Starbucks Reviews in Toronto, ON Area

Pros

free coffee, happy customers, teamwork of staff

Cons

early mornings, (4am), and fattening food!

Advice to Senior Management

need more healthful food choices! MORE low fat options that are affordable!

Pros

The communication from Starbucks headwuarters was helpful. I was proud to work there. There is an emphasis on quality and customer service.

Cons

It is literally impossible to have full-time hours at Starbucks. If you want to make money beyond pocket change, do not work here. Also, you will likely have to work at least one day of every weekend (which is likely typical for retail).

Advice to Senior Management

Pay attention to those who are hardworking and dedicated on your team. Reward them with a promotion or an award.

Pros

Always changing, constantly guessing what's next. There is little time to get bored. People are constantly coming and going and it's fun to be in such a dynamic place.

Cons

Always changing, constantly guessing what's next. Senior management in Seattle constantly changes and moves the company in strange directions with each change in power. It gets really confusing to steer the ship.

Advice to Senior Management

Stabilize some of the things being done and direction for the business. Let people do their jobs and stop micro managing things and focus on innovation and formulating what's coming next.

Pros

Great fair treatment and inclusive workplace. Good advancement opportunities and executive direction and communication. Benefits available through Manulife group benefits.

Cons

Staffing system doesn't provide enough labor. All tasks required can't be done at a regular pace. Burn-out is common especially among retail management.

Advice to Senior Management

Allow for more labor at a retail level. Customers often view storyes as understaffed when the system says they're not.

Pros

- Good benefits
- Free weekly coffee,tea, other products
- lots of learning resources
- lots of opportunities to learn transferable skills
- working for a global brand is secure

Cons

- Hours are not guaranteed for hourly workers
- Limit of 44 hours, managers do not like giving over time
- small raise pays
- Exhausting work if at a busy store.
- stressful
- Training can be limited depending on the manager's style or the demand of the business
- Company seems to prefer to hire outside leadership instead of finding talent from within

Advice to Senior Management

There needs to be a consistent and structured effort to recruit potential ASM's /SM's from within the company. The SM has too many responsibilities to train and cultivate potential managers. It is not beneficial to judge by snap shots alone. There are partners that create the Starbucks magic but never get recognized. If only Howard Schultz's philosophy can be a reality in each store.

Pros

The benefits are great. The Starbucks experience is a moto to live by and the opportunity to advance helps.

Cons

Long hours on your feet and a lot of labour.

Advice to Senior Management

If you have constructive criticism, make it that and help to fix problems rather than condemn a person.

Pros

The partners are fun, often times they are the reason one goes to work. Some stores have a great community feel where your customers feel like part of an extended family.

Cons

Inadequate compensation for the amount of work the job entails. Simply impossible to have things 100% or even 75% to company standard. Constantly reminded that if something goes wrong you will be written up or terminated. Personal vendettas have held people back from moving up in the company despite their qualifications.

Advice to Senior Management

Streamline the many programs and standards into one smooth operation. Reduce the workload to a more reasonable amount or allow more people on the floor. Hold Store Managers and District Managers accountable.

Pros

Great people, great benefits, lots of opportunities and promotions from within, innovative company, global brand, always something new to look forward to, amazing company culture

Cons

There are little downsides to working at Starbucks

Pros

Starbucks brand recognition is big outside the company. Recruiters seem to love people with Starbucks experience simply because it needs multi-tasking, time management, and superior customer servic eskill.

Cons

Work load is simply too heavy, but the compensation is very low. No recognition what so ever, and periodic performance review is designed to limit the pay raise.

Advice to Senior Management

More real benefits and care is needed towards partners. It is funny that Starbucks advertises themselves as one of the best companies to work for, but in reality, it is not.

Pros

flexible schedule, high level of teamwork, fun, friendly co-workers, comprehensive training, comfortable working environment, , excellent discount and benefits, wide range of products

Cons

can be stressful, busy, have to constantly move, picky customers, working environment can be negative and full of gossip, some people are lazy

Advice to Senior Management

managers should be at the store when they are scheduled. Managers should treat everyone fairly and acknowledge who does not work effectively as a team