Starbucks let me down again literally Demoted after a year of dedicated service

MARIA ODENBAUGH OPINIONS EDITOR

Starbucks let me down.

Before I could set my bag down, get prepared for the shift to come, or even clock in, I was informed by my boss that I was demoted. After a year of working to become a shift supervisor, I was told I had to be demoted back down to a barista role because Starbucks hired too many shift supervisors.

It’s been a year and a half since I joined the company.

A year and a half of committing to a company that has always supported me in continuing my Starbucks career.

I am an employee of a multibillion dollar company. I know the resources, benefits and advantages they have. Management told an

18-year-old me that they had my back. I bought in. I was eager to be part of a company who took care of its employees. But the more I got comfortable and felt I was an important factor on my team, that slowly faded away. The irony is that as I grew to love my job, the company seemed to start undermining me.

I always wonder if my personality and work skills will mesh with my superiors when new management comes in.

It’s impossible to be heard because they see you as just one of half a million employees.

It was an incredible feeling knowing I earned my role when I was promoted to shift supervisor. I knew my experience as a barista would give me advantages. However, not once did I think I would be demoted.

In April I heard cuts had to be made at each store. Heard is the key word.

Rumors flowed between the partners.

I started hearing things like: “It should be this person. Who would be chosen and why?”

Before my boss could announce it in the quarterly shift supervisor meeting, it spread like wildfire to every partner. Working that week was scary and it was apparent my name was in the rumor mill.

I was hired and promoted with the knowledge that I was a full-time community college student and my availability to work was five days a week.

The main reason my boss gave me is that I was the next person to leave. This is true.

I planned on transferring stores as a supervisor because I am transferring to a university. I never intended to leave the company. I work hard to support myself, I need the money. I feel defeated and like I wasted my time.

I’ve given my opinion before on Starbucks union busting, but I never thought Starbucks would undermine my store or me. I was wrong.

My demotion put me in a spot where I no longer feel supported or comfortable working at Starbucks. This was a hard concept for me to wrap my head around.

I had so much care and love for my job. The love I had for the people, the moments connecting with strangers and knowing I was part of a company that believed in the same ideals I did, were all taken away in a five-minute unprofessional conversation.

I’ve had several people ask me why I care so much about my job and that I could easily go find another.

Sure, I can easily find another job with my experience but I couldn’t walk away even after this embarrassment. I put too much effort into this job. My effort was thrown out like the old espresso

Campus Conversations

TOPIC: SHELTER-IN-PLACE ORDER FROM APRIL 18 grounds every hour.

Starbucks promised me a role with better pay, opportunities and set hours. But what did I need to promise back? Complete loyalty.

I vividly remember my interview. I stated I would always choose school over my job. They knew school was my top priority but now that has been used against me. With my record being free of any corrective actions, write-ups or any actions to make my boss worry about me, I can’t help but think this decision was completely based on my decision to move.

Starbucks’ 2023 new mission statement and promises were released the same week these cuts were made: “Our partner promise: Bridge to a better future.”

This promise does not apply to all partners, if anything Starbucks destroyed my bridge for a better future as a partner.

What was it like when the alert came out?

“I was in the art building. We locked the doors, turned off the lights and huddled in hiding spaces. We heard the helicopters go right over our building while the police were shouting.”

Do you feel safe on campus?

“I do. (I was in) a pretty sturdy building and our teacher acted very quickly. We locked the doors before we even got the alert.”

What was your experience like?

“(The professor) had us on lockdown, and we tried to stay updated on what was happening. And after that we tried to keep the class going but everyone was focused on their phones.”

Do you feel safe on campus?

“I do feel safe. I do wish we talked about it more on the first day of class, like what exits to take and what to do in those situations.”

What were your thoughts when you got the alert?

“I was really concerned because I wasn’t sure if another school shooting was happening. It was just scary because of the recent events that happened with other school shootings.”

Do you feel safe on campus?

“I do feel safe. I’ve never felt unsafe. I know there are two officers on patrol that are sitting there just in case of an event like this.”

Were you scared that something might have happened to people you know on campus?

“I was because (RCC) didn’t really specify what happened with the first notification.”

Do you feel safe on campus?

“For the most part yeah, but I see what happens at other schools…and anything can happen.”