personal drama in your store...

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personal drama in your store...

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Started 1 year ago by SCSHC
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SCSHC

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I'm just curious about how much personal drama is in your stores? Sometimes I feel like my store is one of a kind for that sort of thing.

A lot of people hang out outside of work, or at least used to, so cliques form, everyone talks about their personal lives and brings it to work which creates people voicing their opinion about others personal lives which creates hostility when those opinions aren't so nice. On top of all this, there isn't a single person at my store that isn't afraid to call any partner out in sometimes very harsh ways, it all makes for good entertainment half the time, and super awkward shifts the other half of the time.

Posted 1 year ago #
MobilizedPartner

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This sounds so much like my store. Dear God. You couldn't get through one day without it.

Posted 1 year ago #
OrangeBlossom

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My store is terrible for drama too! The worst part is that my SM likes to stir it up and play into it as well...and she makes it 10 times worse because she is a person of authority. We are all super miserable for it, and it shows. No wonder our customer service rating is SO low! My store needs to get a clue.

Posted 1 year ago #
FUsbux

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my store was huge in the drama dept. My sm LOVED it and often caused it, esp if it had anything to do with her. If she was having a bad day so did everyone else and she made sure of it. Alot of people were friends outside of the store when I started and now I dont think its that way anymore. But everyone sure knows everyones business, which is never good.

Posted 1 year ago #
Señor Cardgage

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I think the lot of us in my Schultzi death camp are mature enough not to become invested in personal dramas at work. The only drama I tend to see is .. uh. Work related. Like getting sick of certain parties not carrying their weight, or being frustrated with how really fragile our staffing and schedule is. Like weekends of permanent two-part coverage and no breaks for anyone (lolo not punching out for my lunch).

While most stores enjoy having a dozen or more people, when you have only nine and we're all tapped out in hours, and the staff is lumped into a few categories (either three useless, two at 40 hours, two sucky availability, or two already worked that day lololo), it really is a charlie foxtrot when someone calls out.

Posted 1 year ago #
Javalvr

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Hey Senor-Similar work related issues here as well. The weekend coverage is the worst and I'm one of the shifts that usually takes the brunt of it since I open and the ams are the busiest. No matter how many times I bring it up to my manager, her response is, "the schedule won't allow for more labor". How stupid could can one possibly be not to see that it's not working? I, then get chastised because I'm not able to take a break!

We have had some other drama as well. Four guys, (one of which was a shift), had a crush on this one girl. She ended up dating the shift who ended up transferring to another store because of the "hostile" work environment he was working in. Go figure!

Posted 1 year ago #

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Señor Cardgage

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lolo oh boys. I'm glad I'm dispassionate about just about everything except beer and robotrippin'.

Yeah, wtf is up with this 'lolo the schedule doesn't allow for moar labor' business. My comparison, since we're fast food anyway, is that McDonalds and crap always have enough staff to fully man the harpoons during a rush. Why is it that super profit time Starbucks can't spare another guy? OH WAIT I FORGOT, PROFITS!!11one In the meanwhile, our business is in the last month of the summertime reversal, where we're moderate in the AM, dead in the early to mid-afternoon, and then busy as balls for the entirety of the evening. Weekends remain busy as balls for the entire damn day, so that's the one thing that never changes- but for some effed up reason, someone somewhere retardedly decided that only two harpoons are necessary on Sundays (open to close with no overlap except for unpaid halfs) for fending off thousands of Jebus-infused churchies.

Posted 1 year ago #
Javalvr

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Yeah Senor, I feel your pain. I don't know where anyone got the impression that we slow down in the Summer. We are what's considered a "commuter" store which means we theoretically should only be busy in the a.m. and not at all on weekends. Well, guess what...they're wrong! We are still very busy on weekends and two people until 10AM is not going to make a store successful. In fact, if you're worried about Customer Voices, it will not make for a very good report. Smarten the **** up someone, please!

Posted 1 year ago #
Dry Sharpie

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Internets:82

@senorcardgage: My store is busy all morning, moderate during lunchtime, extremely busy during afternoon to evening rush hour, and slows down towards the night. The store probably had staffing issues on weekends, but I'm the hired wild card partner that fills in the gaps now. We've got upwards of 15 employees, with 2-3 baristas on the floor at all times.

@Javalvr: Almost everyone in my store is hooked up, from outside of the store. No drama in the relationship department here.

Posted 1 year ago #
GaveYouDecaf

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Oh my gosh, so my store is not full of drama, but there are a few individuals who make enough drama to make it feel as if it is. It's only those like 3-4 people who create it, but since at least one of them is always working, the drama never ceases!

My store is for the most pretty well staffed, except for the mids. Also, we are near a concert venue and you would think that this would make it so that when big concerts were schedules we'd have an extra person, but no. Store never fails to get slammed with frappy lovers who leave their garbage all over our lobby and then the people who use our store as their office come up and complain about all the people that are there. What do you want me to do? Kick people out? Well I would, and I'd probably start with you! At least those other people bug me for 10-20 minutes while they have their drink and dirty my lobby, you've been here all effin day!

Posted 1 year ago #
Baron Von Tentacleese

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yeah, you'd think it would be easier to get more labor. I mean, come on. If the store is operating at full capacity and long lines are forming during peak hours, wouldn't we just make more money by calling another hand on deck? Well, we might, if the ship's purser and and our trading company weren't such tightwads [halfway expecting the filter to remove that last word, which would be hilarious].

I really liked when, instead of extra harpooners, we added an extra mininum wage lancer during peak hours (ok, I've taken the whaling metaphor about as far as I'm willing). Cafe attendants really helped out during peak hours, because then you had a dedicated person to keep stocking stuff before you run out, keep dishes washed, and keep the cafe presentable. And it worked well, because they weren't trained for bar or register, so they couldn't be coopted to appeasing the ever-needy customers. Then, of course, the attendants' hours started getting cut back more and more, until they were eventually eliminated.

We can't have nice things.

Posted 1 year ago #
Cr.Mo.Frapp

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Internets:46

My store was drama central, I was one of the only ones that could keep my mouth shut so everyone unloaded on me in the back room. During my 3 yrs there i have played couclor and ref for god only knows how many fights. I have even made lunch time runs for the morning after pill while a teenage employee is cryin in the back room. I always prayed for a week i could get thro without somone crying in the back room. And i just have to say it most of the guys that came throught there cryed more then the girls.

I don't understand how people come to work and air all their dirty laundry for every one to know???? I'm sorry listening to my Nasty ASM talk about her and her nasty boyfriend's sex life ( in grafic detail ) at 6 am is something i can live with out..... i will never get the images out of my head

Posted 1 year ago #
Quackers

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Internets:463

Ever since I was moved to the store I'm at now, it's just like drama city. For me.

Maybe not so much as drama gossip [there is gossip but I'm always stuck on that darn register to hear anything] but drama either way. The people I work with like to make annoying comments about me, the guys like to play around with me too much by pushing me, shoving me, and telling me lies that at first I used to stupidly fall for. Now I won't believe anything they tell me. They also love laughing at me, for anything. The morning guy shift loves to complain about me and laugh with the other guys about me. However, I don't complain about them because I feel like they ARE just kidding around and I'm the one who just can't take a joke but a lot of the time, they just make me real mad. I guess I shouldn't let them [they probably just love seeing me mad] but I can't help it, they p^ss me off. Sometimes it doesn't feel like they're just joking.

There's a female shift that's always up in her rude feelings. She will say things like, that I need to tell her what I need for customers so that I always stay on register, and not go get it myself. But then when I try and ask her for anything, she'll probably say something like "Okay well not now because I'm busy." When she >JUST< told me that I need to tell her what I need because I can't leave the register alone. This is just one of the many examples of the things she does to me and everyone else. Bottom line, she likes to say things and then switch up what she says to always make you look wrong. I can't really describe her in words but no one likes her.

The people on the morning shift think they all know it all better than you yet they make the same mistakes as you do. They act like Starbucks is the college career they studied for or something. It just keeps on with these people, I can't really describe them, and the AM's aren't so great either. I guess it's like a you've got to meet them kind of thing. They're probably the reason I have become much more bitter about my job...I think I'm even getting mad lines...

Posted 1 year ago #
highlow87

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Internets:31

we get along pretty well at our store. The only kind of problem we have is Openers V.S. Closers. Morning shifts don't think the closers do enough and vice versa. But that's hardly a big deal, we all still hang out outside of work and stuff.

Posted 1 year ago #
Javalvr

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Internets:37

@Sharpie-no hookups for me either, which is fine! I was once told that it was against SBUX policy for partners to have relationships if they worked in the same store. i have to admit that it did get a little awkward when female partner made her "selection". The rest of the guys had hard feelings.

@Senor-my stupid manager worked with me Sat morning and realized that more labor is needed. What am I chopped liver and/or incapable of making a decent appraisal of my shift? Wonders never cease at the stupidity that exists among SBUX management. I swear that being stupid is a pre-requisite of becoming a manager.

Posted 1 year ago #
GaveYouDecaf

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^ Word! I love the manager I have now, but for the most part it seems as if there's a stvpidity test for management, and unless you fail it, you can't get hired.

Posted 1 year ago #
BCcoffee

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No hookups in my store either... One of the partners that did always transferred out lol. Makes for a much less dramatic work environment.

Or mgmt is just really strict on that here.

Posted 1 year ago #
eightpumpchai

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Internets:483

We have very little drama at the store I am at now... just the openers vs. closers thing that people have talked about on here a bunch of times. (GO OPENERS!!) I am very big on leaving my s*** at the door when I go to work and thankfully the majority of the people I work with now are as well. I am friends with a few people I work with, friendly with all of them, but in general I keep work and my personal life separate. I feel like it's better that way. My manager at my old store was super strict about co-worker relationships too, if people started dating one of them would be transferred within a few weeks. At my new store though, we had a couple working there for months. They never specifically said they were dating to our manager but EVERYONE knew about it. And quite honestly, people like them are the reason that the rule exists. I don't want to put up with your little inside jokes and hugs and s*** while we're working. I just want you to do your job and I'll do mine and we'll laugh and talk while we do it... but please, just get the effing espresso hoppers stocked while you're being all huggy and lovey over there.

Posted 1 year ago #
YoungRedBiiird

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The drama we have is very clique-y and reminiscent of high school unfortunately. It's sort of a sh***y feeling when I'm working a shift and 8 girls who work in the city/at my store come in for tea lemonades before they go bikini shopping! And then one says "oh, when is your shift done? You should come too!" "No, that's alright thanks." I don't need the last minute, half-hearted sympathy invite!

And I don't wear bikinis.

Basically, I'm not a girly-girl and don't want to go clubbing with dudes grinding all up on my business every weekend, so I started declining their offers. So now we're barely friends. Ah well, I'm pretty close with a few partners at my store that are super awesome!

Posted 1 year ago #
Dry Sharpie

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Internets:82

Openers versus closers?

Several of my shift supervisors refused to prep iced teas for the next morning because they saw in the schedule who was opening the next morning. They also hate it when that particular shift supervisor closes the night before, because he never leaves the partners any markouts for breakfast. I thought there was a lot of friction between the shift supervisors and that guy, but they get along quite well in person.

Posted 1 year ago #
BCcoffee

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Leaving markouts for breakfast? Good idea except our openers would bitxh us out for breaking protocol. I take many breakfasts home :)

Posted 1 year ago #
Dry Sharpie

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Internets:82

I often come to work on an empty stomach and suffer all shift long. On my first 10, I treat it like a lunch break... and scarf down a sandwich or spinach wrap.

Posted 1 year ago #
thinkdeep

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OMG, so much drama.

I'm the only guy at my store (besides the manager) so I work with 12 (corn-fed, midwestern) women.

I don't say **** on my shift, mainly because the second and third time I did, it came back to me in a completely different version (basically said I was screwing a fellow barista, when I just helped her start her car).

I come to work, I say a few things, and leave. I don't even have any of their phone numbers.

Posted 1 year ago #
Dry Sharpie

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My coworkers are great but I don't want to actively hang out with them outside of the store setting. I make small-talk but nothing more than "Oh, you're 20?"
I have a few phone numbers, from those times a barista was texting/calling to see if I wanted to trade or cover a shift.

Posted 1 year ago #
YoungRedBiiird

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Sharpie, I kind of wish things were like that for me now, save the 2 or 3 people I'm super close with! But it's not worth a transfer either, the location of my store is too good. Plus, no d/t.

Posted 1 year ago #
derpdaderp

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Internets:133

Don't want to sound antisocial or anything but I'm getting sick of the smalltalk with new hires. "How old are u? Wut did u major in??" Omgzz leave me alone plz!You don't need to know my life story.

Posted 1 year ago #
eightpumpchai

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Internets:483

We leave markouts in the back fridge for breakfast and to put in the pastry case for the sandwich display... so long as they're in a bin that's marked "partner food" or something like that then it's ecosure okay, or at least that's what we were told at my store.

Posted 1 year ago #
Javalvr

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Internets:37

@eightpump - i agree with you. Let's just go to work and do our jobs and keep the bull**** out of the store. We have the openers vs. closers thing going on as well in my store. Although, it's a friendly kind of "us vs.them". I've worked at this same store for 5+ years and the partners that have worked there as long if not longer are my friends. However, we do not hang out together too much outside of work mainly because I am a lot older than they are so our interests are quite different. The "hook-up" drama was awkward for everyone that worked there and when the shift transferred to another store, it was a big relief for everyone.

@sharpie-i just love that passive/aggressive s*** with the iced-tea prepping! Get a life!

Posted 1 year ago #
SCSHC

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ha! the openers vs. closers is a huge battle at our store too. I work mostly mornings but close 1-2 times a week and I understand the closers frustrations, opening is such a cush shift, they have nothing to complain about.

Posted 1 year ago #
Dry Sharpie

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Internets:82

Mornings in NYC are one of those hella crazy rushes where there's a 20 person line out the door and everyone's stomping in unison and chanting "We want coffee! We want coffee!" while 3 people are running the entire store.

Nighttime is just a bunch of stragglers and lazy people who don't want to go home, where a single barista can ring up orders and make drinks all by oneself.

I state it time and again that I have mad respect for the openers. They wake up at God-awful hours in the early morning to get to the store before the sky becomes light. Then they deal with the most impatient and needy customers. I think their customer voice explains it better: 100%.

Posted 1 year ago #

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