I Don't Hate Starbucks, and I Don't Want To Be Fired

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I Don't Hate Starbucks, and I Don't Want To Be Fired

(16 posts) (6 voices)

Started 11 months ago by AnonyFrap
Latest reply from AnonyFrap

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AnonyFrap

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Hired in April. I have stupendous coworkers, relatively unfettering customers (the worst we get is "Caramelo Frappé"), and great management supporting me (a soon-to-be DM and SM all working with veteran shift leads). My problem? I simply can't get it right it seems... I've met almost weekly with my SM and ever review is an MI for me... I'll improve on certain items and make one big mistake that will reach the ears of my SM which, in turn, leads to the focus of the next meeting. Not even 3 months into the company and I have two different verbal writtens, and today I was sent home with an hour left in my shift (right before a store meeting, too...) by the ASM for a valid reason*

*reason: A friend came in and asked to see a coworker. ASM told the friend that coworker was busy. While I sensed a bit of an attitude in ASMs voice, it gave me no reason to tell the friend that ASM was just grumpy from DTR. It wasn't my place, we were busy, customers heard, and it won't happen again, but next week I'll figure out a new way to make a mistake whether it be not maintaining composure during electronic failure, not immediately obeying a Shift Lead's directions, or not taking initiative as have been the mistakes in the past. In training, I told my SM that I would be AE all the time, and after receiving poor reviews and written verbals, that desire has not changed. I am always fixing every mistake that I make, but I fear that I'm very talented at finding mistakes. I've taken it upon myself to memorize the barista success profile, and I'll bring in a written apology to my ASM. However, my main worry is that I won't have a next week to make a mistake.

Can somebody please explain to me the exact process of being fired? Assume that management is following procedure to the absolute letter. Also, does anybody have any advice to be more ahead of the game? I fix my mistakes when I am made aware of them, but I'd rather hear about how well I did... I know I make regulars happy, and many new customers, too. DTO/DTR is my strongest position - empty queue average time is around 0:45 for easy drinks and 1:45 for complicated/multiple drinks.

Trying to give excuses to myself, I want to believe that I'm not as bad as I'm being written up to be... My management is bucking for promotion, the other new hires are objects of negative discussion, we have the busiest drive thru in our district, and I think those combined characteristics make the standard a lot higher than normal.

What do?

Posted 11 months ago #
ryuness

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I had this problem at my first store, without the write-ups. The old management was going to fire or forcibly transfer me. I don't know what your personal story is. However, if it's anything like mine based on your wicked writing style... Mine was that I'm mildly intelligent and socially maladapted because of it and nurturing problems. My coworkers were too ignorant to understand me and my lack of social skills isolated me further from them. Thus, I was always doing something wrong in their eyes and they had no idea how to tell me even what I was doing wrong.

My store manager let me transfer with a write up. He was smart and kind enough to realize what was going wrong with me. And I think he felt sorry for me - I was forced to move away from abuse (which made the social isolation even worse, mind you). He knew about it, but he didn't understand the rest. We had sat down on two occasions to talk about "what my problem was."

** Note: I was always considered to be a *strong barista* that did things the 'right way' with a knack for resolving problems fantabulously when someone wasn't breathing down my neck, haha. They just always had a problem with something I was doing because I did it the right way (took too long), didn't do it (no one EVER taught me IT), wasn't trained to do it, wasn't trained in 'their way' (despite them complaining that my way was just wrong), wasn't able to form/build up relationships. It was always really weird in their eyes that I was always super nice, but never went further than that... and they were kind of cliquey in a ghetto way (no offense, just not who I am).

So I transferred. I got lucky, and the stores that I have been blessed to work at have all been staffed with incredibly kind, and intelligent souls. I still have a problem with the social isolation at times, but the damage is healing. I'm learning through their lack of giving-a-****. :]

If your situation is anything like mine, try bringing your management up to date with your personal situation (as politically correct as possible, which you are 100% capable of from that post!) and getting a transfer approved to a small, slow cafe (no DT!) that you've scouted out to be a good fit. I'm not sure what you were written up for, but I am keeping my fingers crossed for you.

Best of luck.

P.S. If we do not make mistakes, we cannot learn. Anyone who cannot recognize as much is less than human. Failure is the evolutionary blessing that's got us this far because those who survive find a way to overcome it. The willingness to learn, however, is the true rarity. It's a gift. Cherish it, find those that appreciate it, and cherish them to death.

Posted 11 months ago #

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espressojunkie

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I don't get what the big deal is. A friend came in and wanted to see a coworker, the ASM said he was busy. And YOU got in trouble and sent home early?

Dude, transfer. Everything about this tells me your management team is proficient in the douchery.

Posted 11 months ago #
AnonyFrap

Member
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Junkie, once the ASM had told the friend that my coworker (... the friend's friend, if that's easier to follow) was busy, I chimed in (loud enough so that the friend could hear me from DT) that the ASM was just being grumpy. I understand the logic behind the ASM being upset and him sending me home.

Ryuness, I get along great with my coworkers and we all have a grand ole' time out of work and inside work on most occasions. I don't feel that my social connectivity or... prowess (if you will) is the problem in this situation. Unfortunately, I feel like I need to resign myself to doing my best, and just hoping that I don't get kicked before the summer ends. That or I can just tell myself that they wont fire me, they're just being tough on me... I think one thing that I will be trying (if I'm not fired when I go in tomorrow), is to get more shifts with my SM so that he can more directly assist my development.

I am definitely making mistakes, but I am definitely fixing them; the problem, is that I am making ALL of the mistakes. *Sigh*

I don't know what I expected from posting this, I guess I just needed to vent for a little. I'll gladly take any other pieces of advice or stories.

Posted 11 months ago #
Unsweetened

Member
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I'm not quite following what your mistakes were... at least nothing that should get you sent home or written up for. Could you elaborate?

It sound like your management is being too critical, and... for some reason you're going along with it? Maybe you don't have enough confidence in your abilities? You're still fairly new so I wouldn't expect you to be awesome in every situation. I know very few coworkers who were perfect just 3 months in. You should be familiar with things, but you're still facing new situations and learning how to deal with them.

In past jobs, I've had managers just dry get on my case. I had one who told me on my first day that I needed to work on my speed and multi-tasking. I thought it was best to just agree with him, and told him I'd work on it. I think that was a mistake. The idea seemed to take hold of him that I had trouble in this area, even though... I don't. My coworkers and the other managers were baffled at his criticism toward me... but he kept on. He'd rush in, tell me I needed to pick up the pace, or tell me I wasn't doing good enough or whatever. I wasn't the fastest at the time (because I was still new) but I certainly wasn't the slowest, and I was doing everything correctly. A lot of the other employees and supervisors thought I was doing wonderfully and better than many others. Customers complimented me, I got along with everyone, I was never late like so many others were, didn't call in sick. I enjoyed my job and wanted to be there--unlike other employees. But... he fired me. He said that it "just wasn't working out" and told me I had a poor work ethic. :|

I had another manager at another job nearly fire me (I ended up quitting) because she thought I wasn't a good salesperson. Until she looked at the numbers. But by that time I was too insulted by her treatment and ended up walking out. My problem at that job was that I never boasted, or let anyone know about my achievements. She cut my hours and then said that she was giving people hours based on performance... which she was judging by... god knows what, since she spent all day in the back on her phone.

Anyway... what I'd suggest is growing a pair. Assert yourself and let your abilities be known. Have some confidence in yourself and maybe others will see it.

Posted 11 months ago #
Señor Cardgage

Moderator
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I'm goin' with ryuness and espressojunkie on this one myself. You've got three or four more months on that front before you can officially transfer, so I suggest keeping your eyes up and butt down. No more friends visiting, no commentary, no conversations unrelated to work. The steps you say you're making now are in the right direction- they're very mature and professional.

Don't take criticisms personally, either. Easier said than done, yeh, but for example if someone tells you you aren't making good foam on your milk, ask them to show you how to steam properly. Do stuff like that (I'ma assume you already do anyway) without any sort of indignation, just eagerness to learn the job and all its nuances. If the leads and management team do not respond positively to that, then they aren't worth working under. Everyone makes mistakes, and they need to realize that in their long and apparently illustrious fastfoodcoffee careers, they've made an uncountable number themselves too.

This is some personal honesty here- my first store made me a neurotic mess. I had slavedrivers for shift supervisors, each one with ever-larger attitude problems and superiority complexes. They were also lazy and ruthlessly catty. It was a poisonous environment, one of scheming and deception and backbiting, so much so that my SM at the time was powerless against it- she was basically bullied by her own shift supervisors. The rest of us who tried not to get involved were sadly caught in these misanthropes' line of fire.

It was a place that bred such ill-will and emotional fatigue, you'd think slinging coffee was SRS BZNZ. If you weren't strong, you shrank as a person; even if you were strong, you'd be worn down eventually. It was mindblowingly awful. Then, before my SM quit, she said (in so many words) 'Senor, I know what you're going to do when I'm gone; you're going to try to muscle through, but you're tired. You'll quit. So, I'm transferring you before I go- it's already been approved. You'll be fine there.'

I transferred. And here I am today, flourishing. Or whatevz. Not going to lie, once I find a job that pays much better, I'm out- but I'll be a regular at my store, dropping Jacksons in the tipjar.

Posted 11 months ago #
thinkdeep

Member
Internets:428

One thing I noticed from my coworkers termination was that when the new schedule was posted it was 8-5 Monday through Friday. They were perfect hours that nobody got, and that was the key. She got fired on Sunday before the new schedule was valid.

Posted 11 months ago #
ryuness

Member
Internets:496

At the end of these wonderful responses, I think our message to you is:

Get out.

Posted 11 months ago #
AnonyFrap

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Internets:9

Unsweetened, I received the same advice from another Barista. However, I don't think I'd win out. The fact is, I am making the mistakes; although, they aren't critically wounding to the customer experience, I'm being told that I'm not even meeting standards. This makes me upset, but what am I going to do? The management is going by the books, and I tell them "c'mon it's not THAT bad" I'm just going to get on their bad side.

Luckily, Ryuness, I am getting out - I'm attending college this fall. I am one for doing well in whatever I pursue, and have been utterly distressed at my apparent lack of success. My shift is only four hours today, and it starts in about 7 hours... I can't sleep. Hahaha, it's just a silly, part-time job, but I feel like if I can't succeed at a Starbucks how am I supposed to do anything!?

Posted 11 months ago #
ryuness

Member
Internets:496

I mean, right now, darling. If you want to stay with Starbucks, you'll need to find a better home. And it seems like you'll have to take action on it imminently.

It's either that, or stop defending yourself. Stop arguing with anyone and everything. Take their advice, say yes, and just do it. Then, go home and forget the entire day happened.

...Or just wait to get fired. o.o

Posted 11 months ago #
Unsweetened

Member
Internets:1,400

In what way are you not meeting standards though?

And yeah, maybe don't challange what they say, but do ask in what way to improve, or ask for coaching. Do you know specifically what problems they think you have? Or do they just use general statements in their criticism?

Posted 11 months ago #
AnonyFrap

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On my ten,

Got a written warning. I'm going with the option where I agree everything and hope I can keep my job until September.

Posted 11 months ago #
Unsweetened

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Internets:1,400

Humor me... I'm curious what you did?

Posted 11 months ago #
AnonyFrap

Member
Internets:9

I thought I explained what happened quite well, what exactly are you curious about?

I did well today. SM worked while I was working and said "you did work, son"

Posted 11 months ago #
Unsweetened

Member
Internets:1,400

The only "mistakes" you've explained is that you said your ASM was grumpy. Also that you didn't immediately follow directions... are you slacking off, or were you otherwise occupied? You said that you weren't showing initiative... in what way? And that you didn't keep your composure during an electrical problem... like, did you scream? Run out of the building?? The lights flickered and you fell to the floor crying, "We're all going to die!!" ? lol

If you explained what you've done wrong, maybe some of us here could actually give you advice on how to improve.

For the most part, this job really isn't that hard... making coffee isn't rocket science. Keeping up with routines can be tough sometimes but... most people get the hang of it. I've encountered only a few people who couldn't manage, and they were genuinely slow in the head... and barely spoke English. It just makes me curious what epic mistakes you've made that warrant you potentially losing your job.

I've yelled at customers, refused to serve them, refused to work, closed down the store in the middle of the day, walked out many times, argued with coworkers loudly in front of customers, talked back to managers, slacked off, goofed off... and many other things that could easily get me fired, yet... I've only been written up once, and I've never been sent home. So... what did you do that was so horrible?

Posted 11 months ago #
AnonyFrap

Member
Internets:9

I guess I haven't done anything wrong in comparison to what you're saying... My write ups have all been about failing to meet expectations. So, if I have long drive times, my SM says I obviously don't know what matters to our customer and I don't act on it. Because I don't talk with every single person, I am treating them like transactions and not people. The SM basically points out things in true success guide and will cite an example of what I'm doing wrong. The biggest thing that I see as an actual problem, is that I always ask my SLs "what do you want/need me to do" and they think that I'm asking because I don't know what I'm supposed to do. So today I turned off the questioning and made the "initiative mindset". Just keeping myself busy will hopefully make everything payoff.

I didn't think the things I was doing were THAT bad...

Posted 11 months ago #

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