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It’s time to provide work schedules as consistent as Starbucks coffee.
Starbucks has been an industry leader on workplace issues from healthcare to education to wages. But scheduling remains an issue for baristas across the country, and more can be done to make Starbucks a better place to work and respect the basic principle that our time counts.
Starbucks workers from Seattle to Atlanta and across the country are calling for a MEETING WITH CEO Howard Schultz to find solutions to scheduling issues like unpredictable hours, under-staffing, clopening shifts, and access to paid sick days.
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Howard Schultz, CEO
Starbucks Corporation
2401 Utah Avenue South
Seattle, WA 98134
Dear Mr. Schultz,
“We want to work together in a true, long-term partnership that respects the basic principle that our time counts.”
We are Starbucks baristas from across the country who are proud of our company’s reputation as an ethical business leader. In that spirit, we would like to partner with you directly to find solutions to the continuing scheduling issues we experience at Starbucks. We want to work together in a true, long-term partnership that respects the basic principle that our time counts.
When the New York Times first exposed the devastating impact of unstable schedules on partners last year, Starbucks quickly declared that the practice of clopenings would end, and that scheduling practices for baristas would improve.
We appreciate the effort that has been made towards more stable schedules, but a year later, baristas like us from Seattle to Atlanta and across the country have inconsistent experiences. Our shifts are understaffed and our availability isn’t always honored, resulting in hardships for those of us who are parents and students. Many of us get such short notice of our schedules that it's difficult to budget, plan our lives, and care for our families. The current protections against clopenings don’t actually ensure a healthy night’s rest. And too many of us still feel pressure to work when we're sick.
“We appreciate having our managers’ support, but the scheduling problems we face at Starbucks aren’t individual store problems which managers can control. These are structural issues on the company level. ”
Starbucks leadership committed to fix these problems, but as a recent report showed, we’re still struggling. We know that the company recently sent a memo asking store managers to “go the extra mile” to provide sustainable work schedules, but we also know that managers are under intense pressure as well, and they aren’t able to solve these problems on their own. We appreciate having our managers’ support, but the scheduling problems we face at Starbucks aren't individual store problems which managers can control. These are structural issues on the company level.
We are speaking out and asking you to meet with us because we know that the daily uncertainty of our schedules and our lives isn’t in line with Starbucks values. Partners haven’t had a real chance for input. Starbucks needs a real partnership with employees to solve this issue.
“Together, we can find ways to ensure that Starbucks again provides schedules that are as consistent as our coffee. ”
Starbucks has been an industry leader on workplace issues from healthcare to education to wages. But more must be done to make Starbucks an even better place to work. Together, we can find ways to ensure that Starbucks again provides schedules that are as consistent as our coffee.
Sincerely,