Starbucks baristas once again attempted to deliver a message to CEO Howard Schultz. They even filled out an official intake form:
"We're here to discuss issues with scheduling and availability in regards to promises made publicly last August. We'd like to discuss our time, both the time we share with Starbucks and the time we feel every worker deserves to function happily and healthfully.… This is our second attempt to contact Howard Schultz."
Baristas stopped by Starbucks Headquarters on October 8th to deliver their letter to Howard Schultz.
In just a few days, hundreds of Starbucks workers & customers have added their names to a letter asking CEO Howard Schultz to meet with baristas to address ongoing issues like short notice of schedules, understaffing, shifts that vary dramatically from week to week, clopenings, access to paid sick days, and more.
Many have added their own messages:
“As a former partner I “clopened” 3 days a week and on those days never got more than 4 hours of sleep. This lead to me being less productive than nights I was able to rest. It’s simply bad policy.”
"The wonderful Starbucks baristas who serve me coffee daily deserve stable and adequate work schedules, along with paid sick leave. They do such a wonderful job representing the Starbucks brand day in and day out. I appreciate their excellent level of customer service and I want to see them able to support themselves and their families through their Starbucks careers."
— Rick, Olympia
“Scheduling at Starbucks is out of control. No one cares about our health and our lives.”
People need to be able to organize their lives; Kids, doctor visits, sick parents, or just plain days to relax or clean house or do washing, etc. It cannot be that tough to schedule ahead especially when you have along history of your daily business needs. Fairly treated employees do a better job if their company cares about them. It increases loyality which increases productivity.
— Edward, Shoreline
“This is a real issue. 8 hours is not enough time to get home—especially after closing on a busy day—wind down from work, eat, shower, possibly wash aprons, and go to sleep. My boyfriend’s schedule is such an example of this. He works an erratic schedule, often clopening, and his manager regularly scheduled him 9 DAYS in a row without a day off. We should not be allowed to be punished for our managers inability to schedule. If this really is a people oriented company, then stop letting Barista morale drop into the toilet just because you want to beat last year’s fiscal quarter. We’re people, too.”
"My roommate works for you. She is 66 years old and works 20 miles away from her job. She loves her co-workers, managers and the upbeat vibe. You have her working all kinds of crazy shifts and her co-workers, as well. Just trying to plan travel by bus to work is a real challenge when hours can change in a minute. I appreciate your real focused attention on your customer's wants and needs. I just wish you paid as much attention to your employees. They are the best and give you their best. They deserve the best from you, too!"
— Kathleen, Shoreline
“EVERYONE deserves to know in advance when they are supposed to work, lots of people juggle work, school, child care, etc. It is a common courtesy and would be more in line with your other values.”
"It's essential to stay connected to what it's like for the people who work for your company. The Starbucks baristas are the true face of the company, they generate the value and the goodwill that leads to your profits. Serving food to the public is not easy, and your employers are among the most patient and positive I've ever encountered. They deserve working conditions that support them in caring for their families, getting an education, taking a second job if they are part-time, managing health needs, and predicting their schedules week to week and day to day. This is the only family-friendly and community-friendly way."
—Susanna, Seattle
“Consistent schedules means baristas can plan for doctor appointments, childcare, classes, where their children will be when they have to be picked up by the school bus and not be “on-call” 24/7 because they aren’t scheduled for consistent days and times off...they are literally on call 24/7 because they are not given a consistent schedule. This is absolutely WRONG. When I was working at a close to minimum wage job I knew when my hours were and when they were not. It let me take another job for the hours I was not working and take classes at other times. I could also work even a 3rd part time job. This type of scheduling does not allow any of that.
”
"You don't give the baristas enough hours to give them benefits or a regular schedule so they can keep a second job, take classes, and arrange regular day care for their children. I know this because I've known many of the store managers over the years when i worked in the corporate office. They simply don't care. Well, it's time to care. To begin with, give the baristas full-time positions if they want them. Hire and train managers who know how to make and maintain a schedule. One of Starbucks biggest issues is poor training of management in all departments across the company. Scheduling is difficult in the stores, because these are real people with real problems. People who get sick, whose child gets sick, whose car breaks down, whose parent dies, and everyday events. Managers have to remember to be flexible, compassionate, and professional."
— Laura, Federal Way
“As a past Starbucks employee, I have lived this struggle. I had to find a second job to supplement the hours I would lose due to drastic and random schedule changes. I would have a solid 37 hour work week for a month or two and then get dropped to 25 hours for weeks on end. I couldn’t survive or depend on my hours at Starbucks alone. I ultimately felt undervalued as an employee.”
All work deserves respect - being an decent employer comes with the responsibility of caring about it employees. Show your employees respect by agreeing to meet and allow them to be part of the solution to make Starbucks a great company, not only for consumers but those who invest in your brand day in and day out.
Sincerely - daily latte consumer
PS - the store on main st in Sumner wa had amazing staff, I look forward to seeing them each morning:)
— Jessica, Sumner
“People need to be able to organize their lives; Kids, doctor visits, sick parents, or just plain days to relax or clean house or do washing, etc. It cannot be that tough to schedule ahead especially when you have along history of your daily business needs. Fairly treated employees do a better job if their company cares about them. It increases loyality which increases productivity.”