Feedback Form
Home Features Mastermind Forums About Advertise Blog Network Contact Be An Author

Starbucks Barista

Starbucks Barista

You either love it or you hate it; there is no in between when you’re working as a Starbucks barista. What is there to love? The pay, for one; a Starbucks barista typically earns more than her other retail counterparts, not including the tips. Then, there are the generous employment benefits, including health care coverage, stock options, retirement savings plans, and child support. And generally, with all the free coffee you can drink and current music playing in the stores, shifts pass by relatively quickly.

Despite being ranked the second best company to work for by Fortune magazine in 2005, not everybody enjoys their time working as a Starbucks barista. That includes one Matthew Brown, who worked for the company for over six years. A 28-year-old Starbucks barista based in Toronto, Brown kept a regular blog about his experiences working for the company. It was this online journal that would eventually get the Starbucks barista into hot water and leave him without a job.

It was on his blog that Brown would vent his frustrations of life as a Starbucks barista. He would complain about everything from his boss who once wouldn’t let him go home when he was sick to having to deal with rude and condescending customers. Although he never used his real name nor that of his manager, and he only gave the website address to a select group of people, Starbucks somehow got its hands on it. On the day the Starbucks barista was supposed to begin management training, having been promoted from a Starbucks barista to a supervisor, he was fired.

“There are times when you’re frustrated, some people have treated you terribly that day, so you vent – just like in any job,” said the Starbucks barista. “It was ignorant and rude, but it was for nobody except my family and friends.” Although Brown, along with every other Starbucks barista, signed a contract whereby he agreed not to make any negative comments about the company, he argues that his blog was a private means of communicating a very private message. In that, he sees no harm.

Brown’s case is not the first of its kind. There have been numerous other cases of Starbucks baristas who have been reprimanded for similar pursuits – posting websites that Starbucks feels are defamatory. So, the question is, if Starbucks is such a great place to work, why is there more than one Starbucks barista turning to the Internet to voice their frustrations?

Working as a Starbucks barista means working in a high-stress environment. When customers come into the store, they want their coffee, they want it done right, and they want it right away. In caffeine-deprived situations, there is neither hardly any tolerance nor any room for mistakes. As a Starbucks barista, you are not just serving coffee; you are ensuring that your customers get their day off on the right start. Despite all the advances of mankind, it is surprising how incapable people are of functioning before that first cup of coffee.

For the Starbucks barista, the caution sign on their cups of coffee has an entirely different meaning: become one at your own risk.





Starbucks Barista - To learn more about this author, visit Starbucks Starbucks's Website.

Like this article? Share it with your friends

Article Feedback
 Article Feedback No article feedback found.
  Leave Your Feedback
article feedback

Article Feedback

To learn more about the Evan Elite Author Program please contact us.

About The Author


Starbucks Starbucks
(Visit Starbucks's Website)

Starbucks Starbucks is a Gold author on EvanCarmichael.com
About The Author

View Author Blog
View Author Blog

View Author Video
View Author Video

Free Downloads


Starbucks Starbucks's

Complete
List Of
Other
Articles

Name
Email
If you enjoyed this article, get Starbucks Starbucks's Complete List of Other Articles For FREE!

More Starbucks Starbucks
Frappuccino Recipe
Starbucks Recipes
Starbucks Employment
Calories Starbucks
Starbucks Company
Starbucks Seattle
Starbucks Tea
Starbucks Commercials
Starbucks Strategy
Starbucks Franchise
Free Downloads


 
 
 


Evan Elite Authors
Leanne Hoagland-Smith  
Jeff Foster  
George Ludwig  
Evan Elite Authors

Become An Author
Have you written articles that would be of value to entrepreneurs? Become an expert on our site by publishing them! Expose yourself to a wide audience, drive more traffic to your website and get more sales! Click Here for details.
Become An Author

Evan's Latest Video
Modeling the Masters: Learn the true secrets behind Walt Disney's business success factors & grow your company! Video produced by Phanta Media
Evan's Latest Video

Business Opportunities
"Learn straight from Evan how you can Make a Full Time Income (And More) from a Website"

How to Start An Online Business

Click Here To Learn More
Business Opportunities



Evan's Newsletter
Get advice & tips from famous business owners, new articles by entrepreneur experts, my latest website updates, & special sneak peaks at what's to come!
Name:
Email:
Evan`s Newsletter

Free Downloads
JV Considerations Icon JV Considerations
A Clean Desk Icon A Clean Desk
Measure Customer Loyalty Icon Measure Customer Loyalty
Success Worksheet Icon Success Worksheet
Law of Attraction in Action Icon Law of Attraction in Action
Free Downloads - Complete List

Entrepreneur Tools and Guides
Top 50 Raising Capital Blogs To Watch In 2008
Top 50 Raising Capital Blogs
Top Blogs To Watch In 2008
 
Write The Press Release
Write The PR
Press Release Builder
 
Entrepreneur Tools and Guides

SEO For Africa
SEO For Africa
Grace Kwartemaa Offinsu, Ghana,
Grace Kwartemaa
Offinsu, Ghana
SEO For Africa

If I Were A Startup...
Travis Hartley, 426% Growth in 2 Years
Travis Hartley
426% Growth in 2 Years
Kerry Shapansky, $2.0 to $51 Mil in 5 years
Kerry Shapansky
$2.0 to $51 Mil in 5 years
If I Were A Startup... - Complete List

Famous Entrepreneurs
Ernest Gallo, E & J Gallo Winery
Ernest Gallo
E & J Gallo Winery
Russell Simmons, Rush Comm.
Russell Simmons
Rush Comm.
Famous Entrepreneurs - Complete List

Entrepreneur Advice
Brad Feld, Venture Capitalist
Brad Feld
Venture Capitalist
Michael Gerber, The E Myth
Michael Gerber
The E Myth
Entrepreneur Advice - Complete List

Popular Articles
(Premium Authors)

     Lessons from the Pink Brigade: 7 Tips to Inspire Going the Extra Mile (or 12 miles!)
By Sandy R. Lawrence
     CHAMPIONING CREATIVITY: HOW TO GET UNSTUCK & GAIN A HEALTHY PACE
By Sandy R. Lawrence
     Lessons from the Vacation: REAL Time Management Insights
By Sandy R. Lawrence

Have A Suggestion?
Toronto Salsa Classes / Toronto Salsa Lessons Email us your ideas on how to make our website more valuable! Thank you Sharon from Toronto Salsa Lessons / Classes for your suggestions to make the newsletter look like the website and profile younger entrepreneurs like Jennifer Lopez and Sean Combs!
Have A Suggestion?

More Evan Carmichael
More Information