Costa Coffee.

[Chippy_Tea]

I have never been in one and never will and that goes for all these "popular" coffee shops (starbucks etc) having read the article below i am surprised anyone would want to work there.




Read the full article - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-49432367

Costa Coffee workers have made numerous claims alleging poor working conditions across 29 franchise stores.

The BBC has spoken to 26 employees of Costa Coffee franchise stores managed by Goldex Essex Investments Ltd and Bristal Investments Ltd.

Complaints include managers' alleged refusal to pay for sickness or annual leave, working outside of contracted hours and the retention of tips.

A Costa Coffee spokeswoman said an independent audit has been launched.

"Given the serious nature of the allegations, we have today informed all of our Individual Franchise Partners that we will be launching an independent audit into the legal and ethical compliance of their operations, including employment matters," she said on Thursday.

The latest allegations surfaced after the BBC reported that staff at Costa stores, managed by Kafeel Khan's Goldex Essex Investments Ltd, were being charged a minimum of £200 for their own training.

 

[Slid]

Well, there is a place to work!

I don't buy into the idea of paying £3 for a cup of coffee and cannot understand why these places even exist.
An insight into how much fun it is working there just doubles the incredulity.

 

[Keats]

I guess that some franchise owners will be better than others. A contract that badly written shouldn’t even be enforceable though just on the grounds of bad grammar and punctuation!

 

[DavidDetroit]

I was quick to calculate the cost of buying coffee at a place like that or Starbuck's versus a Bialetti pot. On principle, I just won't pay that much.

I would have been frightened off by the rules imposed on the employees.

 

[MyQul]

Being the urban hipster I am, I love coffee shops.I much prefer independant coffee shops to the national chains though. I've got an absolutely lovely one about a mile away from me on the other side of the park, called Fowlds

https://www.facebook.com/fowldscafe

 

[The Baron]

I know they are franchised and there are good and bad employers in franchises but surely Costa Coffee can bear some pressure on these unruly operators using and discrediting their name as it is not good press and make them fall into line with the better franchisee operators

 

[MyQul]

Well, there is a place to work!

I don't buy into the idea of paying £3 for a cup of coffee and cannot understand why these places even exist.
An insight into how much fun it is working there just doubles the incredulity.

Well you can of course quite easily make a cup of coffee for pennies at home. But this isnt the point of coffee shops (not for me at least). The £3 or so for a coffee can be seen an 'entrance fee' for the atmosphere, somewhere to hang out, meet friends, do some work (much cheaper than hiring an office space - most coffee shops have wi-fi and somewhere to plug your lap top in) or study.I dont even drink coffee but can often be found loafing in coffee shops, especially in winter when it's to cold to loaf in the park

 

[Clint]

"fining employees £150..."
I'd have told them to stick their coffee up their jacksies...
A proper shower of *****.

 

[Slid]

Well you can of course quite easily make a cup of coffee for pennies at home. But this isnt the point of coffee shops (not for me at least). The £3 or so for a coffee can be seen an 'entrance fee' for the atmosphere, somewhere to hang out, meet friends, do some work (much cheaper than hiring an office space - most coffee shops have wi-fi and somewhere to plug your lap top in) or study.I dont even drink coffee but can often be found loafing in coffee shops, especially in winter when it's to cold to loaf in the park

Well, there's an approach to be sure.

 

[Chippy_Tea]

I agree Myqul I don't mind the small coffee and tea shops of which we have many it's these big franchises that the sheeple seem to flock to as the in place to go that I object to.
We recently got a Costa drive through in the next town which is another place I am not be visiting do people really need to drink coffee in the car on the way to their destination?

 

[MyQul]

We recently got a Costa drive through in the next town which is another place I am not be visiting do people really need to drink coffee in the car on the way to their destination?

Coffee is a hugely pernicious (and socially acceptable) drug. I gave it up (again) a month ago and some of the withdrawal symptoms can be absolutely vicious. People can get into a cycle with coffee; they use it to wake themselves up in the morning, and again to get over the afternoon hump in the afternoon but find it effects their sleep so the following morning drink more to wake themselves up, and he cycle continues, ad infinitum. I'm definately sleeping better since giving up coffee

 

[Chippy_Tea]

and again to get over the afternoon hump in the afternoon

I am definitely in the wrong job i would love a hump in the afternoon.

Joking aside I guess (as you say) its used like a drug by some people, i gave up coffee over a year ago as i don't seem to be able to taste it like i used to (i think my taste buds are not what they used to be) and i now drink tea which i still can taste i have also dropped to one sugar as i find the more bitter taste better, i am aiming to give sugar in tea up altogether but i want to get used to the taste with one sugar before i try for zero sugar.

 

[Clint]

I find it quite amusing the amount you see walking around clutching their coffee cup...how the hell can you walk and drink hot stuff at the same time without burning your gob or bumping into someone?

 

[Nicks90]

I'm fortunate and work from home. I calculated how much I used to spend on sh@t chain coffee when I worked in an office and invested that money in a decent machine at home and a fantastic supply of fresh coffe from "pact coffee".
Incredible range of excellent beans roasted and dispatched within 24 hours. So incredibly fresh compared to the dross you get in a shop or some those capsule thing machines.

 

[Richie_asg1]

I worked in a small coffee shop for a bit. Very relaxed small place, but it felt like a bit of a con because they had an all-in-one machine that was basically a push button vending machine. At least the food was better.

I don't like the big chains just from the price aspect, and it is now apparent that the main shops on the high street are closing down - but coffee shops are increasing!
Plus they are now selling the same coffee in petrol stations, so I drive past about 5 opportunities to buy coffee before I get to town, where I am met with another 15 opportunities to buy it! Even gift shops are now getting in on the act.

There is one very nice small bookshop that I have always used that sells second hand books as well as being a cafe on 3 floors. It would be great if it wasn't for it being haunted.

 

[MickDundee]

Well, there is a place to work!

I don't buy into the idea of paying £3 for a cup of coffee and cannot understand why these places even exist.
An insight into how much fun it is working there just doubles the incredulity.

I was quick to calculate the cost of buying coffee at a place like that or Starbuck's versus a Bialetti pot. On principle, I just won't pay that much.

I would have been frightened off by the rules imposed on the employees.

Why bother paying £4 in a pub for a pint of beer when you can brew your own at home for under a quid? It’s about more than just the coffee.

 

[MickDundee]

Well you can of course quite easily make a cup of coffee for pennies at home. But this isnt the point of coffee shops (not for me at least). The £3 or so for a coffee can be seen an 'entrance fee' for the atmosphere, somewhere to hang out, meet friends, do some work (much cheaper than hiring an office space - most coffee shops have wi-fi and somewhere to plug your lap top in) or study.I dont even drink coffee but can often be found loafing in coffee shops, especially in winter when it's to cold to loaf in the park

Should have read the whole thread.

 

[Chippy_Tea]

Why bother paying £4 in a pub for a pint of beer when you can brew your own at home for under a quid? It’s about more than just the coffee.

In the days when i did regularly drink in pubs Friday was darts night followed by a tour of the town pubs and Saturday night was a piss up ending in the nightclub, if these coffee shops had been popular back then i couldn't see us arranging to meet in Costa rather than our local pub.

 

[MyQul]

Should have read the whole thread.

 

[MyQul]

In the days when i did regularly drink in pubs Friday was darts night followed by a tour of the town pubs and Saturday night was a piss up ending in the nightclub, if these coffee shops had been popular back then i couldn't see us arranging to meet in Costa rather than our local pub.

Many (young) people do now though