Dear church music director: Some of us *want* Starbucks to be open on Christmas day!

Another holiday season, and another person complaining that Starbucks stores (or some of them) will be open on Christmas. The headline on Florence Baptist Temple music director Jim Symons' rant:

CHURCH CLOSED, STARBUCKS OPEN ... WHAT'S WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE?

Nothing, I say. You church has the right to be open on Dec. 25, just as Starbucks does.

I've frequented the Lake Geneva, Wis. Starbucks on Christmas Day for years, and will be doing it again this year. The place is packed -- and for a reason: People suffering Christmas/family Overdose want a place to escape for an hour or two, and SBUX is a good to place to do that. So, Mr. Symons, go ahead and find a church that's open, while millions of traveling American search for Starbucks that's opened on Dec. 25.

* Church closed, Starbucks open ... what's wrong with this picture?

Comments

[Jeff Tom]

I ove to visit SB on Xmas Day. Yes, it can be crowded, but people seems to be in a better mood that day, and things in general just seem more relaxed as people do not appear to be in a hurry to get back to work, pick up the kids, etc.

And the partners are a lot more friendly (prob. to get better tips, which I DO comply) as I consider their being open "extra" service.

[ex sbux partner]

The problem with Starbucks being open on Christmas is that it does not give an option to the employees forced to work that day to spend time with their families. Customers may want to escape family but at least they have the choice. Sorry to all you barista's and S.S. stuck working that day.

[MS]

@exsbuxpartner Working that day is voluntary. A partner is only scheduled if they say they are willing to.

[Judy]

and..... not everyone is Christian!

[Tall Blonde]

That's the best part - partners only work Christmas Day if they want to. Our store will be closed, because no one wanted to work this year. No problem!
I do feel for some of our regulars who have nowhere to go and no family or friends. I get the sense that they will be lonely.

[Waltie]

This article has nothing to do with Starbucks, nor does the writer even remotely imply that the stores should all be closed on Christmas. All he's saying is that churches should be open *this* Christmas, since it happens to fall on a Sunday this year. He only mentions Starbucks once, and that's to point out that other things are open that day, so it makes little sense that a Church can't open on a Sunday that happens to be on Christmas.

There is no controversy nor is anything negative said about Starbucks.

[CaliGirl]

My store will be the only store open in a 20 mile radius. I live in a small town but even with 3 stores and a SBUX inside of our Target we still manage to have a line wrapped around the block almost for Christmas day. We have our OPEN CHRISTMAS DAY signs up already and everyone on the schedule is pretty excited about working. Although its crazy busy like a previous comment said its Christmas and everyone is in a much better mood.

It will be my first Christmas with SBUX but I signed up for it so I hope its a good one. Wondering what kind of tips people at other stores get on Christmas...anyone care to share?

[Barista Man]

Cali, last year we did $6.50/hour, and it was split just among the partners working that day.

[ex sbux partner]

At MS:

Only partially true. Yes it's voluntary, however, whether a store is open or not is dictated by DM's, not if there are enough volunteers. If not enough partners volunteer then some will be scheduled out of need to operate the store. It has always been that case for years in the district I was in. Many baristas and S.S. were made to work because not enough people volunteer.

[Waltie]

There is definitely a lot of misinformation out there about holiday staffing. I've even heard some people claim that it's illegal to ask a partner to work on Christmas. It's not illegal, nor is staffing strictly voluntary. A good manager will try his or her best to honor holiday scheduling requests, but most stores are open 365 days a year, so on occasion some people will be expected to work on a holiday even if they'd rather not.

However, the promise of holiday pay and tips split amongst the people who are working makes it pretty easy to find somebody to pick up those shifts.

[Sheik]

"@exsbuxpartner Working that day is voluntary. A partner is only scheduled if they say they are willing to."

...On Paper... True. But behind the scenes , some bad managers bully their employees into working... Happens all the time.

[Confused as always]

Jim, did you even READ the artiicle?? The writer clearly has NOTHING to complain about when it comes to Starbucks -- he is pointing out that some CHURCHES choose to be closed on SUNDAY -- and he has a big problem withat that. Starbucks is not mentioned past the first paragraph

[Confused as always]

and the second

[MS]

In my district they had 4 stores staffed in under an hour after sending an email...all with volunteers. Made me happy to see so many willing people!

[whinersuckitup]

Ignorant people will always complain about ignorant things. Just yesterday someone on the bbc complained about fighting in hockey and said they only watched hockey during the world series. Enough said.

[chloe]

we never had a problem staffing christmas. partners got time and a half or double time (can't remember) plus the tips that day were split just amongst them. they usually made out at like $20/hr because of the holiday pay and huge tips. partners JUMPED on it, especially because the shifts were only four hours and then they could go be with family. we had to tell people who wanted to work the entire day NO!

and my church is closed on Christmas. i like that they communicate that giving volunteers a break and letting families be together is more important than a religious gathering.

[Helen]

I have not found what I wanted

[b]

Keep looking, you will!

[usorthem3]

This year the ones who work on Christmas day get a "bonus" shirt. Happy Holidays
I'm hoping tips will be $12.50 per hour like 2007 (hint, hint Santa baby) but either way, it's a great day to work. One of my customer's that owns a Fuzzy's Taco today brought a fajita buffet for the store to share, last week it was a 5# swiss choc bar. Tomorrow one lady is bringing some sausage kolaches from the Buzy Bee bakery. We've been rocking the season & having fun. Folks seem to have SBUX money to spend so keep those machines humming.

[Junaid]

Not to hijack this blog, but does anyone know what the heck is the problem with the eGift cards on FB and on their web-site? It doesn't work!

[RadioPromoGuy]

Those egift cards on FB are spam. Nothing to do with Starbucks.

[Just another partner]

The problem with staying open on christmas is that, yes waltie store may have all volunteered partners, but there are many, many I have personally seen, that Force partners to work on christmas. How? well after the volunteers are exhausted and coverage is not enough the manager needs to staff the store so non volunteers are scheduled. what is this non volunteer to do? cant complain because their hours will be cut for the next week. Its what I like to call mandatory volunteer. Of course this is not the majority of workers on christmas but if their even 10% thats a shame because they are not allowed to be with their families.

[Waltie]

"yes waltie store may have all volunteered partners, but there are many, many I have personally seen, that Force partners to work on christmas."

At the risk of sounding like a Scrooge... too bad. This is our job. The company we work for is open on Christmas. Sometimes we'll have to work. Does it suck that some people have to work on a Holiday even if they don't to? Sure does! Does it suck that I have to work at all even though I wish I could retire right now? Sure does!

This is a job. Who said jobs are always fun?

[Just another partner]

As always Waltie resorting to slippery slope argumentation. This guy must be obnoxious in real life.

[me]

people always "hate" on Waltie.. seems to me like he just follows policy, does his job the way his job is SUPPOSE to done and doesn't expect life to be easy and have things handed to him...

[Waltie]

I wasn't using a slippery slope argument, I was using an analogy. Bottom line: Our employer is open on Christmas, so sometimes we'll all have to work on Christmas. That's life.

[Just another partner]

yes waltie we know how things are we dont need you to point them out, we are merely arguing that they SHOULDNT be like that you genius.

[Just another partner]

How sad that all waltie aspires is to be a store manager.

[Waltie]

"yes waltie we know how things are we dont need you to point them out, we are merely arguing that they SHOULDNT be like that you genius. "

I don't follow. You're saying that a company should close on Christmas even though there is a demand from customers that they stay open? Why would they do that? Customers want us to be open, so we stay open. That's not a bad thing, that's just economics.

Is it bad that some people have to work on Christmas? I dunno. Probably not. It's a job. They get time and a half and split tips. In my years at Starbucks I've never heard of a store that lacked for people willing to work on Christmas. Customers want us to be open, but lots of partners do too. You do know that not everybody celebrates Christmas, right?

[Kyle]

You're right. Even though I have a family that I DO enjoy spending time with on Christmas morning, I should be (and am) required to be there at 4:15 am. That way you can suffer through your terrible, work-free Christmas with a delicious hazelnut latte. Pop a Prozac and get over yourselves if the holidays are that bad. It would just be awful for customers to drink Folgers for one day. They may even feel like downright peasants, but I'm guessing that feeling will pass. Yes, you will see me on Sunday morning and no I will not be glad to be there. The sense of entitlement in needing a cup of a "gourmet" (lol) coffee on Christmas morning is sickening. We should be honored to be serving you and yours, while we are away from ours.

[whinersuckitup]

I hate to say this: but Waltie is right. Welcome to the real world kidos.

[Just another partner]

There is a demand for everything but a lot of business close. Why? because they understand that employee moral will be more important to future profitability than the loss of sales of ONE day. Your narrow minded self can not understand that because as all store managers you drink too much of the kool aid.

[whinnersuckitup]

I hate to say this: but just another partner is right. Welcome to the real world kidos.

[frapatte]

I'm glad that I'm going to be working Christmas. But I hate the thought that others will be coerced into working that day. That's not the "real world". In the "real world" there's a sense of respect for people's base humanity and need for creature comforts like being with family and celebrating the feelings of relaxation and joy within your general community. That is very much "real world", and has been an integral part of our society throughout history. But the "real world" doesn't always coincide with the unending hunger of our modern-day capitalism.

[Kramer]

I don't understand why people feel so entitled about having Christmas off. A huge protion of our country doesn't even celebrate Christmas! Do you really think a 4 hour shift will kill you? You could be spending your Christmas in Afghanistan like many Americans. Why not be thankful you have a job?

[EricPost]

No one is FORCED to work on Christmas. If you don't want to work December 25th simply choose to work at a business that is closed that day. People in hotels, hospitals, bus drivers and the rest, have to work on Christmas. So what? If they don't like it, they can change jobs. If your religion or time off is that important to you, and it may well be, then you have to sacrifice for it. Heck early Christian martyrs lost their LIVES for their beliefs, I hardly think this compares to serving coffee on Christmas.

[bd]

Federal Law requires an employer to give an employee christmas day (and many other religious based holidays) off if they request it.
so why dont you all get your panties out of a wad and find something real to complain about. like people who dont have jobs and would love to be working christmas day.

[frapatte]

"If you don't like it then get another job!"

I wonder if people feel like they're spreading useful information with this kind of snarky crap. Yeah, our economy sucks right now. Is it anything to gloat about?

[asm]

I wish I got to work christmas day :(

[Stan]

@bd cite your source. i can say federal law requires us to all get double time on sundays.... but without evidence it means nothing.

[Confused as always]

Are you getting paid time and halfon the 25 AND the 26th?

[Waltie]

"Federal Law requires an employer to give an employee christmas day (and many other religious based holidays) off if they request it. "

That's completely untrue. Federal law does not dictate if a private employer has to observe a federal holiday. And that's a good thing.

[stan]

@waltie no they have to observe it. Starbucks has to pay time and half for the 6 fed holidays. if they don't pay overtime they have to be closed, or we all have to get a salary.

where bd might be having an issue is.... religious observance, it is a requirement that all employers at least attempt to find reasonable assurance that don't interfere with the religious observation.
If I suddenly become a practicing Catholic, and require every Sunday off.... there is not too much they can say to me, i certainly couldn't get fired over it.... but now it gets sticky when it comes to Christmas.... the government doesn't view it as a religious holiday.... it's a winter break it's a federal holiday.

To say that they don't observe a federal holiday crazy... we don't get time and a half because it's good business... it's cause they have to.

[Waltie]

Not all employers pay time and a half for holidays. Starbucks does, which is nice, but I don't believe they are forced to by any law.

But the point you were trying to make is that Starbucks is required by law to give partners Christmas day off if they request it, and that is absolutely untrue.

[Hilary]

while it may be great for you to be able to get away from your family and hide out at starbucks on christmas day, its not so great for the parents or anyone else who has a family and is forced to work on christmas. one young girl at my store is out of state going to college and when she tried to get time off to go be with her family for christmas her job was threatened, then her hours were took away and she ended up having to move home to because of it.