Good morning!

Today, we're examining the ongoing strike at Starbucks. Also in this issue:

🤝 Starbucks HR asks employees to report union activities
☕ Barista shares rationale for strike
💸 Employers gain upper hand with "forever layoffs"

Here's a look at what we're seeing, what it means, what we're anticipating, what's resonating and what you think about today’s workplace. Let's get SMART!

A Starbucks in Seattle's Interbay neighborhood has closed as employees participate in a nationwide strike organized by Starbucks Workers United. The strike began on last week's Red Cup Day and involves more than 1,000 workers from 65 stores, demanding higher wages, better scheduling and more reliable staffing. Starbucks reports minimal disruption, with less than 4% of employees participating.

Dozens of pro-union flyers have appeared throughout Starbucks' Seattle headquarters, coinciding with a nationwide barista strike at 65 stores in 40 cities. The flyers, seen in hallways and bathroom stalls, express support for unionized baristas and criticize CEO Brian Niccol's compensation. While some corporate staff quietly back the movement, HR has advised employees to report, but not intervene in, pro-union activities.

Diego Franco, a Starbucks barista in Chicago, writes that he is participating in a strike to demand a fair union contract and to address unfair-labor complaints. Franco highlights understaffing, low wages and unstable benefits as major issues, contrasting them with CEO Brian Niccol's high compensation and company spending on executives. Franco urges Starbucks to invest more in employees and to settle a fair contract.

Employers have gained the upper hand in the workforce, with "forever layoffs" and pressure to return to the office, according to a Glassdoor report. The report notes that employers are conducting smaller, serialized layoffs to avoid negative publicity, creating a culture of anxiety and resentment among workers. Additionally, employees who work in the office are more likely to be promoted, leading to dissatisfaction among remote and hybrid workers.