Unfair Termination.

Submitted by xsullengirlx on Wed, 01/11/2006 - 5:49am.

Hey everyone! I stumbled across this site while browsing around for an address to Starbucks Human Resources. I was recently terminated after working for 11 months and I believe it to be under somewhat unfair circumstances. Let me break it down for you... And hopefully someone out there will be able to point me in the right direction when it comes to what steps to take next.

I had requested a number of days off prior to Christmas, as I was going to be out of town. I needed December 22nd through December 24th off (We were open Christmas day.) A few months ago, a wonderful Assistant Manager transferred to another store, and subsequentially left the scheduling duties that she was responsible for up to our Store Manager, who has been working ON and OFF for quite some time, however he hasn't had any experience in making a schedule.

Suffice it to say, the schedule turned into a huge mess. Everyone was being scheduled outside of their availability, and requested days off were not being met. Eventually, four very good partners quit, and everyone was upset about what was happening. I had open availibility, however; and rarely requested days off and only called in sick a few days due to having Mono, which two other partners had.

I didn't end up getting the 22nd off, as I had originally needed, but I did get the 23-24 off as I had orignially wanted. I immediately started searching for someone to cover the shift, (a 3.5 hour closing shift) and found one quickly. I got it approved by our Assistant manager and left it alone for two weeks. When the night before I was due to go out of town rolled around, the partner who was supposed to cover my shift bailed out. It was 10pm, and I was at work in the back room frantically searching the schedule for people who might be able to work for me. No one was able to. I eventually found someone who was working 4 hours to stay another 3 in order to close. She willingly said yes, and from there I notified the Shift on duty, Notified the shift on duty for the NEXT night, and left a note for the Assistant manager who would be coming in the next morning.

Normally, we are supposed to get shift switches approved by an Asst. Mgr or the store manager, although it's rare that we ever SEE our store manager (in 11 months, I worked with him 5 times maximum, he never worked... and when he did, it was usually off the floor.) So its usually up to an asst. Mgr to approve schedule changes. I was not able to get ahold of anyone seeing as it was 11:00pm, and therefore wrote a note for them to see the next morning.

I didn't think it would be a big deal, seeing as I was one of the very FEW people who ever actually got approval before switching shifts. I did it because we were told to, even though I have legitimate proof that it rarely happened with other employees... I ended up calling as early as possible to the store, a couple hours before i was set to leave; to make sure that everything was Kosher. I was informed that the note had been recived and everything was taken care of. This message was relayed to me by a shift supervisor, not a manager. They told me it was too busy to talk on the phone, and when they told me everything was good to go, I took it as a green light and went ahead and left town, knowing my shift was covered and I did everything in my power to make sure things were good before I left. I would never leave unless I knew with confidence my shift was covered. My job was much too important to me to compromise.

When I returned home on the 25th, there was a message on my machine from my store manager, telling me to call and discuss what had happened on the 23rd. I called, and he asked me to come in early the next morning for a meeting. I was nervous, thinking I would be written up for not getting ahold of him directly.

I was wrong. When I got there, there was termination papers waiting for me. I was told in a round-about way that the person set to cover my shift never showed up. And generally, the responsibility of the shift not being covered fell on my shoulders. REGARDLESS of the fact that I was told everything was taken care of. REGARDLESS of the fact that there were FOUR scheduled closers that night when NORMALLY there are THREE (and with no one showing up for my shift, they ended up closing with three people as usual) REGARDLESS of the effort I put in, and REGARDLESS of the fact that no one else gets their schedule changes approved, I was still going to be fired for what happened. Even though nothing like this EVER happened to me before in the entire time I worked for the company.

My manager explained that he HAD to fire me, even though he did not WANT to. He told me I was a good worker, that he knew it was a miscommunication, and that he couldn't just write me up, because it would reflect bad on him if I wasn't terminated. I tried to come up with a different solution, but he wouldn't compromise. He told me that he wanted me to come back, and so he had fired me on a "re-hireable basis" in which I could apply again in 6 months and be re-hired. He then explained how tormented he was over firing me... Made it a real sob-fest... Then collected my partner card and sent me packing.

I know that some of that responsibility fell on my shoulders, but I feel that I did honestly ALL i could do in the situation. Everyone was out of town or unavailible during the Holidays, things were hectic, no one was communicating... And yet I was the one who got made the example out of. I confronted my manager about numerous partners who simply did not show up for work PERIOD without calling, without an explanation, without someoene to cover... And he told me that he was not allowed to discuss other partner's business with me. I still believe that regardless of giving me facts about why they didnt show up, I think he should have told me why they were not fired, and I was.

It all makes no sense. I had just been nominated for partner of the quarter. I had covered anyone's shift that needed me. I had made a lot of change in areas that were out of order.. I had just been put in charge of the Pastry Order. I LOVED my job, I had a PASSION for what I did. On my trip out of town (which I ended up being fired for) I visited the original starbucks in seattle and met everyone who worked there, and raved about my job. Then I came home to find out I was unemployed.

I'm just shocked. I want to write a letter to Human Resources, or whomever it would make a difference. I'm not sure what to do, but this was less than two weeks ago, and so It's still fairly relevant and I am VERY upset over having lost the job that I was in love with. I miss everything about it... I'm just enraged that this happened to me, and I feel I was treated unfairly and completely seperate from the way everyone else at my store was treated.

Im sorry for writing a novel, but I have nowhere else to turn. I wanted to make sure I didn't leave anything out, so that maybe someone out there could help me...

Any comments or advice is greatly appreciated.

Thank you for your time.

classic Says:
Wed, 01/11/2006 - 7:12pm

to be incredibly blunt, that is very fucked up on the part of the manager! I am very curious as to exactly why the store manager felt that not firing you would somehow put them in a bad position with the district manager...?

My personal opinion is that, depending on where you live and work, you should seek some support from the starbucks union and act against being fired. while you may not be able to get your job back, at the very least, the starbucks union can get you a compensation package and keep this situation from repeating in the future. What you can do really depends on how much support you have from other partners at your store, to what lengths you are willing to go, and where you live.

can you shoot me a message off the forum? i can throw down a few pointers for strategy, recourse, ect..

scheduling seems to be a major issue no matter which part of the country partners are working in. we're over scheduled, underscheduled, scheduled out of our availability, held responsibile for not being ALWAYS available, or put on ridiculous back to back shifts...

i'd like to here more.
peace
seattle partner

xsullengirlx Says:
Wed, 01/11/2006 - 9:23pm

I agree it's fucked up... My manager had previously fired a couple people due to not showing up and therefore thought that if he didn't fire me, the partners at my store would see him as hypocritical and the DM would get on his case about not being tough enough, and letting things slide. My Manager had been getting into trouble a bit with the DM for not keeping things in order, I think that he was just trying to crack down on me to show that he actually could show authority.

I could be way off, but it's plausible.

How do I send you a message off the forum? I am very interested in pointers, because I've no idea how to get any kind of support for this.

Thanks so much :)

SarahMurdoch Says:
Sun, 03/05/2006 - 11:54am

Write a letter to HR asking for reinstatement, but know that the responsibility to cover your shifts is yours, no one else. Its great that partners say they will cover you but it falls on your shoulders to be where you agreed to be.

southbux2297 Says:
Sun, 03/12/2006 - 2:15am

Originally I came across this site not sure how long ago.I had been with the company for x amount of years.Even now I am carefull about disclosing more info than i should.I had worked for numerous similar companies when I began working for Starbucks.In the hopes of finding similar environment along with benefits all the well promoted benefits that the company was advertising.I knew all to well from working for a trucking company prior to starbucks how unions were and how companies in a position to fight would do everything possible to not let that happen.The company after the first year I had already noticed unscrupulous behaviour on the part of the managers in my region 3 different occurances before the first year was finished.I had prior experience with dealing with human resources from one other company and the futility of it.I knew all to well not to go there if you did it would mean certian termination. It continued into the following year for other fellow employees as well.I observed a fine line was crossed between Barista and Mangement.Hence the word PARTNER lost its meaning by that I mean going from shift to assistant when you reach that level you are then a part of the company when you become assistant mgr anything below that is outside.I continued to endure for the following years.I worked very hard and did everything I possibly could to improve myself my situation and learn to show my value as an employee and do well to be accepted in the hopes of promotion etc..I did not realise however that image in my region was more important than hardwork and job performance.When I say image I mean of the discriminatory nature.Every single new hire fell into the same exact bracket.To be more blunt along the lines of HOOTERS and no I am not a woman.Image for the company in my city was the end all be all.I was unfotunately fighting a losing battle for quite some time.I was amazed at how a comapny that could promote itself as being so different from other companies.So obviously not comply with standards and codes of conduct it so vehemntly prides itself in doing.I finally gave up the battle after most of my resolve as well as other was depleted.I also found out 2 other fellow employees went down similar path.Why am I posting this? Feels good to get it off my chest.I hope the union well help out other regions and wish the best of luck for those who try and make a difference.There was a time where coffee shops here were a nice place to go.Now there is only one place to go.Such is life I suppose.

Moving down the road

SarahMurdoch Says:
Sun, 03/12/2006 - 12:20pm

Could you be more specific by that I mean what are you talking about?

luvdogs Says:
Mon, 03/13/2006 - 1:18am

Very similar termination situation happened to me a few years ago. It was about 2002. i became an Sbux employee in 8-01 and was terminated in 6-02. Actually, I shouldnt say very similar, but in some ways so. The majority of people I worked with were homosexual, which I never had anything against. The original manager who hired me was straight (forgive me if that is considered insulting term in the homosexual world, no offense intended). I was dating a guy (Im a woman) that aso worked there but we didnt bring anything into work. never fought or anything. we would talk about plans after work, but so wuld everyone else that would be making the plans with us. a new manager comes along and she was homosexual. she was hooking up with two of the other women there and had it out for me since day one. out of nowhere i was warned about my voids. (if the're over 6% three times then you get terminated) I had no problems for about six months until this new mngr came along. She wanred me about the voids twice, but my drawer was never short. For the most part it was pretty acurate. i was an awesome barista. I was always at the bar when the lines were out the door since I was so fast. Customers loved me, never any complaints. Anyway, the manager always taolked about her social affairs and frowned upon others doing the same. i will admit that I had a lateness issue, but was never spoken to about it because I always covered for others when they ran late so others did it for me. I got along with everyone. Over time the group i worked with changed, but I always got along with everyone. I trained others on the bar and tills. I got the avergae raise. all of a sudden i see my name is not on the schedule. i ask why, the manager tells me to come in the next day. i go n and she fires me using my voids percentage as an excuse. i asked her to see thenubers, she showed me and it was only like .05 -.09 % over the 6%. I was livid!!! Like you, I loved my job and never wanted to leave. This all occured when I was 17. Now Im 21 and I work in a law firm, so screw starbucks, I still love the coffe though and I miss it so much that I try to tie it in to assignments for school (im pre-law) whenever possible, such as discrimination issues in employment law and especially in management classes. I am so happy that this union was able to be formed to help others, I wish it existed when this hapened to me, but maybe I would not be where I am now if I stayed there. Everything happens for a reason and I loike to think i would up better off. I hope you will be too. The whole reaons why I emphasized the homosexual thing was because everyone I worked with, even other homosexuals all agreed on the theory that the manager did not like me because I introduced a straight relationship to the store, even though that was relationship was prior to her. I didnt stay with the guy but we did stay friends after the relationship dissolved. I always had the feeling that I had experienced a bit of reverse discrimination, when I was never ever the one dishing out any discrimination at all. The manager definitely had it out for me. There was a bisexual girl who worked there as well and her voids were through the roof and her till was short 300.00 dollars once, about 250 anther time and another time around 270, all around the same period, when I was still employed there. I saw the printouts myself for the voids and I actually had to help recount the till multiple times when she was short, so It's not like this info came throug the grape vine or anything. Get this, that girl is still there to this day. I see her whenever i go in to visit. The manager made it to DM and only god knows what shes doing to district. (this was all in staten island, NY) I defintely support the union, goodluck to you all and more power to those who helped create it!!!

southbux2297 Says:
Mon, 03/13/2006 - 2:09pm

More specific.They prefer to hire women in there early 20's.If most of your morning customers "showtime" are men its easy to understand why.They prefer to promote people in there early 20's they are more tractable hence less likely to think for themselves or question policies given verbally as opposed to written.Minimum to no prior work hisory because they are less likely to know the difference between what is kosher and what is not.They do this in areas that are not in the limelight and areas less likely to have a history of contention with large buisnesses.They hire x amount of employees just enough so as not to appear prejudice.The logic of why and the succes of this mentality of doing buisness this way is obvious.They just love pasive people.The reason I was reluctant to be specific is because I still feel i am in the wake of what happened when I made the decision to leave.The job market now is not good I still must put that wonderfull companies name down on my job history because i worked there for so long.I hope that answers your question and clarifies without sounding angry.Its stressfull very stressfull dealing with the current situation.

movin on down the road

SarahMurdoch Says:
Mon, 03/13/2006 - 9:23pm

Let me get this straight ... you had an issue with being late many time .... your voids were consistantly ove the "limit" ... you were warned about personal conversations many times and you wonder why you were fired? What other people were doing or not doing is not your concern. If you really felt you were discriminated aginst you could have filled with the EEOC, and they would have investigated your claim.

southbux2297 Says:
Mon, 03/13/2006 - 10:20pm

Never thought of that smile.
Moving on

rhoebe Says:
Tue, 07/28/2009 - 11:30am

The employee should fight in this case and file some case to the employer. A real law could have an organic rule, as a constitution or charter, establishing and defining the conditions of the existence of a state or other organized community. tampa attorney

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