Starbucks again--this time mocking a stutterer

[cyclonefence]

A University of Pennsylvania graduate student says a Starbucks barista in West Philadelphia mocked him for his stuttering disorder last week — just 29 days after the company closed its nearly 800 U.S. stores for anti-bias training following the wrongful arrests of two black men at a Center City store.

The 28-year-old student, who is pursuing a doctorate at the Wharton School, said he was shocked when he ordered an iced coffee at a Starbucks in University City, only to have the barista mimic his name by saying: “OK, S-S-Sam.”

It was even more disturbing when he realized while walking back to his office that the barista had written his name on the cup as “SSSam.”

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/starbucks-customer-cup-complaint-stutter-philadelphia-pennsylvania-20180702.html

[samnsara]

1. i think starbucks needs to be more picky about their franchises

[Blue_Adept]

2. Or franchise owners need to get their stuff together better on who they hire

Or, you know, Americans need to stop being such utter assholes.

40% of the population is like this.

[Dave Starsky]

5. We have an entire generation brought up...

To believe that dickishness is a Cardinal Virtue.

[Blue_Adept]

6. Yup. You can hire the best you can

But people like this are essentially everywhere. It's like, I hate defending Starbucks, but it's not really their fault in a way. It's the person that did it. Yeah, Starbucks manager hired them but people often don't show this kind of dickishness in a way that's visible during the interview process - cause those that dod are whittled away quickly.

[Dave Starsky]

7. It's not Starbucks' fault unless he continues to work there.

Starbucks isn't responsible for raising this idiot.

[cyclonefence]

20. And who in hell would think

you'd need to ask when interviewing potential employees, "Do you mock disabled people?"

[Blue_Adept]

21. Time for it and other similar questions to be part of the training manual perhaps

It's not a regional issue as we've seen. I can imagine a range of "how do you react in these social situations at work?" questions being a part of an interview now.

[bitterross]

3. Seriously, Starbucks cannot control 100% of the workers

The person should be fired from the store in which they are working. No doubt about that.

But we can't expect Starbucks to police and control every idiot asshole that works as a barista.

[The Polack MSgt]

4. Man, FFS Philly get your shit together will ya... nt

[Beaverhausen]

11. Right, the whole city is responsible for what one stupid kid did.

give me a break.

[The Polack MSgt]

18. Have family and friends in Philly

I cringe when these things happen... And these events happen kind of often.

I guess it's ok since he didnt puke on an 8 year old?

Can't call out bad actions by any one person because it might offendol other people?

All of Eastern PA disagrees with you

[Sugarcoated]

19. Bad people in all cities and towns in the country

and lots of good people, too.

[Beaverhausen]

22. I grew up there.

Don’t tell me this is typical behavior for residents of Philly. That’s ridiculous.

[skypilot]

8. This Starbucks is across the street from where I work.

I work for UPenn. Used to go to this Starbucks all the time but I'm drinking less coffee these days. Plus, their long lines seemed to move slower and slower no matter how many people were working behind the counter. The lines used to move super fast. Went there for the first time in over a month just today. Can't even begin to imagine which one of their employees would pull this kind of crap. They always seem to have a whole new crew whenever I go in there after a long absence.

[lunatica]

9. How do you suggest Starbucks should interview their prospective employees to

avoid hiring idiots like this? No prospective employee would admit to being a racist or in any way otherwise a general asshole.

Firing him is the correct thing to do.

It’s your parents’ job to teach you not to mock your fellow human beings. Not Starbuck’s.

[virgogal]

10. Yes,it's the parents' job,and maybe the parents DID their job.

In my world kids,even young adult kids,do not always do what their parents want them to do.

Sad,but true.


.

[cyclonefence]

12. I agree that firing this jerk is the only step Starbucks can take

but I'm kind of stunned to think that people--people old enough to have a job--don't know that mocking a person's disability is not a thing you do. We can't know how this person was raised, and maybe he thought the customer would be amused to be "poked fun at," but Jesus--what kind of a world is it where people aren't ashamed to do such things? I know it's not Donald Trump's fault that this employee is an asshole, but like so much of the trouble we're having today, Trump has espoused an environment where this kind of thing is not unacceptable.

[Totally Tunsie]

14. Anecdotally, the most creative job interview I ever experienced took place in a corporate setting

quite a few years ago. I was directed to a conference room to await the management person who would be conducting the interview. Almost a half hour passed when a janitor came into the room to dust, empty the baskets, etc. He was very pleasant, chatted a bit, saw my resume on the table, wished me luck and a good day, and left the room when his chores were completed. It was nice to have a friendly person to interact with and pass the time.

Several minutes later this same gentleman reappeared, having changed his shirt and added a tie and jacket. He WAS the person who would be conducting the interview as well as the management person who had the opening to be filled. The "janitor" ruse was a test to see how an applicant might treat a "lowly blue collar worker" during a stressful and delayed situation.

Happily, I was offered the job and worked for this man for 18 years, during which I often watched him trudge off to that same conference room wearing a blue denim shirt.

[lunatica]

16. I love this story!

I would have passed of course, so I love this tactic!

The janitors wherever I worked always got the star treatment from me. I even helped one find out she could retire with a pension and social security. She called me her guardian angel because I gave her knowledge she had no idea she was entitled to. I even went to the retirement interviews with her because she felt they would never take advantage of her if I was there. I’ve never been called a guardian angel before or since, but it feels good.

When she realized she could actually live on her pension and social security it was like a huge weight was lifted from her shoulders.

[dalton99a]

13. Asshole should be fired

[JI7]

15. Starbucks can't be totally sure of everyone. In some cases it will be how they deal

With it after something happens.

[Hekate]

17. A few quick and well publicized barista terminations would set an example

This is unacceptable, and they know it.

[Docreed2003]

23. I agree with others here...Starbucks can't control all asshole baristas

But they can make examples out of them to send a message that this type of behavior won't be tolerated.

To some extent, I get that playground bullying happens when kids are little...some kids just aren't raised better, but when did it become funny or cool for an adult to make fun of someone to their face??

We're a family of stutterers. My father and brother both had a pronounced stutter that they control very well, my stutter was much more subtle and only comes out when I'm really tired, same with one of my three kids. This would have made me livid if I had been present, while my brother would likely have just taken it in stride and called the manager.