Baristas at the beloved UD Capp Bar collectively sighed on Feb. 11 when they learned that their work benefits were being revoked. Aramark, due to skipped shifts and failures to get absences covered, decided that baristas may no longer make drinks for themselves outside their shifts, and no longer receive a discount on drinks they purchase. Previously, baristas paid $0.75 for each drink.
Due to limited staff, when a student worker misses a shift, it greatly increases the pressure on the remaining baristas and restricts the abilities of the Capp Bar to provide coffee to the UD community.
At the same time, the benefits received from working at the Capp Bar had served as a powerful incentive for running the coffee bar from 7 a.m. – 10:30 p.m., as well as for putting care and attention to providing excellent beverages for their acquaintances, professors and friends.
One Capp Bar barista, Izabelle Amoguiz, freshman English and art double major, shares how not being able to make her own drinks outside her shift has affected her. She said, “I’m a very routine-oriented person, I like my drink how I like it, and I don’t trust anybody else to make it because they are not going to make it how I like it.”
In addition, Amoguiz said, “The discount was a massive perk of working at the Capp bar compared to working at other on-campus jobs, [who are] getting paid the same amount for having to do less work.”
On average, a barista works 7-8 hours a week and earns $8 per hour. Compared to working at the Cor Chronicle, where writers earn $20 per article, or in the Theatre workshop, which pays about $9.5 an hour with a flexible schedule, the pay does seem quite low without the benefit of the discount.
Jude Self, a veteran barista and sophomore business/drama double major said, “The Capp Bar is one of the lowest paying jobs on campus, but it was because you saved a lot more [money] by getting free and discounted drinks. Without the discount, if you keep your coffee buying habits consistent, you’re basically getting a pay cut.”
Self shares the sentiments of Amoguiz. Self, responsible for creating the beloved Groundhog beverage, is concerned that the blanket nature of the punishment unnecessarily taxes baristas who consistently show up for shifts and work hard at their jobs. “It definitely sparks some indignation when you’re punished for something you didn’t do,” said Self.
With the current restrictions on student workers, there will be fewer incentives for new students to apply for a position. About this possible work shortage, Amoguiz said, “[the punishment] is going to affect prospective Capp bar workers, and maybe prevent some workers from returning in the future.”
The situation leaves a pressing question: how should we correct and address issues in the workplace in such a way that the punishment befits the nature of the misdemeanor, applies to the perpetrator particularly, while promoting a solution that benefits the entire workplace?
Amoguiz, considering the Capp Bar situation, said, “I don’t believe in punishment of the whole when it’s a few problem people. At the very least, have those specific people’s privileges revoked.”
“It depends on the workplace environment and culture,” Self said, “but there should definitely be a warning first. If discipline is needed, it should be relevant and directly address the problem, [and] a more selective hiring process could potentially be a preemptive solution.”
The Capp bar worker schedule has been reorganized, as certain baristas have been given more hours. Whether or not the privileges will be reinstated at a future date is unclear.