Starbucks is often hailed as one of the best places to work thanks to its generous benefits, inclusive culture and growth opportunities. But even the greatest job isn‘t necessarily a forever job. Turnover is a natural part of any company, and Starbucks is no exception.
In fact, the annual turnover rate among Starbucks‘ nearly 200,000 U.S. employees was estimated around 65% in 2021, according to data from Joblist. That‘s pretty close to the industry average of 70% for fast food and quick-service restaurants. While some level of turnover is expected in retail and food service, these figures suggest thousands of Starbucks baristas, supervisors and managers choose to leave the company each year for various reasons.
If you‘re a current Starbucks partner considering moving on to a new opportunity, you‘re certainly not alone. But to make the transition go smoothly, it‘s important to quit thoughtfully and gracefully.
Having overseen countless employee departures across my 15+ year retail management career, I‘ve learned a thing or two about resignation best practices. Consider this your comprehensive playbook for leaving Starbucks on a positive, professional note – from telling your boss to training your replacement to tying up final loose ends.
Common Reasons Starbucks Partners Quit
People resign from Starbucks for all kinds of personal and professional reasons. According to self-reported data from Zippia, the most common reasons Starbucks employees leave include:
- Difficult or stressful work environment
- Long or inconsistent work hours
- Low pay compared to other options
- Few opportunities for advancement
- Poor management or lack of support
- Pursuing school or other career paths
While Starbucks does offer above-average pay and benefits compared to competitors, these advantages often aren‘t enough to outweigh the physical and emotional demands of food service jobs long-term.
Many baristas view Starbucks as a great first job or part-time gig rather than a lifelong career. It‘s common for partners to leave when a new opportunity comes along that offers better pay, hours, advancement potential or alignment with their professional goals.
Before submitting your resignation, reflect carefully on your reasons for leaving and make sure the timing and logistics make sense. Don‘t quit on a whim or burn bridges if you can help it.
Giving Proper Notice and Writing a Resignation Letter
The standard etiquette is to give at least two weeks‘ notice when leaving most jobs, and Starbucks is no different. Offering a reasonable notice period gives your manager time to hire and train a backfill, transfer your duties and prepare the team for your departure.
To resign, start by setting up a face-to-face meeting with your store manager. A live conversation allows you to break the news professionally while expressing gratitude for your time at Starbucks. It‘s also a chance to discuss offboarding plans, like how much notice you‘re giving and what support you can provide during the transition.
Prepare what you‘ll say ahead of time to strike the right tone. For example:
"I‘ve accepted an associate marketing director position at another company that starts next month. My last day at Starbucks will be two Fridays from now, [insert date]. I can‘t thank you enough for all your guidance and support over the last three years. It‘s been a privilege to work here and grow my skill set alongside such a talented team."
While your manager may ask why you‘re leaving, keep your response brief and positive. There‘s no need to bad-mouth Starbucks or overshare details on the way out. A simple, gracious explanation focused on the future will do.
After your meeting, submit a formal resignation letter to your manager confirming your final date of employment. Here‘s a template you can customize:
Dear [Manager‘s Name],
Please accept this letter as formal notice of my resignation from my position as [job title] at Starbucks. My last day of work will be [last day of work], two weeks from today.
Thank you for the opportunity to work for Starbucks over the last [length of employment]. I‘ve greatly appreciated your leadership and the chance to grow my skills in [key skill areas]. I‘ve learned so much during my time here and will carry this valuable experience forward into my next chapter.
Over the next two weeks, I‘ll do everything possible to ensure a smooth transition. I‘m happy to assist with training my replacement, documenting processes and completing any outstanding projects before my departure. Please let me know how else I can help.
Again, thank you for all your guidance and support. I wish you and the entire [store location] team continued success.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
Keep a copy of your resignation letter for your personal records. If your manager asks you to submit your notice via email instead, you can adapt the template above into a concise email.
Tying Up Loose Ends Before You Go
To prepare for a smooth exit, tie up as many loose ends as you can before your last day. This includes:
- Removing any personal files or information from company computers
- Returning company property like headsets, laptops or keys to your manager
- Training colleagues on your duties and processes
- Introducing your replacement to regular customers and explaining your departure
- Saying goodbye to work friends and exchanging personal contact information
- Ensuring your manager has your up-to-date address for mailing your last paycheck
Take care of any dental/medical appointments and refill prescriptions before your benefits expire. If you anticipate COBRA or coverage gaps, research health insurance options to stay covered between jobs.
If you have unused vacation time, work with your manager to use it up or get it paid out before your last day. Starbucks also allows nonexempt employees to cash out sick time in states where it‘s legally required, like California and Washington. Review your state laws to see if your accrued sick leave must be paid upon resignation.
Accessing Pay and Benefits After Leaving
Once you leave Starbucks, your employee access to internal systems and portals will be shut off. Make sure to print or save copies of important documents like:
- Recent pay stubs
- W2s and tax documents
- Benefit plan summaries
- 401(k) account statements
- Stock award vesting schedules
Starbucks will mail your last paycheck to the address on file, typically within 72 hours of your last day or by the next regular payday. Depending on state law, this check should include your accrued vacation time and potentially sick leave.
Your health insurance and other voluntary benefits will end on the last day of the month in which you resign. You‘ll be able to continue medical, dental and vision coverage through COBRA for up to 18 months. However, COBRA premiums can be very expensive since you‘ll pay the full cost your employer previously covered.
If you have a Starbucks 401(k), you‘ll need to decide whether to leave your balance in the Fidelity plan, roll it over to a new employer‘s 401(k) or IRA, or cash it out. Cashing out is tempting but comes with a steep 10% early withdrawal penalty if you‘re under 59 ½. Try to avoid this option unless absolutely necessary.
Vested Bean Stock shares are yours to keep even after leaving. You can hold them, transfer them to another brokerage or sell them anytime. However, any unvested restricted stock units (RSUs) will forfeit when you resign. Log into your Fidelity NetBenefits account to review your grant status and vesting schedule.
Updating Your Resume and LinkedIn Profile
Before jumping into the job hunt, refresh your resume to include your most recent Starbucks experience. Under your barista, shift supervisor or assistant store manager title, add bullet points highlighting your biggest accomplishments and contributions like:
- Memorized 100+ menu items and prepared 200+ orders per shift with 98% accuracy
- Trained and mentored 15+ new baristas on store operations and customer service
- Helped store achieve 4% increase in sales and 95%+ customer satisfaction score in FY22
- Earned "Partner of the Quarter" award in Q4 2021 for outstanding leadership
Quantify your impact with data wherever possible. If you received any promotions or title changes at Starbucks, list those to showcase your progression.
Next, update your LinkedIn profile to reflect your job change. Share a brief post announcing your exciting new role and thanking your Starbucks colleagues, like this:
"Today is bittersweet as I say goodbye to my incredible Starbucks team after three wonderful years. I‘m beyond grateful for everything I‘ve learned and accomplished during my time as a [job title]. Thank you to my amazing manager [Name] and colleagues for your support as I start my next chapter as [new job title] at [new company]. I look forward to staying connected with you all!"
A gracious update keeps the doors open with your former teammates and may lead to interesting opportunities down the line. You never know when you might want to return to Starbucks or need a reference.
Getting Rehired at Starbucks in the Future
Speaking of references, be sure to ask your manager and trusted coworkers to be professional references before you go. Offer to provide your new contact information so they can reach you.
An estimated 15% of Starbucks‘ workforce are "boomerang employees" who have left and come back. Starbucks generally welcomes former partners back with open arms as long as you follow proper resignation etiquette.
The company may even fast-track you through the hiring process since you‘re already familiar with its practices and systems. Depending on how long you‘ve been gone and what experience you gained elsewhere, you may qualify for a higher role than your previous one.
To maintain rehire eligibility, provide at least two weeks‘ notice (if possible) and complete your scheduled shifts during that period. Don‘t badmouth your store, boss or colleagues on the way out. It can be tempting to vent about frustrations when leaving a job, but resist that urge in case you ever want to return to Starbucks.
Handling Your Exit Interview
If Starbucks asks you to complete an exit interview or survey, approach it as a chance to provide constructive feedback about your employment experience. You don‘t have to sugarcoat serious issues, but share your input respectfully and professionally.
For example, instead of saying, "I‘m leaving because my manager is a micromanaging jerk," try, "I think I would have benefited from a bit more autonomy and trust to do my job. Clearer expectations and more frequent check-ins could improve the relationship between managers and baristas."
Remember, the exit interview isn‘t just about airing grievances. It‘s also an opportunity to share what you loved about your experience and thank Starbucks for investing in your growth. Express gratitude for specific opportunities, mentors or memories you‘ll carry into your next role.
You never know – your thoughtful feedback could lead to positive changes for the Starbucks partners you‘re leaving behind.
The Importance of Saying Goodbye
In the daily grind of training your replacement and transferring your duties, don‘t forget to say proper goodbyes to your work family. Starbucks is a people-first company, and chances are you‘ve bonded with coworkers and customers who have made the job special.
Take time on your last couple shifts to have meaningful final conversations with your regulars. Let them know you‘re moving on to a new opportunity and how much you‘ve enjoyed getting to know them over the years. If you‘re comfortable, leave your contact info so you can meet up for (non-Starbucks) coffee sometime.
With your favorite colleagues, make a point to get together outside of work for a proper farewell. Snap some photos, swap stories and reflect on your best shifts together. These relationships often turn into lasting friendships that can become valuable networking connections throughout your career.
Final Thoughts
Leaving a job is never easy, especially when you‘ve poured so much of yourself into it. But change is a necessary part of growth. By resigning from Starbucks gracefully and gratefully, you set yourself up for exciting new possibilities.
Take what you‘ve learned as a partner and let it propel you into a brighter future. Whether you‘re starting a new job, going back to school or taking time off to travel, your Starbucks experience will continue to serve you well personally and professionally.
Embrace the discomfort that comes with change. With every ending comes a new beginning. Your best days are still ahead of you.
