Does Starbucks Practice Age Discrimination?
My father is retired but still enjoys working part-time. He’s been a big fan of Starbucks for a long time and thought it might be fun to work for them. He’s a hard worker, likes to work at unnaturally early hours of the morning, and has an extremely flexible schedule allowing him to work during times when it’s hard to get a 20-something-tattoo-generation to work. Basically, he’s an ideal job candidate for a place like Starbucks, but does Starbucks agree?
Great coffee but job hiring practices are bitter
When the local Starbucks posted a large sign looking for part-time workers, my father seized the opportunity and filled out an application and waited, and waited, and waited. Weeks went by and no one called. He stopped by the store to inquiry about the status of his application but the manager wouldn’t give him the time of day. Perhaps they had already filled the position? Nope, the signed remain in full view, and the manager continued to hand out and accept applications. What gives?
Starbucks doesn’t have the best employee relations
Does Starbucks practice age discrimination? Gloria Sykes certainly thought so and when she informed management that she and other employees planned to reach out to the IWW Starbucks Workers Union (SWU) if management didn’t address age discrimination and work schedule issues. Sykes’ bold move perturbed Starbucks management to the point they responded by giving Sykes her walking papers. Starbucks has since settled the case Sykes brought against them in response and reinstated her along with awarding her an undisclosed amount of money. But does that incident alone confirm Starbucks doesn’t like seniors?
I have yet to find conclusive evidence that Starbucks practices age discrimination; however, a 2004 post over at Starbucks Gossip says a secret source claims Starbucks doesn’t like old people. I can’t confirm the claim but I can say that the coffee behemoth isn’t entirely above board when they’re looking for employees. Another person I know (who will remain nameless unless they decide to speak up here) was actually approached by a Starbucks manager to fill out an application. In normal situations, when the hiring manager comes to you with a job offer, it usually means it’s a done deal. I guess that is not the case with Starbucks. Despite being encouraged to apply (without the slightest inquiry from this individual), Starbucks still did not hire this individual. And again, when some type of status on the application was sought, Starbucks management couldn’t even acknowledge the individual. What gives?
They do hire some people
Starbucks does hire people — eventually. Another individual I know was determined to get the response they wanted when they dropped off their application. Over a span of several weeks this individual was a regular Starbucks patron — not for coffee but for an answer on their application. Several times a week this individual would visit the Starbucks they applied at and corner management in order to get “an answer.” It took lots of badgering but in the end this individual was hired. I should point out, however, that it wasn’t a “real” Starbucks. This individual was hired at one of those Starbucks inside of a Barnes and Noble bookstore — close but no cigar.
It’s all a mystery to me
Does Starbucks actually hire someone when they post a “help wanted” sign? What kind of people does Starbucks hire? Is there an ideal age bracket for potential cofffee Baristas?
The secret to Starbucks great tasting coffee is somewhat of a mystery. I guess the same can be said about their hiring practices.
on September 24th, 2007 at 9:49 am
I cannot keep a secret…it was I who was “solicited” by a Starbucks shift manager out of the blue to apply for a job there. The manager was complaining about the turnover and how the young hires would call in sick after partying the night before.
Being a former manager in the hotel industry, I could fully understand his problem and decided that I could use a few extra bucks working for a merchant that I patronize on a daily basis. I forewarned that manager that the next 2 months were pretty busy for me and that my availibility would be quite restrictive but he said he was “flexible”.
I didn’t complete the application right away, and when I saw the manager again at the location that I only frequent on weekends he asked me if I had turned in my app yet. I told him no, but I would do it in the next few days. I kept my end of the bargain and delivered it to him with a very detailed list of available dates and hours keeping in mind their hours of operations. I attached a note stating that if he would prefer to wait until these next 2 months had passed and my calendar opened up I would completely understand.
When I saw this shift manager again, he said he had personally given my app to the Store Manager for his perusal. The next weekend, I didn’t bring up the subject and neither did the shift manager. In fact, other than a robotic “hello” he treated me like a stranger. I never received a phone call from Starbucks or the proverbial “Thank you, but no thank you. We’ll keep it on file” postcard.
A few months went by and my wife and I were checking out a new Starbucks location near her workplace. Well, there was my shift manager buddy who had been promoted to store manager. When serving us our drinks, he actually asked me if I was still looking for a part-time job. Having already been down this road with him, and with more gray hairs added to my head, I replied “no…too busy.” I had some other choice words but my faith doesn’t permit me to speak them aloud.
Does Starbucks practice age discrimination? In the words of my Minnesota uncle, “you betcha.”
on September 24th, 2007 at 3:53 pm
I do not think that Starbucks discriminates based on age here in Winston Salem. But, with the couple of older fellows that they did hire, I wished that SBs did. Bad, slow and inaccurate service. Those two guys just did not have wiring for SBs.
I know, that is bad of me.
on September 24th, 2007 at 4:34 pm
Of all the Starbucks I’ve been too, I think I have only seen one or two senior type individuals working there. They weren’t any faster or any slower than the twenty-something-tatoo crowd.
Thanks for the comment Tom.
on September 24th, 2007 at 7:45 pm
Any applicant being considered needs to show the interviewer that they are capable and willing to perform the tasks. If they are hired and then demonstrate that they cannot cut it then I’m all in favor of letting them go.
I concur with my brother though, I’ve seen the younger ones struggle with something as simple as ringing items up on the register. Maybe if it looked like an iPod they would do better.
on September 24th, 2007 at 8:35 pm
“Dude, I am so on top of getting you that grande cafe latte with foam just as soon as I talk to this cop — Don’t taze me bro!”
Yes, he probably worked at a Starbucks before he was tazzed
on September 26th, 2007 at 6:01 pm
Probably had one too many shots of espresso in his Cafe La-Taze.
on September 29th, 2007 at 7:52 am
I have seen 2 seniors working at a Starbucks. One was on top of things, but the other one as hard as he tried, could not follow through. However, working alongside of him were 2 young ones who were more interested in their personal conversation than filling our order. Which of course by the time they decided to get to the java, the line behind us was long and some customers walking out without a cup.
I agree, management can always release unsatisfactory employees. Most companies have a 30-90 day probation period. But give everyone a chance!
on October 1st, 2007 at 10:33 am
I should point out that I’m not saying all senior employees are great workers. I’m also not saying younger employees are idiots. I’m only making an observation about the “typical” employee you see at Starbucks and how the coffee giant appears to favor younger employees. Why is that?
on July 16th, 2008 at 4:51 pm
I work for starbucks and my store has many different ages and all these stories are terrible because if you actually worked there you would know that we get like a hundred applications a day and we are not always hiring and a lot of you older people ask for to much money and start pay is set for everyone