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Memo to Starbucks Baristas: Just Stick to Pouring the Coffee, Bro

By Bruce Carton

I'm seeing a trend in some of the "Starbucks barista" stories I come across. In short, Mr. or Ms. Barista, you are not the police, or a school marm, or a superhero, and Starbucks doesn't want you acting like one -- no matter how much sense it might make to you. Exhibit A: As I wrote here, in December 2009 Starbucks barista Laura Palawski saw a man stuff his hand into the shop's tip jar, pull out all the bills and run from the shop. She followed the culprit out of the shop, pursued him through the streets of Austin, Texas, and finally flagged down a police officer who responded to her call and arrested the thief. Palawski's reward? She says she was promptly "written up and reprimanded for her actions" by Starbucks. Exhibit B: According to a letter sent in to StarbucksGossip.com (via Consumerist), on Aug. 27, 2010 a barista observed a number of men using Starbucks' free Wi-Fi to watch pornography in front of other customers, including children, who could both "see and hear" the porn. The barista ultimately decided to shut down the shop's Wi-Fi connection altogether. The barista claims he pursued this nuclear option only after...

Full post as published by Legal Blog Watch on October 04, 2010 (boomark / email).