.....is illegal and unfair. Thanks to optimal scheduling AND the unrealistic expectation to run on -3.5% labor is killing the shifties and baristas! Not to mention that a BREAK IS A BREAK and no one should be working unless they opt to waive their ten minute break (cannot waive meal break, of course). And we shouldn't be expected to work through our lunch, either! Yet that is what Sbux is indirectly asking us to do. By not supplying us with the adequate coverage to accomodate our customers and duties, we are being forced into working against on our breaks. Naturally, the ever-lingering threats of corrective actions and possibly termination are looming over our heads, compelling us into compliance. I don't think this should be tolerated! If Sbux wants their stock price to jump, it may be in their best interest to avoid costly litigation due to careless management decisions like this.
Working on your break.....
(26 posts) (14 voices)-
Posted 4 years ago #
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Hey DARKROAST.... I have not been getting all my breaks either. It sucks. And we are a DT store, and the day before Christmas Eve, my ASM sends everyone home early and leaves us with two people on the floor. I am so ****. I had to do DT and BAR at the same time and we were slammed. I am thinking of contacting Labor and Industries and reporting the meal break violations.
Posted 4 years ago # -
The odd day here and there, hey it happens just part of the business. But regularly missing breaks is poor business practice and just asking for errors and injuries. Time to make phone calls ladies!
Posted 4 years ago # -
Amen, DarkRoast. You speak the truth!!! Even before this -3% labor thing I thought we were understaffed and underequipped on the floor and often stretched to the limit. Now that it is here, my new mantra is simply: "Do the best you can, if that." If sbux is going to put unrealistic, inhumane demands on its existing workforce, then I say "what the heck, what the hay. let's slow down, not give a F$%#, and have a nice day!"
Posted 4 years ago # -
Running around attempting to play the roles of three partners is bound to end up in an accident; great point, Farflung! It's understanding that due to extenuating circumstances (ie, high customer traffic, someone calls out sick, etc), ten minte breaks could be missed/waived. Sure. But I shouldn't have to work through my lunch to make sure we close on time so I don't get written up for going over hours....PHEW!
Posted 4 years ago # -
One question: why won't shifts take registers? If it is just me and my shift guess what - I don't get a break. Because he or she will say "well you're the only one with a register, so you can't clock out". Why won't they take a register in situations like that?
Posted 4 years ago # -
Perfectionist -- everybody working during a shift should have a regisiter, ESPECIALLY a shift. As a floater, they need to be able to hop on a till if relieve a bottle neck at the checkout.
Posted 4 years ago # -
Precisely, PinkCoffeeCup!
A shift is not supposed to be "planted" in any particular position: they are the designated floater, whose role is to constantly observe and analyze the "big picture" from all perspectives of the floor to prioritize business needs.
BTW@ Perfectionist: your shift should ALWAYS have a register! They're attempting to abuse their powers by **** you. Remind them that we are all baristas and that they may need to re-read the SS success profile so they now what's expected of them!Posted 4 years ago # -
Hm. From watching my shifts I would say that "floating" means always moving - away from where the work needs to be done.
Posted 4 years ago # -
Perfectionist, that is brilliant! I couldn't have said it better myself, and I have a rather high opinion of myself! Yes, what is it with some of these shifts? Some of them take the title of "Shift SUPERVISOR" a bit more seriously than they should. If it's just a barista and a shift working together, the barista shouldn't feel like the slave to the shift's massa.
Posted 4 years ago # -
I have been with the bux for 7 plus years. I just wanted to warn all of you to make sure and take your breaks, stretch out your arms, change positions from bar to register when ever you feel you are being over worked even if you have to complain about it. I just went with the flow and grinned and bared it and now I have carpal tunnel and no use of my right hand essentially. I am still awaiting surgery. So dont let anyone make you feel guilty for taking a break
Posted 4 years ago # -
@coffee247: we should start a support group-Partners Injured by Starbucks' Sins....****!
I, too, have Carpal Tunnel from repeated caramel-squeezing, whip-pumping, and etc. When it's cold outside, that is the worst! It's not worth it, no matter how "passionate" you are!Posted 4 years ago # -
I thought I was getting carpal tunnel, but it turned out that it was tendonitis. I took a few days off work and tried not to overwork my hand when I came back - but I'm a shift, and I'm actually a pretty good shift. By that, I mean that I always try to do my share of the work or more, and treat my baristas like co-workers, not underlings. So I kept re-injuring/aggravating my wrist/arm, for a few weeks actually.
I filed a complaint and asked for workman's comp to get a free exam and some ant-inflammatory meds, or something of that nature. The claims rep accused me of lying and told me that I must have injured my hand typing. My SM actually had to call her and assure them that I really did hurt my hand at work - because where else do I perform repetitive-motion work 8+ hours a day, 30-40 hours a week? Unless I'm a street-corner hand-job queen by night, of course. That must be it.
Posted 4 years ago # -
WTF? That biotch actually had the nerve to accuse you of LYING? Where the hell did they get the idea that your injury could be "typing-related"? What a bucket of hogsweat!
I received physical therapy when I was dealing with my Carpal issue-and Worker's Comp was pretty detailed when it came to filing the necessary paperwork and making sure I made it to my appointments. But then again, I live in the Land O' Litigation-California, so they're probably trying to avoid a lawsuit!
@coffee mart wench: what state do you live in?Posted 4 years ago # -
I make sure when I am on everyone gets all there breaks and usually throw in an extra 10 when possible!
Posted 4 years ago # -
What irritated me the most when I first started was when my shift would hand me a timer ~ especially in the middle of doing something ~ and tell me to take a 10. I looked at her and asked 'what the hell is a 10?' We never got directed breaks at Ballys..lol...I hate admitting it, but I sometimes work on my break ~ by choice...unless I am hungry or have something else to do, I just get board. But, I'm a shift, and I make sure all the baristas get their breaks, and if it's been a long day...an extra one.
Posted 4 years ago # -
@Darkroast - I live in Florida. Needless to say, we have pretty shady worker's rights laws, and no unions at all (not that it would help at Starbucks.) The comp lady accused me of lying because she grilled me on my habits - it was so weird. She asked what I did in my spare time, and I told her that I read, write, watch movies, and exercise, mostly. Nothing too grueling. She asked if I was a student, and I told her that I'd graduated with my B.A. a few months earlier (I know, it's awful ... I'm about to become a grad student just to stop working full-time at Starbucks. When customers ask the "what is your major" question and I answer that I've already got a B.A. ... and so do half the baristas on the morning crew ... there's always an awkward moment. One lady smirked and said something witty about the importance of a good GPA. I was like, "Lady, I'm a 3.8 with a Departmental Scholar award." Which almost made it feel worse.) Anyway, so the worker's comp lady asked if I had a computer, and when I told her of course - who doesn't - she said, "Well, that must be how you hurt your hand." I was so shocked! I asked her, if that was the case, then how come I didn't get injured 6 months ago while I was a full-time student and part-time shift? My hands only started hurting after I finished school and started putting in 40-hour weeks at the Bucks.
@Bellaragazza - I used to work on my breaks when I first became a shift, but after awhile I quit. Why? Because, for 10-20 minutes a day, Starbucks is paying me to sit on my **** in the lobby while I read the NY Times and sip coffee. And I like that. But I am much more likely to work on a 10 than a 30, since I'm still on the clock in all technicality.
Posted 4 years ago # -
@Coffee mart wench- I know you are absolutely right, but for some stupid reason, i just dont. I'll try it tomorrow; I'm sure it will feel good!
Posted 4 years ago # -
coffee mart wench- dont feel embarassed about where you are at right now. It sure does suck, but i can tell you that with the way the job market is going right now, some of these same "holier than thou" folks are going to be coming in and asking for an application in a few months. Trust. It's a sad reality. At least we have an income though...for now anyway.
Posted 4 years ago # -
I'm right there with you coffee mart wench! it sucks when i see old clients of mine at the bucks!
Posted 4 years ago # -
if you have to work during your break -- write it in the back of the book, where you can write work times. one of the managers we had said you should always get paid for the work you do and if you have to work during a break [especially during a lunch], write it down and get paid for it.
Posted 4 years ago # -
Yeah Yeah "Time work is time paid at Starbucks right?" BS! I don't remember the last time I acutally got my second 10 minute break and there are plenty of times that I have worked on my 30 minute break. I know that 10's are technically paid but shouldn't I have the opportunity to take the breaks that are allotted to me on the DCR? One would think that should be true but it is not true now more than ever. Most of the time there is barely enough coverage for me to give my baristas their breaks let alone take mine. Oh wait, that is unless our SM is working and then there is conveniently 5 person coverage for her entire shift. This is b/c she is not capable of anything less. She is a wreck on bar, she sounds like a retarded valley girl when she trys to talk to customers, and don't even get me started if she tries to run DT. Oh and the other day she left me on the floor BY MYSELF! WTF! We have a DT store so I had a customer walk in while another drove up to DT. Let me tell you I certainly gave legendary service at that time...NOT! Sometimes I don't know if she is mean or just really stupid. One thing I am sure of, however, is that she barely has a high school diploma and I have a BS from a large, well known University. I even have a few quarters of grad school under my belt. Wow, this is sad. I feel ya coffee mart wench and you know why;)
Posted 4 years ago # -
FYI ... coffeewhore95 and I have the same SM, so we're completely not exaggerating when we **** about her. She IS a dumb bunny valley girl. It's sort of awful to take orders from her, it feels wrong - especially when we both have college degrees (not that that makes us any better, it just makes the situation crappier.)
Posted 4 years ago # -
AND ... she left me on the floor by myself today. She was like, "oh, let me know if you need me." I was appalled! Seriously, one of our shifts went home b/c she was sick, and my SM says, "Oh, it's slow, you'll be fine, right?" No, no. ... I am a pretty good barista, but I cannot and will not run the front, the bar and the DT by myself. For half an hour. Nyet.
Posted 4 years ago # -
Oh coffee mart wench you forgot to mention how our store did not have any cash controller until you came in today. Our SM left the shift keys and a note saying "please count in when you get here". Yeah she really has no business being a SM. CMW: I am glad that you pointed out that having a degree does not make us any better than she is. I did kind of make it sound like that and I didn't mean to. It does just make the situation a little more frustrating that we spent all that money on a college education and we are taking orders from a MORON!
Posted 4 years ago # -
I close every night, on the rare day i don't i do get a ten, but otherwise a ten is a laughable affair only relegated to the luckier few, the barista. i use the term "luckier" with all the looseness of a a lady of reasonably priced love, but at night you are **** if you want to get out on time and get the amount of tasks that just get dumped on you from every which way remotely done, as well as accomplish any ACTUAL closing cleaning tasks, i.e. urnexing. i'm ranting and i don't care that my grammar is garbled at best, try and stay with me. seriously though its **** to staff a team for failure and wonder why it happens? why is something going wrong? maybe if we just come up with more things for them to do and tasks that take up more of their time, but give them less people to do it things will be right as rain in no time? starbucks is the bane of my existence and sometimes, just a for a second i think of the place burning to the ground and i smile from ear to ear then say "welcome to starbucks what can i get for you today"
Posted 4 years ago #
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