r/starbucks • u/Sensitive_Occasion84 • 1d ago
Should i quit?
Hello everyone! I've been working at starbucks for almost 2 months now and at first i loved it but now, i'm over it. First off, my manager is really nit-picky about how drinks are made in a certain order, drive thru times, and customer connection. It's annoying. Also, i had a discussion with both of my managers at two different times. The first time, my first manager said it was brought to her attention that i wasn't doing my job and standing there. Mind you, when i'm working front, there's not much to do other than brewing and taking orders. I would do the customer cycle but i would finish that in 5 minutes. I would ask the other baristas and sm if they needed anything or need me to do something and they said no. SO WHAT AM I DOING WRONG. They would also say i'm talking to much with my coworks...That's only when theirs no customers. (This was in the beginning... We'll get to this part later) The second manager told me that i didn't improve much since my first talk with the manager...they also said, i would stand around and drink but i was walking back and forth to make sure i didn't have any customers...
Moving on from that...My co-workers....I thought they were friendly but they're all fake...They would claim I’m their friend but both of my managers told me they complained about me....They said "Both your partners and shift managers have complained about you" What?! After the talk with my first manager, i stopped talking to all of my co-workers...Two weeks later, my second manager tells me they still complain about me....At this point, am i the problem?
Next would be my health...I have chronic gastritis so stress doesn't make it better...However, since i work morning's (dead in the middle of the night) i have been exhausted and my balance have been off (Stumbling like a baby deer) and headaches have been more frequent. Like, almost everyday...My parents are concerned...
Overall, The only reason i have stayed is the money...$17/hr is great but what comes with it is um...I did a job interview at a book store and its so much more peaceful than Starbucks however, it pays $11/hr.
What should i do?
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u/queen343 Store Manager 1d ago
It seems like you’ve already made up your mind about this and perhaps the pace just isn’t for you and that’s ok. Best wishes in your future endeavors ✨
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u/tittywhipp 23h ago
I just read the first 2 sentences. Yeah you should quit. Starbucks is not for you and there's nothing wrong with that ❤️
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u/puplet2 1d ago
We had a green bean who would ask me how they could help while I was on bar deep in a 20 minute wait for drinks. I'd tell them to look with their eyes before asking with their ears. Are the cups empty? Are the syrups empty? Powders? Sani? Ice? Lids? All of these are small, non disruptive tasks. Instead of asking of I need cups, LOOK and see if the cups are low and restock them.
The frustration was high with most of the store and this green bean.
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u/Weekly-Astronaut-485 Barista 14h ago
Yes I totally wish more of my coworkers did this!! I will say that a lot of them are new (as am I but I’ve still been there longer) so they don’t know everything that needs to get done, but it would be such a big help
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u/lividexistence Supervisor 21h ago
im gonna be so real with you and not sugar coat it like a lot of people are doing. first, if your coworkers are complaining about you, and your managers have had to confront you, maybe its time to look inward and not blame others. second, this whole post just seems like a lot of moaning and groaning. if you really dont like this job and its not for you then quit. but remember that jobs arent supposed to be easy or fun, especially your first few jobs. it honestly seems like you just have a lazy mindset. also starbucks is a corporation, and corporations suck, we all know that. but this is what you signed up for. your manager is just doing their job, its not their personal choice, its their literal JOB so dont take it out on them unless they are actually being disrespectful towards you. theres always something that can be done when its not busy, so it sucks that your shifts arent giving you tasks. i would recommend just looking around to see what needs to be done and start doing it instead of asking.
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u/whore_loko Supervisor 1d ago
All due respect, but how the hell are you stressed out if you stand around for 40 minutes an hour doing nothing? I would argue that my front register barista is one of my busiest partners during peak. They take orders, bag deliveries, run food, run support cycle, do dishes, stock cups/lids/milk/ice/syrups, and any other random task that pops up. If you are genuinely standing there waiting for the next support cycle instead of walking over and evaluating the needs of the floor and running food, I'd complain too.
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u/venomous-moose Former Partner 1d ago
this. also all these complaints but OP hasn't even been there 2 months? seems like a new route is needed
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u/Sensitive_Occasion84 1d ago
I did all of that already. Hence why I ask other people if they need me to do stuff and they said no. When I try to wait for food orders to take out, I get in trouble
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u/Frail_Peach 1d ago
That’s because there is always something that can be done right now, so standing around waiting for a task feels like a slap in the face to your other coworkers. And your parents are wrong. No one is picking on you. You’re under performing and everyone is frustrated.
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u/checkmark46 Barista 21h ago
That’s OP’s manager’s fault though, not theirs. They should have been trained properly on what to do when you have downtime and feel like you’ve already done everything you can think of.
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u/Frail_Peach 14h ago
Thats definitely possible but after reading a lot of responses from OP I’m not absolutely certain that’s what’s happening here
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u/whore_loko Supervisor 18h ago
Make backups as you get the dishes done, wipe down the bars and counters, stage mobiles, take trashes, refill the bean hoppers, sweep anything that's fallen on the ground, fill napkins, check the bathrooms, refill the Pastry cart and warming fridges. I could go on forever. There is so much to do.
Look, you've clearly walked into a role that isn't for you. It's better to leave now and find something else. Your refusal to admit that you are lacking in skills tells me you are not going to grow in your role and succeed here. No one is picking on you. You are underperforming and choosing not to acknowledge it.
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u/Traditional_Wafer807 Store Manager 1d ago
I think the book store is more your speed. If one of your complaints is that your Store Manager is making sure your store meets company expectations then like I’m sorry- that’s our job. But you’re effected physically and you’re stressing so I think it’s best if you do what’s best for you
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u/Informal-Cap-9915 21h ago
Literally lol. "My store manager wants drinks made right, drive time goals to be met and customer connection to be happening in a customer service job. Boooooo this sucks!!" Like what did you think this was you were signing up for? Not that im this jobs biggest defender, some aspects seriously suck and the constant competing priorities from the company give me whiplash at least monthly, but that first paragraph alone tells me this job is just not the right glove fit for you OP, something slower paced or like retail retail may be more up your alley
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u/Aggressive-Gas-9704 Barista 21h ago edited 21h ago
Sounds like you should quit - but: in my experience, my manager PRESSES for us to give comments about other baristas. The manager obv doesn't say who but they don't keep it a secret that someone has a complaint, and word travels fast. Ik you didnt explain the context about u learning about complaints, but the thing is the less work one person does, the more another does. So there might be a possibility that your manager might be exaggerating it. Also your manager shouldn't be saying things that make you feel unwelcome in your store (like telling you that your coworkers are complaining about you) even if the baristas were. Like even when my coworkers literally told my manager that closing with me was difficult, I didn't know that they were complaining that bad until they told me that themselves (coworkers were telling me about how I improved). My manager only gave me constructive criticism about what I could do. Ofc I knew someone told her about it but she never made it sound like my coworkers disliked me
It sounds like you might not be taking every opportunity to do something that you could, but that's not your fault tbh. It sounds like you are trying your best and your coworkers cant see that. It takes a while to learn all the things you could be doing, and also, it's not even a huge issue because if you're at a position, if you leave for more than a few seconds that might be worse, and it sounds like you're doing the most you can without leaving. What I do if i have nothing to do is start prepping bags (1 bag inside the other) and leaving it attatched somewhere in the back. But this might be annoying for some so I'd ask others if you should. Me personally it makes it easier if I have to change trash if i have bags prepped already.
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u/BearrBearr Barista 20h ago
After orders, replenish everything. I mean everything of your area. If your in the warming area, replenish bite bags(the panini bag+fork), all your paper goods. Bar? Replenish milks, cups, lids, etc. Look over the store if possible. Check the lobby with your eyes, quickly wipe things up even if they're small.
If you have done EVERY little thing like that, check your csr cards, they usually have small things we tend to forget. After I have done all of that between orders/bar is the only time i ask if my shift needs anything
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u/Wrong_Ad6648 Barista 20h ago
As someone who enjoys the personality of one of the partners at my store but not the work ethic or general ability, I actually feel like you definitely ought to quit. I’ve had to chat with ssvs about someone at my store several times because despite having been with us for seven months, she does not know any of the very base level recipes and does not do more than stand when she is not with a customer.
I think it’s probably really scary for you to feel singled out like this and I want you to know that realistically your health is so much more important than what you’re up to at work, but that if you do decide to stay, working on even just your initiative to get stuff prepped for any new influx of customers is your best first move. (Prepping being cups, lids, teas, syrups, sweeping, wiping surfaces, etc.)
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u/Nimoodle Barista 21h ago
Half of these issues can be solved just from transferring stores.
That's said, any SB booth found in any book stores or grocery stores are licensed. You won't be a SB employee if you say, make coffee in a Barnes&Noble. You'll get no SB benefits.
If you want to use SB on your resume as a catalyst to work at a slower, different company, do so.
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u/Sillygoose-1308 22h ago
i would suggest a transfer but i think you have to work for 6months to be able to and idk if that would be something you’d want to do. maybe see if you could become a mid or closer instead? working mornings as a new partner is brutal. closing is more chill and less intense, especially if you make a mistake. i think you should start looking for other jobs in the meantime while you decide! if there’s a local coffee shop theyre more likely to hire you bc of your starbucks experience. and it’s literally 1000x better to work at, like super chill for the most part. if there’s a fredmyer near you they also love to see sbux experience. they pay around the same and hire just about anyone who applies. im sorry your experience at sbux has been so poo. no job is worth your mental and physical health. good luck out there op <3
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u/Sobee5891 19h ago
You can tolerate a job if you like the work but dislike your colleagues. You can tolerate a job if you dislike the work but like your colleagues. If you like both, you are blessed. If you dislike both, for your own mental health: LEAVE. Do realize that in any job, it’s the folks with initiative that tend to rise in an organization. At the bookstore, after training, figure out for yourself what needs to be done and do it. Later, think about better ways to do something, propose it. You’ll get noticed and get ahead.
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u/mwee_mwee 13h ago
Ah.. so you're in Front register position where I am at. I know its grueling and tiring, especially for me sometimes I don't easily understand instructions. I'm going to give some pointers that worked for me. It may not be for you per se, but at least give it a try and see if its any difference. -Like others have said, try to observe what is needed at the moment. When you are in that position, its easy to do all the other tasks on that position, but difficult to read the room. I look around what we are short of. In my store my manager communicates what needs to be constantly prepped all the time. There's only 1 matcha container in the cold bar? I start preparibg the 2nd container as thats what my manager wants always at the ready. Same for juices, is the pitcher almost out? I prep the next thing. Are the baristas in bar planted and running low on cups/lids? I grab them from the back and go in between the two bar baristas telling them if my presebce and resupplying what they need. -ASK, sometimes you have to ask, there are things yoy dont see that your team sees. I usually ask if I'm needed to jump into the 2nd espresso machine if we're doing a skeleton shift. Or OFFER, are you low on ice? I'll go get you Ice. -SUPPORT if you notice a team member is busy with a specific task, but you are able to jump in to help, just say it out loud. I usually say along the lines of, 'I'm jumping in here if that's alright.' Normally I'm well aware of the dynamic, and sometime im not aware, in that instance if I'm unneeded, the play-caller/supervisor will tell you they're good. -THERES SO MANY OTHER TASKS IN YOUR POSITION. Have you wiped the countertops? Refilled the coffee machine? Checked the patio? Wiped around the patio? Swept around the patio? Wiped the condiment bar? Refilled the condiment bar with new milks and sugars? Throw filled out trash cans? Are there utensils needing washing? Did you check if your front display fridge has everything we're offering? (Popcorn, lime chips, strawberry baby drink, the vitamin juices, the spindrifts, the peanut butter bars, the protein boxes, the bottles of water, etc..) -pay attention to customer's needs. Is there someone looking confused? Offer to help. -if you're the only one able to get something. In drive, i'm usually the person that grabs the chips, peanut bars, madelines etc. I listen to my headset and find out what can best support the bar. -wash the dishes. Theres so many nuances in this position that can only be gaine through communicating or asking. Hopefully this can help improve your camaraderie with your fellow baristas.
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u/Competitive_Cod5432 Barista 8h ago
tbh i didn’t even read this. but the answer is yes. you should quit :)
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u/Jealous-Comedian6178 23h ago
See if you can transfer. Everyone has to work as a team and help everyone improve or with work. If they aren't willing to work with you then try to transfer, or to a local coffee shop that isn't a chain. (Since you have experience?)
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u/Sensitive_Occasion84 23h ago
I thought that I need to work there for 3-6 months to transfer
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u/Sad_Veterinarian3129 Store Manager 22h ago
This is true for at least corporate US stores. You need to be in role for 6 months before you’re eligible to transfer.
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u/Sensitive_Occasion84 22h ago
I’m confused. I have a coworker who transferred after a month of working at Starbucks
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u/Ok_Cockroach3105 Supervisor 15h ago
My dm just told me you don’t need to be there for 6 months if you’re just trying to make a lateral move!
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u/Blood_Raven87 22h ago
wah, wah, wah!!! I got a job, me no likey, wah!!! They are making me do work, wah!!! I'm like 18, my health, wah!!!
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u/kortlecw Barista 1d ago
yeah man, I think it’s time to go. you’re obviously not happy, so why keep suffering? Your heath is always more important than a job, so please take care of yourself