BJ

Mon, 24 Mar 2008 17:08:48 -0800

I've worked for Starbucks for two years and have no problem with shift supervisors sharing in tips. They are baristas plain and simple and just have the added responsibilities of making sure things run smoothly, managing cash and handling any emergencies. Starbucks does pay shift supervisors a bit more, it's considered a promotion to be made a shift supervisor but they in no way are managers in the traditional sense. They don't get paid salaries and can earn overtime. They don't hire or fire or set schedules. They work as hard as any of the other baristas to try to provide good service and should share in the tips. When you go to Starbucks, store managers, the occasional district manager, shift supervisors and baristas could all be behind the counter doing the same work. There's no way the average customer could tell the difference. Tips are shared because baristas work different shifts and some are busier than others. No one gripes at having to work a less busy shift because they know they aren't penalized financially for it. The tips are divided based on the number of hours that are worked that week. Starbucks does a pretty good job of helping people to feel part of a team so there isn't the sense that every little nickel and dime has to be rigidly parsed out according to some exaggerated, rigid rules. I think that California barista was out to lunch and the judge clearly didn't understand the role of the shift supervisors. As big corporations go, they should all be as partner friendly as Starbucks. Starbucks also doesn't cut corners on its products and has the goal of following through on its promises to customers and employees. Is the company perfect no but people genuinely keep looking for ways to do better. Does sheer size intrude? Yes, but I've been at smaller work places that do way worse.

TroyJMorris

Fri, 21 Mar 2008 15:05:12 -0800

To bring it into a lawsuit though? Why not just try to find a job not at Starbucks? I used to work at a Baskin Robbins. Our boss didn't want us collecting tips. Sometimes we would. Sometimes we'd be blatent or sneaky, but most of the time we didn't take tips. He payed us ridiculously well for ice cream scooping. Last time I checked, Starbucks gave a ton of benefits. Maybe I'm wrong though. But if the shift managers are making joe, they should get some extra cash too.

Seattlest: Victory For California Starbucks Baristas

BJ

TroyJMorris