Some Starbucks workers were left frazzled and frustrated following a ransomware attack on one of the coffee chain’s software vendors this week. CNBC reports that as a result of the cyberattack, baristas are having trouble viewing and managing their schedules. And that’s not the worst of it.

While Starbucks works with the vendor on a resolution to the attack, managers have to manually calculate employees’s pay, instead of relying on their vendor system.

The Wall Street Journal reports that Starbucks is compensating employees for their “scheduled shifts,” which could possibly lead to overpayment or underpayment depending on the actual hours worked. The company stated that it is dedicated to fully compensating employees once the issue is resolved, but that isn’t soothing many workers.

Across Reddit, workers taken aback by the mayhem have turned to each other in order to find answers.

“So are we getting paid this week? And how, when half my hours are in the time clock and half are in the book?” one Redditor asked.

Their question was met with nearly a dozen answers from those hoping to offer some assistance. One user provided some insight via a message their manager received from Starbucks.

“If we don’t have access to SPH on Monday, Starbucks will process payroll for all stores and there will be no additional steps for SMs to process payroll on Monday 11/25. This will give our SMs some flexibility to continue supporting partners and building schedules,” read the alleged note from Starbucks.

In a separate Reddit post, one worker asked if it was legal for the coffee shop to not pay on time for hours worked

“This impacts my financial stability and progress on my financial goals. To me this just isn’t acceptable. I worked, I want my full paycheck…I just do not accept getting paid for fewer hours than what I worked. This isn’t my fault at all,” they wrote.

In response, one person pointed out that it’s “physically not possible” for Starbucks to modify time cards for that many workers manually.

So far, Starbucks says the attack hasn’t affected customer service, but here’s hoping this gets resolved for the workers faster than it takes to make a grande oat milk latte!

Lettermark

Danielle Harling is an Atlanta-based freelance writer with a love for colorfully designed-spaces, craft cocktails and online window shopping (usually for budget-shattering designer heels). Her past work has appeared on Fodor’s, Forbes, MyDomaine, Architectural Digest and more. 


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