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‘You're clearly not a barista’: Coffee shop employee's job is terminated by toxic manager, is still expected to finish her busy last shift without compensation

Small coffee with a side of revenge, anyone?

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Posted by Lana DeGaetano
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  • Wrongful terminations happen quite frequently in the workforce. Odds are, it's unlikely your termination is ever 100% about your work performance. Some managers and C-suite executives simply run on constant power trips or have downright anger management issues, which makes a big dent in their plans to keep employees longer than three weeks. If your manager constantly buzzes in your ear about things that have very little to do with your role or seemingly terminates you because of their personal feelings toward you, you're likely facing workplace discrimination as a result of your refusing to take nonsense from power-hungry higher-ups.

    The employee in this story worked at two coffee shops that were run by two people, one of whom was exponentially more careless about money than the other. The careless owner referred to as ‘Macchiato’, made a point to drain company funds at his location, fleshing the shop out with artisanal beans and other high-cost additions to the menu. As a result, this location closed because of the growing money pit, and the employee was moved to the next location, which was still up and running. The other owner, referred to as ‘Tea’, ran the more successful location but was going on an international trip, so Macchiato was to stand in his place. Macchiato has been characterized as picky, toxic, and immature by this point in the story, so it wasn’t a surprise when mid-shift, this employee was handed her last paycheck but was still expected to work until the end of her shift (which she would not be paid for). Save for the fact she was being “immediately let go” because she “clearly was not barista material”. In true maliciousness, she lets the masses have at the shop. Scroll to read the full story and some pretty entertaining comments from folks online.

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  • 1
    GRAVITY "We're open. Help yourselves" JUST FEE WORKZONE
    Via canva
  • 2
    I'm not "barista" material. Okay!
    Via Srvntgrrl_789
  • 3
    Years ago (1990s), I worked for an LGBTQ themed coffee house in Hollywood (name redacted). There were two locations; one in Hollywood in an LGBTQ community center, and the second in West Hollywood. Both places were busy. My best friend Sumatra (30F), and I (30F), worked at both locations, and we loved it there. We made decent money, great tips, and made friends with most of our customers.
    Via Srvntgrrl_789
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  • 4
    One of the owners, Macchiato, didn't like female employees. He'd hire buff guys in their 20s he'd shamelessly flirt with, and then fire if they didn't reciprocate. The deal between the owners was that Tea ran the Hollywood location, and Macchiato ran the one in West Hollywood. Macchiato was a guy who loved to
    Via Srvntgrrl_789
  • 5
    show off; he'd spend too much on supplies, expensive food, overpriced coffee beans, and would give raises to the employees he liked (the ones he hired). He'd also give his friends free coffee and sandwiches. The Hollywood location was consistently making a profit, while the West Hollywood location bled money.
    Via Srvntgrrl_789
  • 6
    Eventually, the West Hollywood location closed, and the remaining employees were integrated with the employees at the Hollywood store. Macchiato started to hang around the remaining coffee house to "supervise". His business partner, Tea was on a three month vacation in Europe when all this went down.
    Via Srvntgrrl_789
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  • 7
    Macchiato decided to hire his new bf, Espresso (M 18), as our manager. Espresso didn't know how a coffee house worked, and Sumatra and I were instructed to train him. He refused to learn anything, preferring to stay in the office, or leave for three hour
    Via Srvntgrrl_789
  • 8
    lunches. Sumatra told me our days were numbered, and she was right. A week after Espresso was hired, he fired Sumatra fired for no reason, which left Espresso and myself as the only employees.
    Via Srvntgrrl_789
  • 9
    Three days later, as I was getting ready for a film festival the community center was hosting, Espresso showed up with my final paycheck, and told me I was being let go. When I asked why, he said there were "complaints", from customers. I asked him, as manager, why he didn't bring this to my attention earlier (Note; we
    Via Srvntgrrl_789
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  • 10
    had an employee manual that clearly spelled out a robust correction policy). He scoffed at me, and took off. I then called Macchiato, and asked him why I was being let go. He gave me the same lame answer. I read him the correction policy from the employee handbook, which I him off.
    Via Srvntgrrl_789
  • 11
    "It doesn't matter," Macchiato said, "You're being let go, immediately. You're clearly not barista material." I took a look at the two block long line of film festival attendees who were waiting for the coffeehouse to open so they could buy drinks and snacks,
    Via Srvntgrrl_789
  • 12
    I asked, "Macchiato, if I'm being let go, who is going to help all the people who are lined up outside?" He said," Oh! Well, I'd appreciate it if you'd stay and finish your shift." I hung up the phone, opened the door, and told the line, "We're open. Help yourselves," and then left.
    Via Srvntgrrl_789
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  • 13
    I had my last paycheck, which didn't include the hours from my last shift, and since I clearly wasn't barista material, I didn't need to be there. I took my paycheck to a check cashing place, instead of depositing it into my bank account. That next week, I got hired for an admin position
    Via Srvntgrrl_789
  • 14
    with an accounting firm. I later found out from Sumatra that it was a good thing I cashed my paycheck instead of putting into my bank account, as the owner of the check cashing place sent over two big dudes and made Espresso give them all the cash from the register to cover the bad check Macchiato had written.
    Via Srvntgrrl_789
  • 15
    LightsNoir 12 hr. ago Which, your story makes me wonder what's up with Tea. Like, how are you gonna run a successful business, watch your partner crash a location, then leave them in charge of your branch to go to Europe for a few weeks? Unless Tea was equally , and well aware that Mach ran the accounts so dry they couldn't even cover a barista's last check ( were they gonna do if they didn't fire you, and had to actually fund that check?)
    Via LightsNoir
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  • 16
    remedyman 11 hr. ago Odds are they put a stop payment on the check. They had the money but didn't want to pay her. Which would have run then into other legal issues.
    Via remedyman
  • 17
    SilverStar9192. 7 hr. ago I thought it was really clever of OP to use the check-cashing place - obviously she had some insight that Macchiato was going to play a dirty trick. The check-cashers would have charged a fee, of course, but well worth it in this case!
    Via SilverStar9192
  • 18
    Bargle-Nawdle-Zouss 14 hr. ago What happened when "Tea" returned from vacation? What's the current status of the store/business? Vote Reply Share Srvntgrrl_789 OP. 14 hr. ago Tea stayed in Europe. He met someone and they got married. I don't know if he and Macchiato still talk to each other. Tea and I are at the "exchange xmas cards" phase, since, other than social media, I haven't seen them in a million years.
    Via Bargle-Nawdle-Zouss / Srvntgrrl_789
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  • 19
    Cfwydirk 15 hr. ago Sounds to me like Tea was a big part of the problem. Going on a three month vacation when her partner bankrupted the other location. Lucky you getting out when the getting was good.
    Via Cfwydirk
  • 20
    TheFluffiestRedditor 6 hr. ago • Of course it didn't work out. Tea and coffee don't mix. They needed a hot chocolate in there to soften everyone's attitudes.
    Via TheFluffiestRedditor
  • 21
    hurrikatrinamorelike 11 hr. ago "And the remaining employees were integrated with the employees at the Hollywood store." "A week after Espresso was hired, he fired Sumatra for no reason, which left Espresso and myself as the only employees." What happened to the other employees? Did he also fire them? Vote Reply Share Srvntgrrl_789 OP. 10 hr. ago They quit
    Via hurrikatrinamorelike / Srvntgrrl_789
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  • 22
    nlynn15 5 hr. ago You handled that well! Glad things are working out for you. I'm a little confused as to why they decided to let you and Sumatra go. I can understand cost-saving measures but... who was gonna make the coffee at the coffee shop? Seems like Espresso and Macchiato weren't doing it. I am also confused about Espresso (M 18????) being hired as a manager. I get the favoritism but wouldn't Tea have a say in who gets hired in a managerial position?
    Via nlynn15
  • 23
    Naschka 2 hr. ago • "One of the owners, Macchiato, didn't like female employees. He'd hire buff guys in their 20s he'd shamelessly flirt with, and then fire if they didn't reciprocate." Sounds like he disliked men more then women unless they would show interest in him.
    Via Naschka

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coffee shop workplace-stories toxic-workplace work askreddit reddit story horrible-management entitled people karma coffee workplace Horrible Bosses reddit thread red flag entitled people toxic-work-environment

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