Search Here

Customers at Starbucks are experiencing significant delays in receiving their coffee, as baristas express concerns about being understaffed and overwhelmed by the high volume of orders from mobile apps, in-store, and drive-thru.

Starbucks Customers Face Longer Waits Amid Job Cuts

Starbucks customers are experiencing longer wait times compared to their peers at Dunkin' and Caribou, as the company has been cutting jobs and opening more stores across the country.

During the last quarter, a notable percentage of Starbucks customers experienced wait times ranging from 15 to 30 minutes for their orders, NY Post reported.

In contrast, very few people had to wait as long for their Starbucks drinks prior to the pandemic.

A number of employees and supervisors who asked not to be identified because they are not authorized to speak publicly, some outlets now have three or four individuals creating iced macchiatos and double-shot espressos, compared to five a year ago.

According to Chris Mills, he experienced a significant delay when he visited the Shelton, Conn., store to collect an order for his wife on Mother's Day. He patiently waited for 40 minutes while the baristas prepared his latte.

Starbucks Baristas Slam 12-Hour Minimum Policy

Starbucks employees have expressed their concerns about a recent company policy that requires baristas to work a minimum of 12 hours per week.

This policy has resulted in a decrease in the number of available employees at certain locations, according to employee feedback.

Based on current staffers at the company's stores, the decrease in manpower has placed a heavier workload on baristas and resulted in longer wait times for customers.

The company refuted claims of understaffing in its stores. According to Frank Britt, Starbucks' chief reinvention officer, the coffee chain has recently introduced a new algorithm aimed at efficiently distributing labor and manpower.

The algorithm calculates various data points, including order forecasts and product availability. The data is used to make informed decisions regarding staffing requirements at specific locations.

According to employees who spoke to Bloomberg News, the algorithm overlooks the additional tasks that staff members have to perform in order to fulfill special requests on orders, such as adding cold foam or extra espresso shots.