If you work here, you will regret it - overworked, underpaid, and treated horribly - Barista Aramark Employee Review

1.0
Feb 5, 2019
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

- Free lunch (as long as it is under $7 and food prepared by Aramark employees, but really, who wants to eat prison food?) - I got a few paid for a few of my vacation days / leave

Cons

BUCKLE UP. - Aramark overworks every single one of its employees. Those who continue to blindly take that kind of treatment end up slaves for the company (managers). I have been the ONLY barista in the coffee hut for a long time now; I have no coworkers to help me, except for one employee who covers my only break (a 30-minute lunch break). I take every order, make every drink, stock, do inventory, order product, and literally EVERYTHING for under $11/hour. And I am STILL getting more and more things thrown at me - on top of all of that. I'm getting out of this place soon - don't worry ;) - Raises are sad and rare. You get a yearly performance review, and you're lucky if they give you anything above a 20-cent raise. - Managers are literally the most underqualified, stupid people I have ever witnessed. This isn't an exaggeration - they seriously are INCREDIBLY dumb. They do Aramark's bidding without question and live for this corrupt company; they devote their everything to a corporation that thinks nothing of them. My own manager has the personality of a golden retriever. - The free "lunches" are a sad excuse to compensate for the mistreatment of Aramark employees. You have a $7 limit, and you can only use it for things like salad, pizza, and anything packaged by Aramark at your location. The food is skimpy on portions, and it is seriously PRISON FOOD. I've seen how the food is prepared by my coworkers, and I refuse to eat it. You should, too - employee or customer. They don't use gloves half the time, expired product gets used anyway, and cross-contamination is also a huge issue. I bring my own lunches and get harassed by managers about it because I'm not eating their food. - When my manager and other coworker cover for my lunch or when I am out sick, etc., I come back to find everything dirty, missing, or expired. I SWEAR TO GOD THAT NO ONE AT ARAMARK CARES ABOUT EXPIRATION DATES. Warm half & half containers are put back into the cooler after sitting out all day (without being cleaned or emptied), whipped cream is left in the cooler, coffee urns are not cleaned and left out to collect dust, nothing is wiped down. If I am gone multiple days, they will use the uncleaned containers and expired product and serve them to customers. The list goes on. Customers also complain that their drinks are always made incorrectly when I am gone and they are covering. This is so embarrassing. These Aramark employees, who have been making Starbucks drinks longer than I have, still don't know the recipes or how to make any drink right. They just make the drink how THEY think it should be made, use expired espresso shots, and call it good. I cannot believe how this place runs its coffee area without me. I write expiration dates on containers when I open them, and I do not say a word to my managers when things expire - I simply throw them in the trash because I know that if I let them know what I'm throwing away, they will get mad and tell me to continue using the syrups, etc. past the expiration dates, and that's just WRONG. FOLLOW STARBUCKS STANDARDS. GOD. - I'm forced to work catering events in the cafeteria against my will and also forced into working overtime that I do not want. My job title is "barista" - not "cafeteria worker." - I asked my manager to hire someone else to help me because I was getting burnt out from doing EVERYTHING by myself. They lied and told me that they were about to hire someone. That "didn't work out", and I'm still stuck working full-time because of it. They lied; they didn't even put up a job posting for it, yet they told me that they conducted interviews for the position. I wanted to go to part-time, but I guess I'm not allowed to be or allowed to have help, so that's why I'm finding a new job.

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5.0
Jun 11, 2026
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Pros

Family friendly work environment and wide range of experiences

Cons

typical corporate bureaucracy and slow moving corporate wheels

5.0
Jun 10, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Working as a Lead Barista has been a rewarding experience that has helped me grow both professionally and personally. The role has strengthened my leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills while allowing me to mentor and support team members. I enjoy creating positive customer experiences, managing daily operations, and ensuring high standards of quality and service. The fast-paced environment has taught me how to multitask effectively, stay organized, and work under pressure. This position has also provided valuable experience in training staff, inventory management, and team collaboration. Overall, being a Lead Barista has been an excellent opportunity to develop skills that are transferable to leadership and project management roles.

Cons

While being a Lead Barista has provided valuable leadership and customer service experience, the role can be challenging at times. The fast-paced environment often requires managing multiple responsibilities simultaneously, including customer service, beverage preparation, inventory management, and team support. Staffing shortages and high customer volume can create stressful situations, especially during peak hours. The position also requires long periods of standing, frequent lifting, and maintaining energy throughout the shift. Additionally, balancing leadership responsibilities with daily operational tasks can be demanding, particularly when addressing customer concerns or training new employees while meeting service expectations

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