A Starbucks employee has gone viral after breaking down in an emotional video, expressing frustration over their demanding work schedule. The barista, who is also a full-time student, struggled to cope with an overwhelming 25-hour workweek, including long shifts over the weekend. Their tearful plea has sparked a heated debate, with some ridiculing their reaction while others defend the challenges of balancing work and education.
The Demands of a Grueling Schedule
As the world’s largest coffeehouse chain, Starbucks employs nearly 400,000 workers globally. According to workplace research, many Starbucks employees report satisfaction with their work-life balance, but for some, the reality is far more stressful.
In a now-viral video, the Starbucks barista details their struggle, stating that they were assigned an eight-and-a-half-hour shift on both Saturday and Sunday, leaving them physically and mentally drained. “I’m three and a half hours into my shift,” they say, visibly emotional, “and I don’t know how I’m going to make it through the rest of the day.”
They go on to explain that their store is severely understaffed, leading to chaotic working conditions. “There are so many customers, and we have only four people on the floor all day,” they lament. “Only five people were scheduled, and one of them had to call out.”
The combination of a heavy workload, an unsupportive management team, and rude customers has left the barista at their breaking point. “Our managers don’t care about us,” they claim. “They don’t want to help us.”
Public Backlash and Online Mockery
The video gained even more attention when it was shared on social media by far-right commentator Sebastian Gorka, who mocked the employee for struggling with an eight-hour shift. His post, however, quickly backfired as people ridiculed his typo, calling the barista a “trans barrister” instead of “barista.”
While some users joined in criticizing the employee, arguing that eight-hour shifts are a standard part of the workforce, others rushed to defend them.
One commenter scoffed at the barista’s complaints, saying, “My husband works 70 hours a week—was it hard? Yes. But he still did it. This kid needs to learn what real work is.”
Another added, “Oh cry me a river. I drove a truck for 35 years, working 12-14 hour days, sometimes gone for a month at a time. Suck it up, buttercup.”
However, many others pointed out that working long shifts while juggling college coursework is an entirely different struggle.
Defending the Starbucks Employee
Supporters of the barista argue that their frustration is justified, as managing a job alongside full-time studies can be exhausting.
One person wrote, “People keep focusing on the eight-hour shift, but being a full-time student with homework and other responsibilities makes this incredibly difficult. Let them vent.”
Another pointed out the harsh reality of their workload: “A full-time college student is expected to do 2-3 hours of homework per every class hour. So if they’re in class for 15 hours a week and have 30 hours of homework, plus a 25-hour workweek, that adds up to a 70-hour week. That’s not sustainable.”
An Unbearable Work Environment
Beyond the exhausting hours, the barista described the toxic work environment at their store, which has made things even more difficult. They claim that their managers show little concern for employees’ well-being, fail to provide accommodations for their neurodivergence, and even tolerate customers who misgender them.
“I don’t get accommodations for being neurodivergent, people get mad at me for having too much sick time,” they shared, clearly distressed. “I don’t even know what to do anymore, I’m at my wit’s end with this job.”
The video has reignited discussions about working conditions in the service industry, with some arguing that corporations like Starbucks need to provide better support for employees, especially those balancing work with education.