11 Strict Rules Starbucks Workers Have to Follow

While Starbucks employees are permitted to wear jeans, only dark or black washes are permissible. Employees can wear other types of pants, so long as they are black, navy, grey, or brown.

Starbucks has very strict guidelines when it comes to footwear. White shoes, mesh shoes ,and canvas shoes are a no-go. Even socks must follow the Starbucks guidelines, which require solids or simple patterns.

Employees are not allowed to have any visible tattoos on the throat or face, and any other tattoo that showcases questionable images must be covered at all times. They must also limit jewelry to two earrings per ear, nose studs, and one plain wedding band. That means they must also leave their engagement rings at home.

Starbucks takes cleanliness to the next level, which is reassuring for customers, but potentially a bummer for employees. Starbucks workers are not permitted to wear nail polish, perfumes, or any other types of fragrant products that have the potential to chip off into the food or compromise the customer experience in any way.

While Starbucks is perfectly accepting of any type of hair color, the company does require employees to choose permanent options to ensure food safety. Temporary hair dye and other temporary hair changes are not permitted. These types of products include hair chalk, hair glitter, or any sort of color hairsprays.

Even if you don’t purchase a single item, Starbucks workers are not allowed to ask you to leave the cafe. Customers are allowed to sit in the cafe as long as they’d like, so long as they don’t pose a threat to the safety of themselves or others. Even in that scenario, employees are required to call the police and may not ask the customer to leave.

Company guidelines mandate that Starbucks workers may not make more than two drinks at a time. Furthermore, they may only begin making drink number two when drink number one is nearly complete.

Even if you order four of the exact same latte, Starbucks workers must steam the milk for each drink separately. This ensures that each and every drink is perfectly handcrafted and made to order.

Even if a customer doesn’t purchase a single item, Starbucks workers must allow them to use the restroom. If a bathroom is locked, a customer can request the code and the Starbucks worker will provide it.

No matter how badly a customer is hoping to score a specific spot at the cafe or grab their drink early, they’re out of luck. Starbucks workers are not allowed to deviate from each cafe’s specified hours, not even by a few minutes.

Every drink is made to order and based on a very specific recipe, which ensures you get exactly what you’re craving every single time. Mixed drinks, like Refreshers, are even more specific, requiring that Starbucks workers shake them exactly ten times for optimum mixing.