In September of last year, I started working at the Starbucks location on Colorado Blvd. At first, I was extremely excited to get the position, as I had spent nearly a year searching for a job. And its close distance to my home, as well as the fact that I already drink a lot of Starbucks, made me even more enthusiastic to work there. But now after six months of working for the Siren, I’ve had both positive and negative experiences. 

One of the positive aspects of working for Starbucks are all the benefits, which are unmatched compared to any other retail chain. The company refers to its employees as partners, which shows the value that Starbucks has for the people who work for them. 

When it comes to healthcare, Starbucks offers insurance for all partners and their families, regardless of full-time or part-time status. These benefits extend into twenty free therapy sessions a year, per family member, through Lyra Health.

Starbucks also grants its partners a share of its stock, a 401k and even student loan management. Incredibly, all Starbucks partners are able to receive a completely free bachelors degree from Arizona State University. 

Working at Starbucks also opens access to unlimited free drinks and seven free food items per week, one free coffee bag a week, a free Spotify premium subscription, discounts at other retailers, such as AMC and Target, reimbursements for commuting to work and twenty free Lyft rides a month. 

But unfortunately, many partners complain that these benefits simply do not meet the workload expected at Starbucks. They are also frustrated by scheduling complications, and some managers don’t even give every barista enough hours to qualify for most benefits. Fortunately, my store doesn’t have these issues.

I’m a closer at my location, and I basically spend my whole shift “solo bar”, meaning I’m responsible for making all the delivery, mobile, cafe and drive-thru drinks. This can quickly become extremely stressful, and our customers don’t make it any better. 

I would say that 95% of our customers have no actual clue what they are doing when they place their order. Many people don’t understand the basics of coffee, and they get angry when you explain to them why a certain drink can’t come out the way they want it to be.

Starbucks corporate isn’t making it any better. Every new menu item is just more matcha, more cold foams, more time-consuming drinks for us to make, while we are still expected to keep wait times low and to hand out drinks more quickly. Thankfully, I’ve been able to manage this and figure out efficient ways to sequence these drink orders. 

But all in all, working for Starbucks has been a positive experience. I have met some amazing people, including coworkers and customers, and I have learned so much, not just about coffee but about life. 

If you’re reading this and are looking for a job, give Starbucks a chance.