Pros
Starbucks is a nurturing company that cares about its partners (employees), its farmers, its customers, and maybe more importantly the sustainability of the company. Starbucks offers top notch benefits to its partners who only need to maintain 20 hours per week or 240 hours per quarter. Often times, schedules and amount of hours worked can be very flexible. The 'perks' (no pun intended) of this job are almost endless. Putting limitless amounts of free sugary frothy and dark roasted beverages aside, you get a free pound of coffee every week, opportunities to receive tuition reimbursement, or enroll in health, dental, vision, disability, 401K, and a discounted stock investment plan. Eligible partners also receive stock grants yearly based on company performance. Through corporate channels, Starbucks partners also receive generous discounts (like with Apple computers, AT&T, XM Radio). Although all of these benefits may seem wonderful (or not), one of the best reasons to work at Starbucks is the value it may add to your life. Guaranteed, wherever you decide to work in the company, you'll meet talented, caring individuals and are encouraged to build friendships with them and your customers through coffee tastings, community involvement using Starbucks' green apronly image to your advantage in doing so. Throughout an immense amount of support in anything you do in the company, you'll see that Starbucks is behind you all the way. There are over 10 different websites dedicated to Starbucks partners, from networking, to ideas, to volunteering, blogging, developing your skills, newsletters, and even a place to buy your fun Starbucks partner-only merchandise.
Cons
Granted, there are some downsides to working at Starbucks currently. In our current operating environment, it seems as though the axe may fall at any moment. As a store partner, I feel my job may be a little safer. It's not necessarily an axe to my job, but more of an axe to the Starbucks that we all knew and loved. The constant threat of cuts here and there threaten the joy of what once attracted us to this company. Constant cuts do make it difficult to operate- less people, less time to get more done, less time per customer, while still expected to make every interaction special and sincere.