Starbucks Controversy

[BlindMessiah94]

As a canadian i LOATH Starbucks, i have been forced to drink there Mix and Stir coffee crap for about a year now, and it's NEVER failed in giving me heartburn. Seriously, it's fucking Rancid shit.

I want my Tim Hortons back.

Sorry for going off topic, but i needed to get that out.

Been forced? Someone holding a gun to your head telling you to buy it? And seriously Tim Hortons is not any better. They are all chains.
I'm not sure where you are in Canada, I'm in Vancouver and when I want a decent cup of coffee, I head downtown, go to my favourite Italian Coffee place, locally owned and operated, and it's the best darn coffee I've ever had. I buy their beans and keep em at home.
We always have a choice, no one is forcing anyone to drink anything.
If you live in a small town that only has one starbucks and nowhere else to go, then I do sympathize however.

 

[Deleted]

I hope Starbucks doesn't settle, and goes on to win in court, but this is most likely wishful thinking on my part.

The other incidents cited by the article seem much more extreme:

ABC News found other cases across the country, including at a McDonald's restaurant in Sacramento, Calif., involving a 16-year-old in her first job and a 23-year supervisor who the company fired a few days after her mother complained about what he had done.

"He grabbed my waist and pulled me back," says the employee, Kasey Ramirez. "I thought his plan was to rape me."

In another case, at a Taco Bell restaurant in Memphis, Tenn., a manager pleaded guilty to raping two of his 16-year old high school workers. One of them became pregnant.

The main story really doesn't appear to belong in the same category. Though I do wonder if the latter case quoted was consensual.

Given the limited amount of information presented in the article, of course Starbucks is responsible. When a company promotes somebody to any sort of leadership/management position, they are responsible for that person's action on the job. Legally, there are ways to limit the degree to which the corporation is in an actionable position, but this appears to be a very straightforward case of quid pro quo sexual harassment. That said, the fact that she was a teenager should have bearing only on the prison sentence of the manager and not on the lawsuit against the company. The mom is just being a mom in this case and assuming her daughter's total innocence in the case.

But she didn't complain to anybody, say no, or really do anything. How could the company possibly have known, much less done anything about the situation?

There've been numerous cases in the past where persons did not complain to anybody in HR or otherwise and still won. The current trend for a long time now has been toward making companies more and more responsible for this sort of thing.

This would have been avoided if they hired a psychic like they sould have.

Also Tim Hortons rocks.

 

[Maelgwyn]

Well, for coffee, you need to fly to Melbourne and go to this Greek coffee place *dreams*

Erm, Im an old McManager as well as a Shift Supervisor from Gloria Jeans (they make alright coffee) so Im assuming Starbucks is very much the same as my previous ones...

She would have known fraternisation is a no no. Its a company policy. So did he. So they both should be fired/removed whatever because they broke the first tenant of management

Dont sleep with staff.

BUT I still think that if she made it aware to head office/franchisee and they did nothing THEN the company is liable. If they also didn't provide a way of contacting the correct people (its in the policy and procedures which is supplied to new staff on orientation and usually kept in store as reference). If the consultant caught them making out in a cupboard, then its the companys fault.

Otherwise, its actually illegal for the company to ask those questions without approval from you (thats from the National Privacy Principles, section 2, which is part of the Privacy Act in Australia)

Mael

 

[JohnTomorrow]

The point may be (i'm not saying the girl did this or what) that she didnt think it was a wise decision.

My father always tells me 'stay to yourself, never rock the boat' at work, because then you're in the sights of everybody around you. Its always better to keep on working then it is to speak up, because it saves you some grief.

That said, you need to know when and where you do need to speak up - as you have clearly illustrated. At the end of the day, you know when enough is enough, and sometimes you just need to say something to someone and it will all turn out great.

In other words, the girl was an idiot for having sex with someone willingly to avoid 'rocking the boat' (i myself have been subjected to some sexual harassment by a woman at my workplace, groping and such inappropriate things, and the best thing i did was tell her, rather passionately, to fuck off and never do that again). Your body is your own, no-one elses - it is your choice as to what you do to it.

And the mother is a mother. Typical american mother. Who thinks the sun shines from her daughter's precious ass.

 

[JohnTomorrow]

Well, for coffee, you need to fly to Melbourne and go to this Greek coffee place *dreams*

Erm, Im an old McManager as well as a Shift Supervisor from Gloria Jeans (they make alright coffee) so Im assuming Starbucks is very much the same as my previous ones...

Man, Gloria Jeans do good coffee. So does Miss Mauds. But, for some reason, the best coffee i've had in a while (besides Nescafe Gold. Mmmm....Gold.), was McDonalds coffee. Straight, flat-white coffee from Macca's on the way to work or in the morning keeps me going all. Damn. Day. Better then a Red Bull ever did.

Which brings me to another point...when did getting a cup of coffee get so confusing? Do i want a short white, flat white, long, tall, grande, cappuccino, baby chino, short black, mocha, latte, cappafrappamochalatte? GRRR!

 

[Queen Michael]

Now the thing is, she could have told him 'No.' anytime she wanted to. Or call the police. Or anything. She could have done anything.

I'm not sure it's that simple. Of course, I'm physically capable of telling my stepdad that he's the most stupid person I have ever known, but I don't think I could do it because I just don't want to hurt his feelings like that.

 

[Grounogeos]

Starbucks continues to charge $5 for a tiny cup of fucking coffee.

Fixed.

 

[Aerodyamic]

Starbucks continues to charge $2 for a cup of fucking coffee, with a less shitty taste than Tim Hortons unless some dipshit got coffee grinds in the urn.

Fixed again?

You're making the mistake of assuming that I like Tim Horton's, which I only like, compared to StarSchmucks. I'd still rather make proper coffee at home, by grinding good-quality espresso beans and dropping them directly into my coffee maker. StarSchmucks is still overpriced, and I refuse to learn a bunch of artsy-sounding crap to order coffee, when the words 'large' and 'black' should (just as in jail), completely cover the selection process.

 

[The_root_of_all_evil]

I actually like Starbucks coffee.

 

[Red Albatross]

Coming from someone who used to work at a Starbucks, anyone claiming that this girl was ignorant of her rights has apparently never worked anywhere before. There are numerous training videos, posters, and workshops that "partners" have to endure, and saying she never paid attention to any of them is ignorant. They're impossible to completely ignore.

It's difficult to make a judgment without knowing the facts, and I don't think anyone ever will, besides the manager and the girl. Both will lie through their teeth to make themselves look innocent. If I was forced to say something about it, though, I'd say it was at least partially consensual, but the manager is an idiot for getting into a sexual relationship where the girl could put him in jail if she got mad at him.

 

[SturmDolch]

Whoa, whoa, whoa.

People are saying Starbucks coffee tastes like shit? It's the best PORTABLE coffee around. Yes, the small Italian Bakery has better coffee. But it's in an obscure location where I have to sit down to drink it. If I just want a quick coffee fix, I go to Starbucks.

To those that say Tim Horton's is better, you obviously have no taste for coffee at all. After growing up with good coffee all my life, I can't even drink that shit anymore. It tastes like someone dipped a dirty rag in a pot of coffee and then wrung it out into a cup. Brewed coffee as a whole tastes like ass, but Tim Hortons coffee takes the cake.

OT: It was the girl's fault. As other people said, she should've just told him to stop, THEN called the cops.

 

[Tartarga]

In my opinion this is not nearly as bad as the time some dude found a snake's head in his soup at TGI Fridays. That would be a lot worse.

 

[Soxafloppin]

To me this sounds like a simple case of 'screw and sue'

 

[Hiphophippo]

2nd: Starbucks don't sell coffee, they sell a luke-warm (thank you American lawsuits), brown liquid with caffeine in it.

Is there truth to this or are you jesting? As a real coffee drinker I accept that their brand is trash but I'd love some ammo against some of my more uncultured, coffee drinking friends.

 

[Captain Schpack]

This is kinda old, but I think it has some discussion value.

A while ago on the television I heard on the morning news that a girl basically got sexually abused by her manager at Starbucks, that place that sells nice coffee but they don't feel the need to build any around my area (damn them). He wasn't threatening her at all, if I read this article correctly. Which makes me wonder how he was really being a sexual abuser or just a plain old douchebag, but let's say he was threatening her cause I doubt anyone would make a big deal out of this if he wasn't. They had sex alot as well. She claims to have done 'what she had to do'. After her lawyer asked her 'Couldn't you just say no?' she responded she didn't 'feel like she could'. Her mother said in an interview that Starbucks have to take responsibility with teenagers, and if they can't fulfill that 'they shouldn't hire them'. *facepalm* So now they're suing Starbucks. Starbucks is saying that it's her fault though.

Now the thing is, she could have told him 'No.' anytime she wanted to. Or call the police. Or anything. She could have done anything. Now don't get me wrong, the manager is an asshole and should be thrown in jail or what have you. But saying she couldn't do anything about it and letting herself be a sextoy is retarded, plain and simple.

The mother is another thing all together. Any large business isn't a freaking baby sitting service to your teenager. Saying they shouldn't take teenage employees if they can't be responsible for they're dumb-tarded (new word for you kids) actions is just utter B.S. And who are they gonna hire BUT teenagers? It's not like you see 40 year old I've-been-in-Walmart-all-my-life people coming to get an app for Starbucks.

[/endrant]

Here's the link: http://www.seattlepi.com/local/414590_starbucks24.html

I'm very anxious to hear what my fellow escapists think of this matter. So please share your opinions.

To me this is more of women just being fucking mental. Sometimes they wanna be the victim and get pitied by everyone they meet. For example, that ***** from Hofstra University who lied about being gang raped by 5 innocent people. She has practically ruined their lives and one got expelled even though she admitted she lied. I just do not know.


Unless, the ~~~~~~~ from Starbucks was fucking chained up she could have alerted someone at any time. Five dollars says shes one of those stupid bimbos that litter America like pollution.

(might get probation >_>)

 

[Woodsey]

As a canadian i LOATH Starbucks, i have been forced to drink there Mix and Stir coffee crap for about a year now, and it's NEVER failed in giving me heartburn. Seriously, it's fucking Rancid shit.

I want my Tim Hortons back.

Sorry for going off topic, but i needed to get that out.

Forced?!

I never knew you had to drink Starbucks if you lived in Canada.

 

[Dr. wonderful]

In my point of view, It's everyone involved fault .
It's the teen fault for not saying no. It's the manager fault for being nothing but a horndog, he should be thrown in jail if the girl was underage. (There's a reason why we call that, "Jail bait) and it's the mother fault for expecting a company to babysit for her. -_-"

 

[Treblaine]

And to those of you so eager to condemn the girl for "not saying no", it doesn't work that way because of the power imbalance some have already mentioned. This guy has control over her job, and she's a young girl who probably doesn't know jack about her rights as an employee. Getting a job is not a sure thing in this economy, so holding onto the one you have is almost required. You might as well blame a rape victim for not speaking up while the attacker holds a knife to her throat.

Thank you for the clarification on the 5th amendment, but I'm still sure allegations of using Cannabis and under-age drinking will not be charged, there is still inadequate evidence. I mean what judge would ever get away with using the testimony of a girl who accuses sexual abuse to charge her with misdemeanour offences? It's just unheard-off... well... outside the deep south at least.

But it is not an open and shut case, merely proving sexual relations between a boss and employee is not enough to prove rape (though certainly enough to sue for sexual harassment, both the individual and the company). It must be proven that the alleged victim truly was coerced against their will into the acts, or whether there was consent such as if she just felt obliged to because of their boyfriend-girlfriend relationship.

We must all be VERY CAREFUL not to unintentionally criminalise normal sexual behaviour.

If a couple have sex and the woman later regrets it when she realises what an asshole he is... that's a real shame but that isn't rape. It is an insult to people who have been victims of serious violent sexual assault to try to redefine every negative sexual relationship as rape.

But if I am reading the Washington State law correctly, this 24 year old can already be charged and likely convicted of statutory rape, as the victim was over 16 but under 18 years old... and he is more than 60 months older than her. No idea on the sentence but with all the other factors this guy is in deep doo doo.