Starbucks worker says baristas have a ‘panic button’ behind the counter, but it won't be enough to quell angry customers after open-door policy reversal

A Starbucks barista with a concerned look on her face stands behind a register. (Credit: Jeffrey Greenberg/Universal Images Group—Getty Images)

• A Starbucks worker expects an increase in altercations with customers after a policy change requiring an item purchase before using the restroom or hanging out in stores. But the store, even equipped with a “panic button,” does not have the resources to address tense interactions, he said.

As Starbucks prepares for a sweeping policy change reversing its open-door policy, one barista warns the coffee chain hasn’t put effective plans in place to navigate a potential increase in customer altercations—even if select stores have a “panic button” preventing more customers from coming in.