(mobile, sorry for formatting)
I’m currently a barista at a small business that has been very successful recently. I’m a full-time college student majoring in Art Education and have been in the coffee business for just over two years now between St*rbucks and other small businesses both as a barista and a trainer. Coffee and teaching are my passions. When I was hired at my current job in late September/early November, the minimum wage in my state was 9.50 and I was started at $10 + tips. I was told that after 3 months I would receive a raise based on my performance and to not discuss wages with other staff because it was competitive. That in itself set off red flags in my head but I ignored them because I was tired of putting out poor product at my previous job and accepted this new job offer.
In late December, I got a call from the owners saying that I was getting a $1 performance raise. I felt like I was getting stiffed due to how hard I work and how dependable I am in a time where our barista turnover rate is insane. I am one of two baristas that have actually stayed with the business for more than three months. Today I realized that on the first of the year the minimum wage was increased from $9.50 to $11 and I am so pissed off about it.
When I worked at St*rbucks I was so aware of minimum wage changes and fought for raises because I KNEW they would fuck us over. I let my guard down and stopped paying so much attention to it because I didn’t expect to be fucked over the same exact way at a small business that has been actively succeeding. I’ve given so much time and mental energy to this business just to feel under appreciated and taken advantage of. I’ve been using my barista training experience to teach new staff that makes the same amount as me- and they all quit or get fired two weeks later. Today I texted the other dependable barista and asked how much she makes. She’s been with the business for three months more than me and her pay was increased with the wage increase to $12 which still is nothing but she at least makes decent tips compared to me (morning vs night barista).
I don’t even know how to bring this up without getting mad or losing my shit over it. I went on indeed and nothing else sounds as good or as fun, but with a 30 minute commute in either direction to school or work with shit mpg I’m barely able to afford gas as it is and I can’t just quit. My money situation is to the point where I’ve considered applying to St*rbucks again, which I know I would hate but I’m not being given much of a choice.
How to I bring this up without sounding entitled or losing my job? The owners are rarely in the store and I see them MAYBE once a month. My managers will have to put me in contact with them but won’t be able to do anything besides pry into details and make me feel guilty.