“It looks raunchy, disgusting.”

Néné Diallo

Published on November 18, 2024 at 10:00 p.m. CST

In a TikTok video which has garnered more than 507,000 views and 1,400 comments, Starbucks Employee Mika Houston, known as @thatbaristamorgan, expressed her frustrations with the company’s apron cleaning policy. According to Houston, Starbucks requires its employees to come to work in a clean apron every day, but no assistance is provided for cleaning costs related to the apron policy.

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Houston showed off her apron after just three and a half hours at the drinks bar, explaining, “It looks raunchy, gross.” She expressed concern about how employees without access to home laundry might struggle to comply with the policy without incurring additional expenses. “Not everyone has a washing machine at home,” she said, wondering why Starbucks doesn’t offer laundry credit or other support for the apron policy.

Why doesn’t Starbucks provide clean aprons?

The video resonated with many viewers, sparking a debate over workplace uniform policies. Some commenters wonder why Starbucks doesn’t make aprons more accessible to employees. Suggestions included providing multiple aprons or offering clean aprons in store for each shift to comply with Starbucks policy.

“I don’t understand why they don’t provide clean aprons in store every day,” one commenter wrote, suggesting this could reduce logistical challenges for employees. Another added: “Why doesn’t a commercial laundry service pick up and drop off store clean products?! »

Interestingly, Houston pointed out the differences in Starbucks’ apron policies based on location. “Apparently in Canada they send the aprons with the towels and mop heads,” she noted in the comments section. Other employees chimed in, sharing varying experiences with their Starbucks apron policy. One said his Starbucks location had the aprons dry-cleaned and delivered to all employees weekly.

The gaps extend beyond Starbucks. Some commenters pointed out that other chains like Panera Bread and Chipotle provide fresh aprons daily. Others mentioned restaurants that use third-party services like Cintas for uniform maintenance, which could be a solution for this policy.

@thatbaristamorgan Please, the starBs were poor #baristalife #starbucks #baristaproblems #barista #starbucksbarista ♬ original sound – thatbaristamorgan

Have Starbucks employees raised any other concerns about their workplace?

Houston’s video is not the first time Starbucks’ labor policies have come under scrutiny. Employees already have raised concerns about understaffing, long shifts and inconsistent application of policies across locations. In 2022Some Starbucks workers have filed formal complaints, including allegations of inadequate breaks and unmanageable workloads, during unionization efforts. These complaints highlight systemic issues related to balancing company expectations and employee well-being.

What does this debate say about work expectations?

The Houston video also shed light on the broader challenges employees face. As one commenter pointed out: “What do you expect when you schedule me 7 days in a row? Houston sympathized and replied, “I’m on day 2 of 7.”

While many commenters supported Houston’s position, others argued that maintaining clean uniforms is a basic expectation in most jobs. “Most workplaces require you to show up in clean clothes daily,” one commenter noted. Suggestions for mitigating costs included hand-washing aprons at home or using protective sprays like Scotchgard to prolong cleanliness.

Despite the humor and camaraderie of the comments, this video highlights a common workplace problem: balancing employer expectations and employee well-being. Whether Starbucks will respond to the uproar remains to be seen, but the conversation surrounding labor policy has clearly struck a chord across all industries.

The Daily Dot reached out to Houston via TikTok direct message and Starbucks via press email.

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