Latest news with #baristas
News.com.au
5 days ago
- Business
- News.com.au
‘Kidding': Starbucks worker shocked she was dress coded at work
A shocked worker thought her boss was 'kidding' when she got 'dress-coded' for having 'too much chest showing'. Elyssa Marie works at the coffee giant Starbucks in the US and is going viral for posting a very demure outfit that still got her in trouble at work. The clip amassed 2 million views, and Ms Marie argued it was ridiculous that she got dress-coded because the only thing showing were her collarbones, and she was 'confused' about how that could be considered inappropriate. 'God forbid I get a job at Starbucks with huge tits,' she joked on social media. Online, people were quick to support the worker. One said it sounded 'unfair,' and another said they were 'confused' because they couldn't see any problem with her outfit. 'What they want a damn turtle neck?' One asked. Another reassured the worker that she looked 'completely fine,' and someone else inquired if this was just 'rage bait.' Ms Marie said it wasn't. 'I've never visited Starbucks and thought wow, these baristas show too much neck,' someone else argued. Ms Marie then shared another video where she wore a blank button-up shirt and claimed she was told she needed to button it all the way up. She called being dress-coded of her outfit 'ridiculous' and argued she could wear these outfits to church because they are conservative. In a follow-up post the young worker said she'd never had a 'problem following rules' and is always reasonable. But she didn't think this clothing violation was fair. 'I never had a problem with the dress code. The problem is I thought I was in dress code, and I was in dress code, and I felt like I was being targeted because of my assets,' she said. Ms Marie's dress code saga comes after Starbucks announced the chain released a statement that said, 'Starting May 12, we're evolving our dress code in all stores to focus on simplified colour options that allow our iconic green apron to shine and create a sense of familiarity for our customers. 'The more defined colour palette includes any solid black short and long-sleeved crew neck, collared, or button-up shirts and any shade of khaki, black or blue denim bottoms.' They also revealed that all partners would be receiving two new company branded T-shirts, free of charge. It's been seen as quite a controversial policy by staff with a video going viral on X of Starbucks union workers protesting in response to the new dress code.
Fast Company
17-05-2025
- Business
- Fast Company
The real reason Starbucks baristas are so angry about its new dress code
On Monday, Starbucks rolled out a new dress code as part of its larger corporate overhaul. But union workers say the change is both restrictive and unproductive—and now, baristas are walking out. The dress code comes as new CEO Brian Niccol is on a mission to bring the brand ' back to basics,' including by scaling back its menu, returning hand-written notes on cups, and introducing ceramic mugs in stores. Employees are now required to wear a more simplified palette of solid black tops along with khaki, black, or blue denim bottoms under the company's signature-green apron. However, in an email to supporters, Starbucks Workers United—the union representing Starbucks baristas—called the dress code 'restrictive,' adding that it was implemented 'without input from the baristas it affects.' The union has been bargaining to reach a contract with Starbucks for over three years, with no end in sight. It says that the new dress code represents 'bad faith bargaining,' alleging that the code undermines a tentative agreement about attire made at the bargaining table. A spokesperson from Workers United told Fast Company that, as of Wednesday evening, walkouts have occurred at more than 100 Starbucks locations and included more than 1,200 baristas. The strikes come in the wake of a lackluster financial report for Starbucks's second quarter of 2025, during which revenue dipped below expectations, U.S. comparable store sales declined 2%, and U.S. comparable transactions were down 4%—leaving some analysts wondering just how well Niccol's 'back to basics' plan is actually working. Union workers are frustrated with the new dress code According to a series of videos posted by Workers United, baristas are frustrated with the new dress code for a number of reasons. In one clip posted to Bluesky, a group of workers at a store in Dallas claim they were told their black sneakers were no longer acceptable under the dress code, and that they would have to buy new shoes before returning to work. The Workers United spokesperson explained that, in the past, waterproof shoes have always been a requirement. On Monday, though, several workers (including those in the aforementioned video) claim they were told their waterproof shoes couldn't have any mesh fabric, despite the fact that such a stipulation was not included in the new dress code. The spokesperson also alleged that employees have been sent home for small details like the color of their blue jeans or the number of visible piercings. 'Managers are told that they have to enforce all these things; otherwise their own jobs are in jeopardy,' the spokesperson said. 'It's creating a lot of frustration and confusion, and making baristas feel like this really isn't about what they're wearing; it's just about control.' In another video of workers announcing their reasons for walking out, one barista shared: 'Now we have to purchase new shirts and shoes to be compliant with the new policy. Why doesn't Starbucks do the right thing and provide a stipend for these newly required items?' Starbucks announced its dress code change on April 14. At the time, the company said it was also launching a line of company-branded T-shirts, adding that employees could receive two of these shirts at no cost. However, the Workers United spokesperson said they'd received several reports of the free shirts not being ready for baristas on Monday. Starbucks, on the other hand, claimed that, of the 18 styles available, only three were temporarily unavailable in a few sizes this week. In response to the recent walkouts, a Starbucks spokesperson said: 'The biggest update to our dress code is simple: wear a black shirt—either your own or one we provide. While Workers United, which represents less than 5% of our workforce, attempted to create disruption in a handful of stores, the overwhelming majority of our 10,000 U.S. company-operated stores remain open and are serving customers as normal. ' The spokesperson noted that there haven't been any changes to the shoes baristas can wear, other than the heel height, adding that footwear can be black, grey, navy, brown, tan, or white. However, they did not comment on baristas' complaints about the inconsistent application of the dress code. The spokesperson added that it would be 'more productive if the union would put the same effort into coming back to the table to finalize a reasonable contract. ' A broader issue Strikes due to the dress code are just the latest chapter in an ongoing battle between Workers United and Starbucks—and union members say their concerns go far beyond what they're supposed to wear. Over the past three and a half years, Workers United has been in a continuous bargaining process with Starbucks management, seeking a contract that includes higher wages, guaranteed hours, and better staffing in stores. Members reported that negotiations between the union and the company broke down in late February, which has led union members to increasingly engage in acts of civil disobedience, like sip-ins, walkouts, and picket lines. In the past, both the union and the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) have argued that Starbucks hasn't been bargaining in good faith. In December, Workers United filed an updated unfair labor practice charge with the NLRB outlining their concerns around the drawn-out bargaining process. And, recently, the union filed a new amendment with the NLRB alleging failure to bargain over the dress code. The amendment calls the dress code an example of 'bad faith bargaining' for 'unilaterally implementing a new dress code policy . . . that materially differed from both the status quo and what the parties had tentatively agreed to at the bargaining table.' A Starbucks spokesperson said they would 'make sure any differences between our negotiations and store implementations are addressed lawfully and fairly.' Jasmine Leli is a barista from Buffalo, New York, who's worked at Starbucks for three years. She's also one of the union bargaining delegates who ran the dress code working group that led to a tentative agreement about a future dress code. The union's proposed dress code, she says, included protections like allowing workers to wear union T-shirts to work and to keep their visible piercings. Leli calls the new dress code a 'distraction from fixing the real issues that we have in our stores.' 'As partners, we don't have guaranteed hours,' Leli says. 'We don't have enough people at work during the middle of the day and at night. I'm not getting all of the hours that I need. I'm not making a fair wage—I got a 30 cent raise—and now I'm being asked to go out and purchase a completely new wardrobe, including shoes, and our contract hasn't been finalized.' Ultimately, Leli says, Starbucks should be working to finish the contract and solve its staffing issue—not implementing a new dress code. Customers care more about the wait time for their latte than the shirt their barista is wearing, she adds. 'We're more than mad because the changes that the company is making don't address the issues that we're facing in the stores,' Leli says. 'Starbucks is iconic for their green apron. Customers know they're walking into a Starbucks. It's not a mystery. And with my regulars, I know their drink, and they know me, whether I'm in a purple shirt or a black shirt.'
New York Times
16-05-2025
- Business
- New York Times
Starbucks Baristas Stage Walkouts Over Dress Code Change
Starbucks workers have staged walkouts this week at dozens of coffee shops in the United States to protest a policy change in their dress code that their union says should have been made through collective bargaining. Since May 11, more than 2,000 baristas at more than 100 stores, including in Wisconsin, Florida and Pennsylvania, have walked out 'to protest the company's failure to prioritize real support for baristas,' the union said on Friday. The protests were in response to an announcement by Starbucks in April that starting on May 12, baristas would be required to wear solid black crew-neck, collared or button-down shirts with khaki, black or blue denim 'bottoms,' referring to pants, shorts or skirts under their aprons. The company said the 'more simplified color options' would allow the traditional green aprons worn by baristas to 'shine and create a sense of familiarity for our customers, no matter which store they visit across North America.' But Workers United, which represents baristas at 570 of the more than 10,000 stores in the United States, said the policy change without bargaining was 'regressive.' 'Instead of fixing problems customers actually care about, like long wait times & high prices, Starbucks would rather focus on the colors workers wear,' the union said on social media this week. The workers who participate in walkouts leave for the remainder of the shift but come back to work for their next scheduled shift, it said. The union said many workers had already purchased approved clothing from Starbucks that they were no longer allowed to wear on duty. Starbucks said it would provide two shirts to employees if needed. Starbucks said in a statement that the disruption had been minimal over the past four days. 'It would be more productive if the union would put the same effort into coming back to the table to finalize a reasonable contract,' it said. Starbucks and the union had temporarily agreed to collective bargaining over dress code changes as part of ongoing negotiations for a new contract. In December, a bargaining session with the company failed to produce better wage gains. The union filed a complaint with the National Labor Relations Board, accusing Starbucks of engaging in bad faith bargaining. After Starbucks announced in April that it was changing the dress code, the union updated that complaint, saying the company had undermined it by 'improperly moving the goal posts for collective bargaining.'
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
What Services Or Tasks Do Customers "Never" Remember To Tip For But Seriously Should?
On the internet, tipping culture is one of the most constantly debated topics. And with the rise in app-based services like food delivery, home decor setup, and beauty treatments at home, there are never-ending opinions about what to tip for and how much. Related: Eat At Some Popular Restaurant Chains For A Day And I'll Guess Your Hair Color So we want to hear directly from people with their boots on the ground. If you work in hospitality, care, or other service-based industries, what's something that people rarely tip you for but really, really should? Related: Make A Really, Really, Really Pretty Disney Princess Dress And I'll Let You Know Your Ideal Home Design Style For example, do you tip the shampoo person at the hair salon? Yes, according to hairstylists. How about baristas? Or your dogwalker? Tell us your thoughts in the comments or in the anonymous form below. The best responses may be featured in an upcoming BuzzFeed Community post! Also in Community: Curate A Summer Pinterest Board To Reveal Your Summer Aesthetic Also in Community: Create The Dress Of Your Dreams And We'll Tell You What You're The Goddess Of Also in Community: We'll Reveal Your Most Attractive Feature, But First You Have To Enjoy A Rainbow Of Foods
The Independent
14-05-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Starbucks baristas go on strike following new rule change
More than 1,000 Starbucks baristas across 75 US stores are currently on strike as they challenge the coffee giant's newly implemented dress code, The new dress code, effective from Monday, restricts what baristas can wear beneath their signature green aprons. Employees at company-operated and licensed stores in the US and Canada are now required to wear solid black shirts and bottoms limited to khaki, black, or blue denim. Previously, baristas enjoyed a more relaxed dress code, permitted to wear a wider array of dark colors and patterned shirts. Starbucks maintains that the updated policy is designed to highlight the green aprons and foster a sense of familiarity for customers, contributing to a warmer, more welcoming atmosphere in its stores. However, Starbucks Workers United, the union representing workers at 570 of the company's 10,000 company-owned US stores, argues that the dress code should be a subject of collective bargaining. 'Starbucks has lost its way. Instead of listening to baristas who make the Starbucks experience what it is, they are focused on all the wrong things, like implementing a restrictive new dress code,' said Paige Summers, a Starbucks shift supervisor from Hanover, Maryland. 'Customers don't care what color our clothes are when they're waiting 30 minutes for a latte.' Summers and others also criticised the company for selling styles of Starbucks-branded clothing that employees are no longer allowed to wear to work on an internal website. Starbucks said it would give two free black T-shirts to each employee when it announced the new dress code. Starbucks said Wednesday that the strike was having a limited impact on its 10,000 company-operated US stores. 'Thousands of Starbucks partners came to work this week ready to serve their customers and communities,' the company said in a statement. 'It would be more productive if the union would put the same effort into coming back to the table to finalize a reasonable contract.' Starbucks Workers United has been unionizing US stores since 2021. Starbucks and the union have yet to reach a contract agreement, despite agreeing to return to the bargaining table in February 2024. The union said this week that it filed a complaint with the National Labor Relations Board alleging Starbucks' failure to bargain over the new dress code.
