Starbucks to slash paid lunch breaks and sick leave

[MichaelMcGuire]

Starbucks is cutting paid lunch breaks, sick leave and maternity benefits for thousands of British workers, sparking fresh anger over its business practices.

On the day the House of Commons' public accounts committee branded the US coffee chain's tax avoidance practices "immoral", baristas arriving for work were told to sign revised employment terms, which include the removal of paid 30-minute lunch breaks and paid sick leave for the first day of illness. Some will also see pay increases frozen.

The changes affecting about 7,000 coffee shop staff emerged as the company tried to quell public and political outrage at its use of secretive company structures that has seen it pay just £8.6m in UK tax over the past 13 years on sales of £3.1bn.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2012/dec/03/starbucks-slash-lunch-breaks

[DJ13]

1. So they're going to make the employees pay for the company's tax bill

Nice company to work for.

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

2. Funny, I thought they were already saving lots of money given that the design fees they pay firms

are joke.

[libdem4life]

3. Fortunately, this hasn't been ending well for the "brands" and hopefully not one that

charges $5-6 for a cup of whatever. Their "snacks" are outrageously priced. Lots of local coffee shops around and who knows, maybe thermos jugs will start to sell. One could damn near cook a meal for 4 for what it costs to buy a Latte and Snack.

[rbixby]

4. I think people fear the local coffee shops

mostly because they're not perfectly sterile looking like starbucks is. Also, its not like a factory like Starbucks is, so you might have to wait a little longer to get your drink.


Its all in the coffeehouse experience though, there's nothing nicer and more welcoming than a neighborhood coffeeshop, warts and all.

[libdem4life]

7. I agree, except for the wait. Back in the college "coffee and cigarette" days, we would sit there

forever and get fillup after fillup. Long gone, I suspect.

[rbixby]

8. Those are still around

There's a couple of really inviting places in my neighborhood, aside from the regular fast food places, the mega-franchises haven't really made it in there yet, I like it!

[libdem4life]

12. Hard to make a profit, I think, in the New Economy. The good news is I did quit smoking however. :)

[pansypoo53219]

5. what cuts did the CEO take?

[Liberal_in_LA]

6. wtf?!

[sarisataka]

9. Well crap

I have been supporting them for their neutral 2A stance
But if they are going to have a corporate hissy and take it out on the workers...

Time to take up tea. Never really liked coffee anyway

[waddirum]

10. everyone wants a sick barista to prepare their drink

Make them come into work despite any illness.

[lonestarnot]

11. Asshats.