Starbucks Offers Staff 2 Years Of Free College, While tashas Makes Staff Pay For Uniforms

Starbucks have recently offered to pay for two years of tuition for their baristers, who are studying at College. A move by Howard Schultz, CEO of the coffee retailer, which is only conventional for him being unconventional. It is a vote of confidence in the "invest in your staff  strategy".

So you can imagine my disappointment, when I was at tashas in Constantia Village and I came to realise that their staff have to pay for their own very expensive uniform, hand picked by the employer. The staff all look great, wearing their Converse All Star white sneakers, denim jeans and white shirt. I get the mindset of give the staff responsibility for looking after their uniforms, by making them pay for it, I don't think that tashas thought the impact through though.

With rising inflation, and the increase in true cost of living in South Africa, a waiter or waitress, would be better off buying any other sneaker, or takkie as most commonly called in this country. That funky look could be well served in Levi's for example, a well known respected brand with the same look of "get away shoes". It will look just as good, but cost a fraction less.

Add that staff have maximum one day off a week, and that's all it leaves to wash those sneakers, having them bright white for work as expected. It's not like they can afford to have two pairs they can rotate. After all, even I on my Senior Management salary, working for a bank, chose to buy a "cheaper" brand, as I liked the look, but prefer value in how my money is spent.

Considering Natasha Sideris said “Some people run their restaurants like a bank, with statements and turnover being the priority. We’re all about product, people and atmosphere,” I hope this employment contract by tashas gets reviewed. After all, as a customer, I love everything else about what they have to offer, but this arrangement is taxing on their staff.