barista

shift manager

store manager

cashier

Starbucks

Unfortunately, my time with the company was not as positive as I had hoped it would be.

When I first joined the company, I was excited about the opportunities and challenges that lay ahead. The management was collaborative, the work was engaging, and there was a positive atmosphere within the districts. However things began to change as I watched the work environment deteriorate due to a negative upper management. It was a disheartening and frustrating experience. 

The once-positive atmosphere became tense and toxic, as an authoritarian leadership style stifles creativity and erodes trust among employees . Morale plummeted as employees felt undervalued, unsupported, and demotivated. The work environment that was once vibrant and productive became suffocated by negativity, leading to decreased productivity, increased turnover, and a general sense of disillusionment among the team.
 
There was a noticeable lack of respect and appreciation for employees, which created a negative work environment. It was disheartening to see how little value was placed on the well-being and morale of the staff.

The upper management was unresponsive and unapproachable. Issues and concerns were frequently ignored or brushed aside, making it difficult to address important matters and improve the overall work environment.

There was clear favouritism from upper management and despite my best efforts to communicate and collaborate, I constantly felt overlooked and undervalued. The favouritism towards certain store managers further exacerbated this feeling of alienation, leaving me questioning my worth and contribution to the company. Their lack of support and responsiveness to my concerns only deepened the sense of disconnect and disengagement I experienced. This alienation eroded my confidence and motivation in the workplace. It was a challenging and demoralising experience that ultimately led me to question my self worth. 

The silver lining to all this, however, was. as a store manager, I had a great team under me which ultimately was the only reason I stayed with the company the last couple of years. 

I worked at Starbucks for a while...It was a brilliant job when we had our first manager and then the management changed. It deteriorated very rapidly due to lack of respect for staff and basic level of management came to play. We then got another manager who seemed more than capable of their job...this was short lived. You are worked like slaves, spoken to like children and even treated like children. My mental health rapidly went down hill as well as other member of staffs did. Due to our pay grade which by the way is minimum wage (don’t let them fool you with there fancy indeed applications titles). The most current management at Starbucks is poor, really poor. They have no idea what they are doing, we are told as workers we are not allowed HR numbers (by law this is outrageous), we aren’t allowed to call higher than the in store managers even if the problem lies with them as they don’t like to be bothered and will be highly abusive towards you if you do call. The manager will also share your problems with whoever will listen to them. If we had a concern or issue to raise the management would tell other members of staff (private and confidentiality straight out the window). Training was NEVER provided. HEALTH AND SAFETY WAS NEVER A THING, HOURS ARE RIDICULOUS AS THE ROTA WAS SENT ON THE SUNDAY AND YOU WERE EXPECTED TO WORK THAT WEEK WITH NO COMPLAINTS. Current manager will have an issue with you if you call in sick (doesn’t matter if you’re dying, you will be expected to work). They bother you on your days off, even though they preach that they won’t! Also the store manager doesn’t work weekends (WE WORK EVERY WEEKEND FROM THE MOMENT WE START TO THE MOMENT WE LEAVE) AND GETS UPTIGHT WHEN NEED TO CONTACT HIM FOR A ISSUE YOU CANT RESOLVE INSTORE. 


THINK TWICE, SAVE YOURSELF FROM ALOT OF  MISERY.

I've enjoyed most of my time at Starbucks, but the pay really does not make up for everything you do. It is extremely fast-paced, so you must work fast and confidently. From managers asking you to do extra work, stay behind without being paid, to guilting you into working when you're really sick, it's just poorly run from higher ups - so much focus is put on cutting costs, it really takes away from actually enjoying the job. Experience will vary store to store, with some stores having a good culture to others being so poor people quit after the first shift. Additionally, do not work here if you care about the environment - there is literally SO much wastage, it's morally awful to work here. Everything from food, milk, water and plastic is wasted daily if not hourly, which takes a toll. However, even with poor management, bad hours and extreme wastage, if you have a good team at your store, you'll form lifelong bonds - the culture at Starbucks is great between baristas, I guess bonding over how bad things can get really strengthens friendship.

Working for Starbucks was an exhilarating and enjoyable experience. The vibrant atmosphere, fueled by the aroma of freshly brewed coffee, created an energizing and welcoming environment. Interacting with a diverse range of customers, from regulars to new faces, was an enriching part of the job. Each day brought unique interactions and opportunities to brighten someone's day with a perfectly crafted beverage. The supportive and collaborative team fostered a sense of camaraderie, making work feel like a second home. The fast-paced nature of the job kept me on my toes, constantly challenging me to provide efficient service while maintaining quality. The company's commitment to excellence and innovation encouraged personal growth and learning. From mastering the art of latte art to exploring new flavors and brewing techniques, there was always room to expand my knowledge and skills. Overall, the blend of engaging customers, a spirited work environment, and continuous learning made working for Starbucks an incredibly fun and fulfilling experience.

I worked for 4 months and within the 4 months all the partners and supervisors quit and the whole entire store had a complete roster change. Further, every equipment was constantly broken eg. Coffee machine not being able to make coffee, ice machine not making ice. This lead to angry customers and longer lines adding stress to the job. Stores are constantly busy having lines that go out the door for minimum pay. I have seen how much starbucks makes in a day and their profits are much higher than what they SHOULD pay you. All my co workers have said that they are leaving because of the store managers incompetents and the complete roster overhaul because of all the partner quitting adds to the stress as it increases the burden on other staff. Work life balance is completely non existence but the job security is good to say the least. To summarised  the worse thing about this job would be the constantly lines for little pay and management  but the best things about this job is the team members and the job security. 

I made incredible connections with customers and coworkers while working at Starbucks but the pay is really rough. It’s on the fast food award and for the work you do it doesn’t match up at all. I loved everyone in my store and from most of the other stores but there’s a bit of a management issue higher up. There’s no real recognition for baristas and the effort they put in, only some token recognition here and there, basically to tick boxes. It was an amazing experience but the work life balance was nearly non existent if I wanted enough money to get by. Customers can be really bad sometimes but they can also be amazing. Coworkers are hit and miss like with all companies but for the most part I was really lucky and had awesome coworkers. Head office has a lot of fixing to do though and before I ever thought about returning there would need to be a big change. Baristas also deserve way more pay 

Quite simply the best company I’ve ever worked for. There are pros and cons as with every business/retailer/company, but it comes down to what you make of it. There’s ample opportunities for career progression and professional development. Barista tasks can be repetitive and self-motivation is needed, but the company helps keep the partners engaged through recognition initiatives, competitions, coffee master programs, and other experiences. Customers are at the heart of the business so individuals that genuinely like connecting with people will get the most of working in Starbucks stores. Partners who progress into management roles learn valuable skills in leadership, communication, business management and develop strong emotional intelligence. It can be stressful dealing with sick calls and equipment breaking down, but it’s good for character building. Overall, it’s a great company to work for and you will reap the rewards if you’re willing to put the effort in. 

Joined at 19 great for uni, started in gold coast and moved to Brisbane. Transfers really easy.

Gold Coast doesn't offer many hours in a work day unless your experienced and or higher up. 

Reasonable training depending on how active management is. Opening and closing in addition to slight procedures are different between stores. Due to adjusting for the flow store and what works for the store.

Can be very repetitive and tiring. Upselling is difficult, targets aren't always obtainable. New drinks every month and a bit can be annoying especially in high sale areas.

Can and will be cliquey across all stores, managers join in too depending on the age of the management team. Certain people will be picked on.

Would recommend if you don't take it too seriously and if you are able to multi task.

If you get hired, don't act like you know everything with previous  experience, learn their system and do their system, ask loads of questions and you will impress the managers.

The environment was good at the beginning. I worked with some amazing people and management but slowly it all began to crumble. A new person was hired who turned out to harrass other store members in multiple ways and talk about inappropriate stuff such as bedroom life to people 10 years younger than them who are fresh adults, when concerns risen at first was meant to be dealt with then management changed and they did not resolve one issue, instead choosing to believe someone who was pushing everyone away rather then listening to the people who were being hurt emotionally. This was just the experience at the store I was at and upon requests to move as I loved the company, they were denied despite it being for mental health. Majority of Starbucks higher ups do not care for your mental health and if you try to raise a concern be prepared to have to seek external help. 

A typical work day is incredibly fast paced being consistently short staffed due to high staff turnover rates. Can be fun but too much drama. In quiet moments it’s common for shift supervisors/long-term employees to talk poorly about other colleagues. There are some really lovely colleagues of course, though the culture is toxic, masking inclusivity and everything is not as it seems once you make it past the hiring process. 

Little to no accountability is held to supervisors/management so speaking up for change is no use. It’s hard going to work when nobody is happy to be there and everyone is looking for new work, it really felt like a race to get out!

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Barista 6 salaries reported	$27.17 per hour
Shift manager 9 salaries reported	$27.22 per hour
Store manager 6 salaries reported	$71,417 per year
Cashier 1 salary reported	$32.13 per hour

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