Look, I like Starbucks and all. They’re a little too popular among the trendy, they have a deserved rap for gentrification, and they’re plenty greenwashed, but they make a good cup of coffee, the atmosphere is nice, and I like that I get greeted by happy-to-be-there employees.
That said, I’m not sure it’s a place that I want to work. But perhaps I’m in the minority?
This columnist says Starbucks is the dream job for plenty of otherwise stressed white-collar workers:
Starbucks was the great American backup plan. The emergency exit. The parachute. You could tell yourself that when you were ready to bolt your job—or your employer kicked you out—you could land softly at Starbucks, padded by the promise of part-time employment, a pleasant workplace, health care and free coffee.
It would be a simpler life. You would serve, you would smile. You would perfect your cappuccino foam. When you got sick—a big piece of the fantasy—you’d be covered. No taking the job home. When you clocked out of work, your mind would clock out too.
Simplicity. Security. A little style. That was the Starbucks dream.
Did anyone really think that? With layoffs mounting, though, and the stock in the toilet, is anyone still thinking that? It’s sure sparked a ton of comments over at the Starbucks Gossip blog!
I have this dream from time to time. Starbucks or 7-11.
Eh I think the article sort of ignores the fact that even if these people got laid off they probably wouldn’t have trouble getting a job at a nearby starbucks. Seems kind of like a shitty fantasy to me though, but as someone who has worked at 7-11 I would assume that Starbucks is probably better.
I think people dream of having a job where they don’t have any responsibility. I know that I take my job home, in that I’m always thinking about it, and I kind of wish sometimes that I had a job where, when my shift was over, I passed it on to someone else, and that was it.
This kind of fantasy is probably a symptom of overwork.
Eh I see it more as a symptom of taking a good job for granted. Whenever I had a shitty job which was pretty much all the time till a week ago, I’d always think about how I wanted a job that was semi-respectable and where you got to sit down at a desk.
Grass is always greener…
If I were to work at Starbucks I’d use it as a ticket outta this COUNTRY, not some former job. There’s Starbucks in Europe but the coolest ones would be in Asia or some quasi-Third World country. Like teachin’ English but with better benefits, chance of management and better pay!
That’s an interesting take on it, Colin.
Wynston: I think Colin’s got it right with the grass is always greener sentiment. I’ve had shitty jobs, and wanted respectable ones. And respectable ones are so much better than shitty ones — mostly. But I really miss the sensation of my shift being over, and heading home, and not having to think about work anymore.