In a Starbucks cafe in North Carolina, an employee has raised concerns about understaffing issues that are impacting the store's ability to keep up with customer demand. The employee, who chose to remain anonymous out of fear of retaliation, highlighted the challenges of managing a high volume of orders with only three employees on duty for most of the day.
One of the biggest challenges mentioned by the employee is the influx of mobile orders, which can create a backlog when multiple orders come in simultaneously. This issue has been noted by customers as well, with reports of long wait times of up to 25 minutes just to receive a single drink.
Starbucks has acknowledged the problem and has begun implementing changes to streamline its production process in order to reduce wait times. The company's incoming CEO, Brian Niccol, is also expected to bring innovations to the chain based on his success at Chipotle in improving the online ordering process.
Despite these efforts, the employee in North Carolina expressed frustration over continued cuts to store hours and staffing levels. These cuts have led to employees having to juggle multiple roles, resulting in longer wait times for customers.
Starbucks has defended its staffing decisions, stating that it considers various factors when determining how to staff its stores. The company emphasized that it uses a sophisticated staffing model and data analysis to forecast staffing needs on a store-by-store basis.
Overall, the situation at the North Carolina Starbucks highlights the ongoing challenges faced by major restaurant chains in balancing customer demand with staffing levels. While efforts are being made to improve efficiency, employees and customers continue to experience the impact of understaffing on the overall customer experience.