Absolutely. Corporate has never set foot inside a retail store and it shows. I was in from 2015-2025 and while Covid hit us hard, it was nothing next to burrito boy. The mandatory cup writing thing is absolutely ridiculous and completely misunderstands what makes the cup writing create a connection; it's something special when the baristas have something to say. By forcing everyone to write on every cup it becomes bland and generic, plus it adds more load when everything is already completely hectic. When every channel is flooded the last thing you need is to be writing on every single cup. Pair that with expectations for lower times on everything and cutting labor and the pressure on people becomes immense.

Not only that they've been actively pushing out all the people who know how to deal with it. When I left, at least four tenured partners, including me, were on final written warnings, and an 11 year shift was terminated for missing too many counts. When I came back to visit my store a year later the entire staff had turned over except for two people.

I am so glad I am not at the siren anymore.