Weekend OPEN THREAD: Another chance for you to take the stage

Get up and discuss anything Starbucks-related. (Conversation-starter: Does your store let customers give Christmas tips to individual baristas? Or do those tips have to be tossed into the group jar?) || Jump to the second page of comments.

Comments

[Kate]

Starbucks regular here with a Christmas gift question... I'd like to get a little something for the morning crew at Starbucks. I thought about food, but anything I'd make is similar to what's in the pastry case. Any suggestions?

What about Borders giftcards? What would you want for $5 - 10?

Thanks!

[barristerbarista]

Kate,

We loved getting homemade treats when I worked there, even if it was similar to the pastry case. We get tired of pastry case goodies and/or don't eat it cause we don't want to buy it. So homemade goods are just fine.

As to the tip conversation, I was never blessed with a tip handed directly to me, but I would have felt obligated to share it. One of our girls did get a rather large tip one year and our manager said it was up to her to keep it or share it, since at that time she was the one who basically kept the mornings going.

[sunshinebean]

To: Sick of Howard.....
I commend you for your insight and truthfullness, as Howard is absolutely responsible for all the corruption and dishonesty.... I too think it escalated four years ago, and sorry to say its peaking right now. In my area (Arizona), the amount of unethical behavior, and dishonesty is rampant, starting with the RD (Lisa Davis)....but from what is sounds like, its being directed from higher leadership positions... To the readers, specific examples are:
1. Unrealistic goals and expectations.
(Via sales 200%)
2. Oustside your four walls to drive business (our own time and not paid)
3. FINAL WRITTEN CORRECTIVE ACTIONS- IN THE AZ MARKET, BEING DELIVERED LIKE ITS CANDY..... FOR NOT SO DESERVING SITUATIONS. A company doing this is not ethical, or respectful. Terminology of saying "further violation of any company policy or standards will result in further disciplinary action, up to and including termination" Try working under that for a period of time...
4. Targeting tenured managers/ older to reduce labor costs..

Inconsistent disciplinary between tenured, and newer, greener managers is rampant. Fortunately, there is a bunch of us that know this and taking action... So, to Lisa Davis, and Carrie Henry... what you are doing is illegal, and unethical. To the DM's following these two unethical individuals, document the lies they ask of you, and contact corporate partner resources....as eventually these two will turn on you!!
I encourage all other managers and partners to contact the EEOC in your area, as this is the most effective way to deal with this...

So thank you for being
truthful with this BLOG!!!!!!

[n8]

Anyone test marketing the new whole leaf teas? How many are in a box and what's the price difference?

[Sad Partner]

Dear (local newspaper),

I worked at Starbucks and then went to Europe for several months..

When I came back I deposited my last two paychecks which had come in the mail.

The paychecks came back RETURN, REFER TO MAKER

I called the Starbucks "partner number" and they referred me to the "tax dept/unclaimed property dept" which is a recording.

I left messages starting early last week and continuing this week. They (tax dept/unclaimed prop) do not call me back.

What do I do? I get a runaround no matter where I go.

I called the District Mgr and she referred me back to the "partner" number.

The "partner" number refers you back to the tax dept recording. I asked the manager of my store where I worked and she referred me to the partner number.

Partner number refers me to tax/unclaimed property.

I checked at unclaimed property in the State of California and they do not have it.

The last check is dated 9/18/08. Yes, I know they have expired but I was also told that Starbucks keeps a fund even for expired checks to re-issue them?

Just would like to get paid!

Thank you!

Yours,

(my name
california)

[Sad Partner]

Does anyone have any idea of how to get checks re-issued?

[Sad Partner]

I was told by one partner that it can take six weeks or more for tax dept to answer your phone call?

No offense, but these kinds of policies lose customers.

We were huge customers of Starbucks before this happened. Not impressed with the way "partners" are treated.

[me myself and I]

Sad Partner, you've been away for over a year and didn't make sure someone is taking care of your important things in life while you are not around? Even though I think you should get paid at the end, it is hardly Starbucks fault and certainly it isn't on their screen as urgent. After all, you didn't do a move in over 14 months, how can you expect them to move within a few days? Especially during the very hectic holiday season. If they don't call you back, write to them. If they still don't react, then you can write you letter to the newspaper. Any newspaper picking up on this right now would only look very bad for trying to make a case against a big corp. where there is none.

Relax, enjoy the holidays and good luck getting your paycheck some time early Jan.

[Dina]

I am soooooo happy that I no longer
work for this life-sucking company!!!
At first I was sad (long time kool-aid
drinker), now I have a job that is
great..I go in after taking my daughter
to school...get home before she gets
off the bus...COOK DINNER FOR MY
FAMILY!! I work 3-4 days a week, and
make way more than I ever did as a
mgr (bonus included)...I used to hate
Holidays...because of the stress and being absent from my family. I still
check in on this website because I do miss regular partners and customers, but the more I read, the more I am greatful I am no longer in "the Trenches" I feel for people that are
still enduring!! For those that are happy...count your blessings! For those
who are suffering with all the BS...
Sometimes you gotta know when to quit!!!
Life is too short...and family is too important!! Peace

[Andy, Shift Supervisor, Maryland]

The paycheck issue is one of few things I side with Starbucks on (and agree with me myself and I). If the check is expired (> 6 months old) you don't really have any rights to it anymore. If they do reissue it, I give Starbucks credit.

To Sunshine Beam, those 4 problems are nationwide. Although because of it, I feel like there's room for a good independent coffee shop in the cracks to do well. Eventually Starbucks will lose marketshare.

Kate, as to gift questions, I would say baked items are fine, it's the thought that counts. If it's a busy store with lots of baristas, you might inlcude a card too signed with your name and drink.

[Katey]

@ SadPartner

About a year ago I received an old check (almost a year old) from an old store. I don't know if it makes any difference that I still work for the company, but I just called whatever number was on the check. They asked for my partner numbers and I told them the date of the check and they had a record of it not being cashed. And then they reissued me a check and mailed it to my house. It didn't take long at all. Good luck!

[Andy]

Oh, forgot about the Tips issue. At my store, we've compromised. Any tips collected on Xmas Day will be not be shared with partners who did not work Xmas. But they will be shared evenly among the partners who did work that day on the usual hourly basis.

[N.P.A.]

Something to ponder on :)

http://www.flickr.com/groups/starbuckscoffeecompany/discuss/72157622351418443/

[Sick of Howard!!!]

sunshinebean,

Unfortunately Howard controls partner resources too. The only thing that can be done is contact an attorney or make your views public in venues like this. Howard, the board, and all the leaders of this company are all the same. There is no safe place to report a complaint or speak anonymously within the company. If they can track you down your sunk and they are extremely anxious to find out exactly who is blowing their cover. There only hope is to keep the charade up and somehow convince partners, customers and investors that Starbucks is an ethically run company with the highest of standards. Anyone who has worked for Starbucks in the last few years can plainly see this isn’t the case. Some may argue this point but I tend to question their involvement in the company or time employed with Starbucks. There are also areas of the country that are possibly better than others but it all comes down to the same problem. There is far too much corruption company wide for any corporate executive officer to claim ignorance. It just doesn’t work that way.

[Toni]

@Sad Partner-Just be grateful you had a few months away from this repressive company. Oh, and next time consider direct deposit. It’s greener and much easier.

[Big $$$]

WOW Got A BIG FAT Check today from the BUX. Thank you to Howard and team for seeing the light. Keep steamrolling the money.

Mad Dog, Kool-aid drinking fool who loves the BS and the customers that go with it. I can cattle call like the best of them!

[Sad Partner]

One of my friend's dad owns a large company with branches in three states. I asked him about re-issuing a paycheck and he said it would be done immediately. No runaround, no one pretending not to be there and not answering the phones.

NO, I will not have the money by January as no one even bothers to pick up the telephone. I do not have a form to file for a re-issued check.

What is the law? If you do not cash your check in six months (this is the time limit on the check) are you then simply out of the $$

If this is so, why can't someone in that huge corporation return a call and just tell me that: "Hey you are out of luck as the check is over six months old"

That's all, just simple courtesy.

For me it's not only about the $$, but having the simple business courtesy of returning a telephone call.

Is that asking too much?

[Thank Goodness I Escaped]

There are several long-term partners in the Washington DC market that have been unfairly targeted by Starbucks leadership. The most recent example took place during the 'annual review' process in mid-September. Several partners, DMs in particular, were given 'performance improvement plans' that were total surprises for those partners. The PIPs were designed to push out these long-term parters, they were delivered without merit and were not grounded in-fact. Combined, the affected DMs represented over 50 years of Starbucks experience. None of the DMs had prior performance issues and all of them had other peers below them in the 'key metrics' that measure performance. The regional VP Joe Hallinan was, in this instance, the one delivering the plans while all the time smiling and expressing his 'confidence in their abilities'. Joe spent fewer than 3 or 4 hours over the year with any of these partners yet was somehow able to review their performance without any notes, comments or feedback from their recently departed RD. Joe was also able to ignore the fact that there were other DMs with equal or worse metric performance that were not put on performance plans. These partners were targeted precisely because they were long-term partners.

This type of purging of long-term partners has and continues to go on, all one has to do is look at the evidence. Even as I write this message, long-term leaders such as Wendy Collie have recently been tossed aside by Starbucks 'leadership'. Does Howard know? I would suppose he does. Either way, he is accountable for this mess. My guess is he is blind to reality within his own company and more focused on his now flagging legacy as a visionary leader. I would also guess that Howard's father of whom he often sights as 'the inspiration' for building Starbucks, would be terribly disappointed in his son's total failure to live up his own promises of 'taking care of the workers'.
The new reality is that Starbucks is no longer the employer of choice. There are many companies waiting to receive Starbucks partners, understanding that many of these partners are hard-working and represent great value to any prospective employer. Starbucks much touted benefits package is now common-place and often outdone by many of today's companies.
You may be wondering what has happened to the recently departed DMs in the metro DC market and leaders like Wendy Collie? Happily, they all found new jobs with great employers that understand their value and have treated each of them with 'dignity and respect'; a lost value at Starbucks.

[Melody]

@Thank Goodness I Escaped:

You mention "Wendy Collie" as someone who escaped Starbucks??? I thought she was now an exec in charge of the licensed stores. Of course, since Starbucks eliminated the old 'senior officers' page from Investor Relations, it's hard to tell. (I find that slightly irritating, oddly. I prefer more information on the website, not less, but oh well).

I think she came into @15thAveCoffee within the past 8 -12 weeks or so, looking around the store, and seemed to be genuinely enjoying it. If she is gone, I assume that's a recent change...What news do you have?

[Toni]

@Sad Partner-If you are expecting courtesy from Starbucks you’re crazy. Courtesy, dignity, respect…these can no longer be found at Starbucks. Keep reading the comments here, this isn’t a nice company. I’m sure you’ll get your money sometime but it’s not going to be at your convenience.

[Sad Partner]

Thanks, Melody. I appreciate your kindness. I am getting a whole new picture of Starbucks. My dad and mom used to go there constantly and spent $$!

Anyway, glad I'm out and wish the best for the many kind and hard working baristas and others out there.

Again thanks for your kind comment and yes, i hope I get a phone call someday to find out where the $ went!

Thank you..

[sunshinebean]

to: NPA, and Sad partner,
Thank you for sharing some of the practices done by this company, as I think its important to share some of those strategies upper management uses to get rid of tenured partners.. I know of other managers that received poor reviews, even though they get amazing results in metrics.... Put on a 3 month performance plan, which is a way to kick their ass out the door. The fact is, partners will read this and have a heads up. I have documented everything, texts, emails of our unethical lying leaders (Lisa Davis, Carrie Henry), and have a lawyer as well. So be very aware, document everything, and save everything. When starbucks realizes the money they are going to loose to lawsuits, maybe they will refocus on our supposed guiding princicples..... PLEASE KEEP SHARING!!!!

[Thank Goodness I Escaped]

Wendy just announced her departure from Starbucks; she is off to a new opportunity! Wendy was most recently with LS as the senior vp; however she has decided to leave for a position with a learning based company. She is very talented and will be a huge asset for her new employer an even bigger loss for Starbucks.

[The koolaid is getting sour!]

It is no different in Colorado. In a district here, a manager just got fired and the partners in her store got put on final written notices for fudging their numbers. Should the manager have been fired... sure! The question is, why didn't the DM get canned for the same reason? He knew about it and ignored it for over a year. He had been told by several other partners, managers and even customers that the numbers were being manipulated. He chose to do nothing because it made him look good. He is just as guilty as the manager and was an accessory to the deceit.

[Melody]

@Sad partner - I think it was Toni that said the kind words to you. I do hope you get your check fast. It doesn't seem fair that they should just get to keep your hard-earned money.

@Thank Goodness I Escaped - Thanks for the update. I can see how it sounds like a 'mass exodus' from Starbucks, but hopefully just an isolated fluke one or two leaders stepping down. She sounds like she was a great Starbucks person from your description. I wish her well.

[No.Va. SM]

@Thank Goodness...
I am also in the DC market. I have had two visits in one year from Joe Hallinan and they were fantastic. Unfortunately, many of the DC stores are high profile (to include media coverage), but unfortunately, they are notoriously innacurate in filling orders, rude, dirty, and even had a manager who displayed his tattoos in front of Cliff Burrows on a tour with Denny Tuza, thus ending Denny's tour and career with Starbucks. Those DMs and managers that have left or were pushed out needed to go. I knew several of them personally and am familiar with all DM's in Nora and Jackie's regions. Believe me, there is more to the story than you know.

[@usorthem3]

Because I don't want to look through a stack of revised policies, I thought I would get a faster answer here so I pose this question. If I give a two week notice and work out my time, do I get my accrued vacation time paid or does that belong to the company? I don't think w/ all the changes over that last two years and the way SBUX seems to be going in the future that after the holidays I can continue to be an employee any longer. To those who are going to say I'm bitching then know that I am working on another position hopefully away from the public at large

[baroosta]

usorthem3, you will get the accrued vacation paid to you on your last paycheck.

[just a barista]

So what does your store do to celebrate partner appreciation day? My manager wants us all to chip in and bring something for a pot luck. I do not feel appreciated if I have to bring something to work. Is it usual for partners to chip in and appreciate each other or is it for sbuc to appreciate us? Just wondering what you all do.

[Sad Partner]

WOW is this board powerful!

I've been calling every number on the planet at Starbucks and was bounced back and forth between phone numbers/ recordings and no one called me back!

Now I post on this board--- and BINGO I get a call from Seattle and the check's now in the mail.

Thank you to whoever started this board!

[Andy, Shift Supervisor, Maryland]

HOLD UP.

Denny Tuza was a Regional Director right?? Meaning he has no direct control on store-level happenings or hirings.

Cliff walks in, SM bares tatoos, SM gets fired. Maybe even DM gets fired.

But Denny Tuza?

Why would a guy 2 levels up from the store be fired for one thing that happened at the store level?

Or was this just the last straw?

[Sad (former) Partner]

I think life will get tougher and tougher in retail in general and Starbucks in particular as the economy continues to collapse.

See www.thecomingdepression.blogspot.com

Hold on tight to your job but keep your eyes open for opportunities.

[javagirl666]

Im not sure what the problem is re: the paycheck issue. This is a clear case of people just bashing Starbucks to bash Starbucks. You need to call the phone number listed on the bottom of one of your old paystubs..they will verify if this check has been cashed and if not..surprise!!!!..they will re-issue a new one. Over the years I have had partners lose checks or put them in the washing machine, etc...never had a problem. They were always back in the partners hands within 2-3 days. No offense...but I don't think we're getting the full story here, folks.

[Andy]

Wait until it's your turn javagirl666.

The sign of the devil is upon you.

Hahaha.

[Sad (former) Partner]

I got a phone call from Seattle and now it's been handled!

Thanks everyone for the kind concern.

Yay!

[Hurricane Collie]

Wendy Collie doesn't even deserve to be mentioned on the same page as Joe Hallinan. Joe is one of the best leaders that we have ever had, while Wendy has made a career out of talking out of both sides of her mouth.

[Wendy]

Does anyone know where I can get Taraza coffee (the one SB makes there Iceed coffee with? I have looked everywhere; at stores and on line.. Help

[Andy]

Just so everyone can figure out who's who, here's what I know:

Denny Suza, former Regional Director of Operations, Washington DC

Joe Halinan, Regional Vice President, Mid-Atlantic Region (in charge of Maryland, Delaware, DC, ?Pennsylvania?, ?Virginia?) Please update with the states that Joe is in charge of).

Who is Wendy Collie?

Who is Nora?

Who is Jackie?

[waltie]

"Courtesy, dignity, respect…these can no longer be found at Starbucks. "

I find -- and give out -- those things evey day! I'm sorry you work in a store where the environment is so poor, but trust me when I say it isn't indicative of the company as a whole. I do a great job and feel respect from my manager and DM. Good luck in your situation.

[Andy]

Sorry, just reread-
Wendy Collie, former Senior Vice President, Licensed Concept Stores

[Andy Shift MD]

Starbucks, as far as I know, does not sell Terraza (Iced Coffee) anywhere. By the Coffee Resource Manual, I think it says the substitute is Kenya (which every store sells), although in my opinion Kenya tastes nothing like Terraza. If you wait until summer, the Gazebo Blend works pretty well as an Iced Coffee.

Until then you could try begging a store manager to sell you some Terraza and just have the manager make up a price, but if they're doing their job right, they'll say no.

One last option, surprisingly, is Pike Place, which works much much MUCH better as an Iced coffee than as a hot coffee. You should be pleasantly surprised.

[Basic Black]

I like Ethiopia Sidamo as an iced coffee way better than Kenya in my opinion.

[Toni]

@Sad (former) Partner-It is amazing how when something is mentioned here on SG things get accomplished that might have gone on for weeks or even months. I guess I was right that it didn’t happen at your convenience but only after the company was inconvenienced.

@waltie-Keep up the great work. It must be exhausting to holding up all the corporate values by yourself. Possibly you’re in one of the very few good areas, but like any cancer the corporate illness Starbuck possess will metastasize and begin to effect you too. You can only live on the Kool-Aid for so long until you need to pull your head out of the sand and look around. Eventually you’ll see what an overwhelming number of partners here and throughout the US already see. You do seem to be in the extreme minority all the time. You and a few lone voices of positive Starbucks experiences against what the mass majority speak of here week after week.

[Wendy]

thank you andy, I will try all 3 of your opinions

[Leaving Starbucks (like all other SM's)]

It's just so sad. I've been with Starbucks for about 4 years now, and I am on my way out. It's terrible to see the morale in the management at Starbucks as it continuously decreases. Today I got an e-mail from my DM that threatened Corrective Actions if we didn't sell a certain amount of Via! Isn't it bad enough that I've already been told I can't measure more than a "Meets Expectations" on my performance review because I didn't hit my 200% goal during launch??

So even though my stores total contribution is fantastic, sales and customer count is up, customer voice scores are soaring... I am "meets expectations". And for those who don't know, thats only 1 score higher than "Needs Improvement".

I just can't do it anymore. I'm wondering if it's the same everywhere or just the Upper Mid-Atlantic Region?

We are responsible for 5 Values Walks a day (in detail), 1 QASA audit a week, Duty Roster Notebook, hitting and surpasing Holiday targets, Via Goals, and now have to CALL IN our numbers and results at mid-day and close. If you miss your target, FORGET about talking calmly with your DM in creating a sensible action plan... instead you get reamed out and told your an "Outlier".

I have NEVER worked for a company in which upper Management (outside the store) has been so out of touch with what is going on in their stores! What a shame!

[Marcus]

What y'all need to remember is, you're working at a coffee shop, and I'm guessing you get paid a little bit above minimum wage. You serve coffee and pastries, let the rest roll of your back as much as you can. You are not responsible for this company. The worst that can happen is they can fire you. Don't get caught up in what sounds like their mental illness if you will, if a company can be mentally ill!

I enjoy going to starbucks, but from the outside looking in, I can't understand 1) why they put so much stress on you guys and 2) why you all would worry so much about the craziness they put on you. I guess it's probably a culture of intensity.

But think about it from the outside. Imagine someone working at any other company. Like bed bath and beyond. Or Mcdonalds. They probably don't know what the company targets are or care. I worked at mcdonald's. I wiped up the tables, put fries in the hopper, and put food in the bags for drive up customers. I didn't know anything about the corporation. I didn't have to try to sell anyone anything. They all wanted food and lots of it, lol. I just had menial tasks to do.

Remember if they want you all to be stressing out about numbers and stuff like you're the CEO of the company, they should be paying you like you're the CEO.

I worked for another company that sent out BS reports all the time telling everyone how horribly they were doing and how we constantly needed to improve performance. I learned that if i looked at each on of those emails and responded to the specific allegations, I would drive myself crazy. I figured as long as they were paying me, I didn't have to worry. One day they fired all of us cos they lost the contract we were working on. I knew I was doing the best I could and the bad things they were saying weren't true, and trying to get them to see that didn't make things any better.

So, that goes into what one of you said about "meets expectations." I would have assessments like that. And I would just ignore them. If they said I was just satisfactory, I would ignore it. At first I took it as a personal slight, but then I realized how insane this company was and thought I will just do my thing--which is to do the best I can do--and as long as I get my paycheck, that's all that matters. If I worried about them thinking I wasn't good enough, it wouldn't have mattered anyway, I was already doing the best I could.

So my advice is just keep pouring the coffee and serving the donuts and let them be as crazy as they want and just ignore it. And if they fire you, you'll know you were fired from a coffee shop even though you poured the coffee and served the donuts, and that Starbucks is just crazy.

[Way Over It All]

@Leaving Starbucks (like all other SM's): You and I must be in the same district! It's like I wrote your post myself...

They have no idea what it takes to run a store under their ridiculous stipulations! Is it just heartless Krista, or is it Joe? Or is this all Cliff's fault?

I don't know, but I sure hope I am not still around for much longer to find out.

I guess they'll find out how expendable we all are when we find other jobs and finally get to quit.

[deforest]

What ever happened to the holidays of yesteryear...Angel Joy Toy Drives...Cheer Parties...Coffee Seminars..ect ect......we always had USD goals to meet..but they were easier because of the community involvement...remember the Parade of Lights in Ft Worth? My Truck looked like it had been dipped in chocolate after delivering all the carafes
full to the event!!LOL It was sooo much fun..This Company has COMPLETELY lost its sense of direction!!!

[is it so hard to be civil]

When Sbux does sell Terraza, it's in the summer.

[Binaca Mumjoyo]

Howard, thanks for the check. Without you, there would be no Starbucks and we would all be Wal Mart greeters or the like. What an inspirational figure! Keep on keeping on.