to help the situation, leaving is not the place to start. This is a great test in our company’s history. We are all factors in the outcome. We all need each other. Let’s work harder now than we ever have before.

[SoOverIt]

As a shift supervisor going on 3 years, I can pretty much say that Starbucks has just about lost any and all partner loyalty with this last decision. I'd be so interested to hear what's going on in corporate offices.

You may be interested in knowing that a letter was sent to all store managers that outlined specifically to them that if they can't keep their stores at a -3 percent in labor that they will be fired.

Yep, you read right. Now corporate is using scare tactics to demand performance.

You may be interested in knowing that a letter was sent to all store managers that outlined specifically to them that if they can't keep their stores at a -3 percent in labor that they will be fired.

Yep, you read right. Now corporate is using scare tactics to demand performance.
-SoOverIt

Oooooh, for once they try to set a clear standard and hold people accountable to a business objective, and it's seen as scare tactics.

Puh-LEASE. Grow up people.

[feministabarista]

I agree with BusinessLeader wholeheartedly. Thanks for the sanity... wouldn't be surprised if we are from the same district. Everyone else- please just aknowledge that you do not have what it takes... its not that its impossible, its just too challenging for you.

[LL]

I've been working with the company for almost two years. The first year & half, I loved it. I loved connecting with customers and learning more and more about coffee and the company.

Now, I hate going to work 75% of the time.

I work in a drive-thru store and we are pretty busy (2nd in district) and there is hardly ever someone designated in the morning as a DTO. It sucks always having to run DT without any help. The DM came in the other day and I was in DT and she was like "I don't want you to move outside your area..you aren't supposed to be getting any of your pastries or coffee, you are just supposed to be focusing on the customer at the window."

I almost died from laughter, seriously.

She has removed EVERY ounce of overtime from the store. Our staffing is horrible. We bring in a lot of $ each week, yet all of the baristas & shifts are being pushed to the max.

Our new people aren't being trained properly because we never have enough people on the floor to train them right. There is a girl who has been there almost two months and she only knows how to make a latte & a mocha!!!

It's so frustrating.

How can we give customers "legendary service" if labor hours are cut?? How can we expect to cut the wait time if there are only 2 people on the floor (IN A DT STORE!!!)???

It makes no sense.

Anyways - I used to love my job, but not anymore. I'm already in the process of looking for a new job.

[theblackbean]

I don't think you are whining, but Starbucks has had a lot of fat in the schedule for the longest time and we just got use to it. Most company's I have worked for don't offer half of what Starbucks has, non coverage, training hours etc. So we are getting our hours cut, big deal. A strike, a national sick day, is not going to rescue our company, Saving money is. Because overspending or a strike, both would leave all of us without a job. And in this economy we should be grateful we have one. Just work.

[the blackbean]

Do you think whining, hope wishing is going to rescue the company? NO! We are going thru tough times and obviously the company is doing everything they think to stay afloat. It's not just sales, think about all the leases and contracts they had to brake with the 600 stores closing. We need to save money wherever we can. So we are getting our hours cut, big deal. Most companies do stuff like this and we are no different. I did not hear anybody complaining when the company spend more than 25 million for the leadership conference. My advice, let's work together. Let's work hard. And let's get the company our of this hole.

[PDX SM]

To the person who thinks that all store managers have received a letter treatening termination for not running (3%) VTI, Im a Store Manager and Im still waiting for this letter... Was it an action item, a portal notice, a letter sent to the store, or should I have received it at home?!?!?! I think your full of shit sir, and need to get your facts straight. Maybe your SM is making things up my little one. I can just say, this situation sucks, but I have friends who work for other retailers who are demanding they run 10, 15 even 20% under in labor. JUST BE HAPPY YOU HAVE A JOB AT THE MOMENT!

[SPORK]

Dear starbucksgossip and Barista who wrote the note

I love you lots and lots.

Love,

spork

[The Outlandish Screaming Barista of New York]

I for one support that the company has gone down the shi*ter. Its baristas who fire back with "the job is too challenging for you" that make me want to strap them to a rocket and launch them into the outer atmosphere.

Too challenging? You’re....you’re joking right? That was meant as a sarcastic remark I hope? If anything we are all living in the 7th circle of hell right now. Hours are being cut; my manager is coming up with excuse after excuse not to promote people (I've been waiting for my review for 2 weeks now and she keeps evading me). They are not hiring any new people only transfers (certainly saves on having to baby sit them) and we currently are losing between 200-250 people a day to Dunkin' Doughnuts across the street.

Unlike most people here I am selective with my kindness. I work in a district that consists of snobby, stuck up rich white women who won't give you the time of day and practically bark their drink order at you. They leave their excess crap on the receiving counter, they do not greet or say goodbye to anyone. They essentially treat us like inanimate objects. So as I said, I'm "selective" about who I decide to greet anymore. Most times I will just hand them coffee and they leave. If they want something from the bar I will spend a good minute or so just staring at the menu screen, pretending to look for the option. My favorite answer is, “well you know its Christmas time and they move all the options around on the screen”. Screw them, let them wait a little (serves them right after all the time they spent yelling and abusing us).

This job has officially lost its ability to maintain competent people. Management is suffering from ineptitude. They are threatening to fire baristas who do not open up their availability by March. Their is a whole plethora of things wrong with this company and my store in general.

I like many other baristas am now looking for a new job. I'm fighting tooth and nail to get my final hours in for the minimum 240 required for benefits (since they have been slashing time off the roster continuously!). If I find that I'm not covered in January I'm throwing in my two weeks notice.

This company is done, no respect left for the barista, no respect left for the customer, no respect period. The community is broken folks, the dam is about to break, looting is about to commence. We are in a time when no business is safe from bankruptcy. That's where I hope Starbucks is heading.

It was nice while it lasted. As Edward R. Murrow put it, "Good Night, And Good Luck".

[feministabarista]

to LL~

If you hate going to work 75% of the time, quit right now.

We can not afford your attitude.

Seriously, just quit.

You are a liability... If you can't take the heat get out of the kitchen.

With things being leaner, we really only can afford to have the best and brightest...

and you have self-selected yourself as a bottomfeeder.

byebye now.

[Nacho]

Congratulations Starbuck's partners, you have realized that your corporate management has become the same as every other foodservice/restaurant. Greedy jerks. It seems the only way to win is to escape from under the man, get together with your comrades and start a new local coffee shop in your town with damn good coffee and damn good service. Theres no other way around greedy corporate jackasses it seems.

[feministabarista]

and Spork~

you are a fan of losers.

the only life-form lower than actual losers.

you should quit too.

[The Outlandish Screaming Barista of New York]

Hey feministbarista,

Love the attitude, what I love even more is your blind hatred and cockiness of someone who use to love their job and now has to suffer because of idiots at the top.

With ideas and concepts like yours its amazing that you are still up front helping customers. Go do us all a favor and spend your shift cleaning the dishes like a good little worker.

[The Outlandish Screaming Barista of New York]

Ah another negative comment on someone you don't even know the circumstances of. How lovely. I'm pretty sure you are either a troll using FB name or you really are this pathetic. Either way, get off the board, these people have more important things to discuss, like a collapsing Sh*t hole of a company.

[Mrs. Tillinghamshackles]

name calling is immature and unacceptable.

[The Outlandish Screaming Barista of New York]

Yes it is Tillinghamshackles, 100%. It should stop now.

[Mrs. Tillinghamshackles]

I'm glad someone agrees :)

Thank you, oh Outlandish Screamer.

[JerseyGurl]

to PDX SM~

I highly doubt that anyone is making things up. My SM said the same exact thing to me and I'll be damned if he gets fired because he is doing everything in his power to keep morale up in the store while cutting hours (mine included).

[SPORK]

Dear FeministBarista,

I respond to your distasteful remarks with a tasteful and elegant photograph of pegasus and a rainbow.

http://www.inhabitat.com/wp-content/uploads/unicorn-rainbow.jpg

Love,

spork

PS: It is interesting the dichotomies that accompany my previous statement of love towards you, since you claim that I am a fan of losers. I however, will leave that area untouched, as I make it a habit not to feed the trolls ;)

[Crema_the_crop]

Man, if these are the posts that Jim is letting stick around, I can only imagine what the deleted ones look like........ :P

[The Outlandish Screaming Barista of New York]

Crema_the_crop,

We should start Starbucks Gossip: The Unrated Version

;-)

[Joe]

Melody,

I have to ask. As a customer, how do you form your opinion there are too many middle managers in the company?

[KanakaKope]

Melody- I have to agree with you. If you look at the jobs the SM's are required to do now, what really is the role of the DM? Do we really need a DM to oversee 7-10 stores? Why can't there be one per state or one per 100 stores?

Too much micromanaging...

[T]

Our DM told us today that she wants to have the final say on hiring from now on and MUST interview the person for a barista position before we are allowed to hire him/her. Hilarious. Why bother having SM or ASMs if the DM is going to take over and "run" our store into the ground?

[Bladerunner]

I left in April after 7 years. I saw that Howard's coming back was not moving Starbucks back in the right direction, nor was he really listening.(remember the Sonics?) There was hardly time for a slide in April. How much off the clock is going on now? Note after 7 years, there was no exit interview, nothing. The company could care less. Thankfully I made some life long friends while there.