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This TikTok User Goes Viral Online After Blasting The Starbucks Program Created To Punish Employees Who Don’t Connect With Customers
A lot of people know how challenging work in customer service can get, especially when working in food service. Being able to provide a customer with excellent service so that they’ll want to come back is the goal that many employees strive to achieve. However, sometimes this goal gets difficult to achieve as every customer and their expectations are different. The feeling of being able to get the person just what they wanted and strike up a nice and smooth conversation is great, but what if not everyone wants to be bothered, and comes to your workplace just to get their order and carry on with their day?
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One of the main goals of people who work in customer service is making sure that the client receives excellent service
Image credits: bfishadow
Having this in mind, TikTok user @benwithabee decided to reveal and comment on a program released by Starbucks created for their employees. In the video that now has almost 80 thousand views, the man points out why this agenda created by the upper management of Starbucks is toxic and doesn’t benefit employees or customers.
One TikTok user decided to share a program released by Starbucks to its employees
Image credits: benwithabee
Ben, who often talks about topics related to employee rights on his TikTok, shared a program that was released by Starbucks management to its employees. The man found it on the Antiwork subreddit posted by a Starbucks employee. The main concern that was shared in the post was that the coffee company found the “connection score” had decreased, meaning that employees don’t put enough effort into getting to know their customers.
The business’s main idea was that employees should focus on getting to know their customers
Image credits: benwithabee
The TikToker found this program to be full of red flags that showed deeper problems with how the company treats its employees
Image credits: benwithabee
The man was straightforward in saying that customers don’t actually need employees to “connect” with them as long as they provide them with good service
Image credits: benwithabee
The TikToker was quick to notice that this isn’t something that most customers want. What they actually want and need is their order being made properly and being treated nicely by the staff. Other than that, he feels that no one really needs forced communication as everyone is aware that this is business, and people are just making transactions. Asking employees to make sure to “connect” with customers is actually covering some deeper and more serious issues.
Image credits: benwithabee
He pointed out that people are aware that this is business and all matters is a smooth transaction between the company and the customer
Image credits: benwithabee
It was noticed that by forcing employees to “connect” with customers, the company reveals some bigger problems related to understaffing
Image credits: benwithabee
Not connecting with customers is seen more as an excuse to why there is a staff shortage. This problem was also reflected in the message. Employees were given the instructions on what to do if they need more hours. Besides the “tip” to create an environment that would encourage customers to come back, they were asked to either take hours that needed to be covered or even ask other employees to give their working time. What was noticed by the author of the TikTok is that such matters should be handled by a manager and not the employee.
Image credits: benwithabee
The TikToker pointed out that workers are put into a tough position while these problems should be solved by their managers
Image credits: benwithabee
A lot of people online agreed that none of them, as customers, want employees to force themselves to chat with them as they are more comfortable with receiving proper service and carrying on with their day. What do you think about this situation? Don’t forget to leave your thoughts in the comments down below!
Image credits: benwithabee
It was noted that those who do not follow the program should not be working at Starbucks
Image credits: benwithabee
You can watch the full video down below!
@benwithabee I’ve had so much fun talking to all of you <3 #antiwork #antiworktiktok #badboss #toxicworkplace #9to5 #thegreatresignation #entrepreneur #hustle ♬ Lo-fi hip hop – NAO-K
People online agreed with the author of the TikTok, emphasizing that they don’t really need or want forced conversations with employees
This topic also encouraged others to share their own experiences and opinions on the matter
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What do you think ?
Shannon Sigvardsen 2 years ago
My local Starbucks turned off mobile ordering so the employees have more time to connect with customers instead of being busy making drinks. What in the actual f*ck?! I don't want to wait 5 minutes for my coffee to be made while another barista has to force a fake conversation!!
Silre 2 years ago
Ugh, my Starbucks did the same thing! I don't want to talk to people, I want to get my drink with the least amount of human interaction possible.
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Kevin Beard 2 years ago
I think that once your baristas get to know me they'll find, I don't want to talk to anyone.
Lou Lopez 2 years ago
See, the baristas know me by name/sight because I'm polite, patient, understanding and tip every time. They know me because I'm a "breathing room" customer where they can let some of that constant tension and anxiety go for a moment because I will never be anything but grateful to the people who make me coffee. It's not something forced by corporate, it's that they genuinely can feel "safe" around me no matter what's happening with my order. That's the kind of connecting employees and customers should be doing based off mutual respect, not fake niceties.
Moezzzz 2 years ago
This! Yes! They're in customer service and I know they get assholes everyday. I don't want to be one of those. I can't stand to see someone get berated over something that can be easily fixed. I was in a coffee shop near my house (not Starbucks) and this "Karen" went off on the poor guy for not putting drizzle on her frozen coffee. Literally went nuclear and demanded that he remake it so she can watch him herself as well as "to make sure you don't screw it up again". She even tried to get a few people in the shop to side with her. Hell no. When she looked at me, I gave her a tired ass look and said "it's coffee. It's not the end of the world". She didn't like that, but I have RBF syndrome, and was sleep deprived, so I'm guessing she really didn't want to engage with me any further. I told the boy I was sorry he had to deal with that and tipped extra, then asked for the corp number to say what a great job he was doing. I don't normally do that, but he'd had a bad morning.
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Shannon Sigvardsen 2 years ago
My local Starbucks turned off mobile ordering so the employees have more time to connect with customers instead of being busy making drinks. What in the actual f*ck?! I don't want to wait 5 minutes for my coffee to be made while another barista has to force a fake conversation!!
Silre 2 years ago
Ugh, my Starbucks did the same thing! I don't want to talk to people, I want to get my drink with the least amount of human interaction possible.
Load More Replies... Kevin Beard 2 years ago
I think that once your baristas get to know me they'll find, I don't want to talk to anyone.
Lou Lopez 2 years ago
See, the baristas know me by name/sight because I'm polite, patient, understanding and tip every time. They know me because I'm a "breathing room" customer where they can let some of that constant tension and anxiety go for a moment because I will never be anything but grateful to the people who make me coffee. It's not something forced by corporate, it's that they genuinely can feel "safe" around me no matter what's happening with my order. That's the kind of connecting employees and customers should be doing based off mutual respect, not fake niceties.
Moezzzz 2 years ago
This! Yes! They're in customer service and I know they get assholes everyday. I don't want to be one of those. I can't stand to see someone get berated over something that can be easily fixed. I was in a coffee shop near my house (not Starbucks) and this "Karen" went off on the poor guy for not putting drizzle on her frozen coffee. Literally went nuclear and demanded that he remake it so she can watch him herself as well as "to make sure you don't screw it up again". She even tried to get a few people in the shop to side with her. Hell no. When she looked at me, I gave her a tired ass look and said "it's coffee. It's not the end of the world". She didn't like that, but I have RBF syndrome, and was sleep deprived, so I'm guessing she really didn't want to engage with me any further. I told the boy I was sorry he had to deal with that and tipped extra, then asked for the corp number to say what a great job he was doing. I don't normally do that, but he'd had a bad morning.
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