Since working at a coffee shoppe usually means that you are on your feet for hours on end, often times on very unforgiving floors, I was wondering if anybody has a pair or brand of shoes that they simply could not make it through a shift without? Any thoughts or suggestions as to how to make this aspect of the job a bit more endurable?

I have been a barista for years, but need a new pair of shoes, so I thought I would look for suggestions. :)

Cheers!

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Breaks?

Bryan, I should have you speak to my boss.

I guess I'm lucky. I've always spent long days on my feet, but have had very few problems. With dress leather shoes, I've always paid big bucks for a hand made product. Big bucks. For work at the cafe, I get along just fine with Reebok Walking Shoes.
Fraser Jamieson said:
Breaks?

Bryan, I should have you speak to my boss.

I guess I'm lucky. I've always spent long days on my feet, but have had very few problems. With dress leather shoes, I've always paid big bucks for a hand made product. Big bucks. For work at the cafe, I get along just fine with Reebok Walking Shoes.

Well I know... I don't really get them either, but I'm talking 8-12 hour shifts without sitting (ever). If you think about it... that's horsesh*t. What other kinds of businesses do this? Aren't breaks mandatory? Why do baristas always get overlooked when it comes to this?

-bry

vans :) they aren't so white these days, rather coffee stained.
Believe it or not the US Deppartment of Labor does not require rest breaks.
Federal law does not require lunch or coffee breaks. However, when employers do offer short breaks (usually lasting about 5 to 20 minutes), federal law considers the breaks as compensable work hours that would be included in the sum of hours worked during the work week and considered in determining if overtime was worked. Unauthorized extensions of authorized work breaks need not be counted as hours worked when the employer has expressly and unambiguously communicated to the employee that the authorized break may only last for a specific length of time, that any extension of the break is contrary to the employer's rules, and any extension of the break will be punished.
See

OTOH Washington State Law requires a paid 10min break each 4 hours worked, to be given by the 3rd hour worked each 4 hours. Also smaller mini-breaks count towards total required 10 min. paid breaks.

Bryan Wray said:
Fraser Jamieson said:
Breaks?

Bryan, I should have you speak to my boss.

I guess I'm lucky. I've always spent long days on my feet, but have had very few problems. With dress leather shoes, I've always paid big bucks for a hand made product. Big bucks. For work at the cafe, I get along just fine with Reebok Walking Shoes.

Well I know... I don't really get them either, but I'm talking 8-12 hour shifts without sitting (ever). If you think about it... that's horsesh*t. What other kinds of businesses do this? Aren't breaks mandatory? Why do baristas always get overlooked when it comes to this?

-bry
I don't know for sure without looking it up, which I don't have time for right now, but I believe that the State of Michigan must have similar laws, because I know I have heard figures similar to a 10 minute-er every 4 hours somewhere. I'll look that up at some point. Would be a good thing to know, seeing as it could directly benefit me.

-bry
Bryan Wray said:
I don't know for sure without looking it up, which I don't have time for right now, but I believe that the State of Michigan must have similar laws, because I know I have heard figures similar to a 10 minute-er every 4 hours somewhere. I'll look that up at some point. Would be a good thing to know, seeing as it could directly benefit me. -bry

I forgot how quick the internet makes things...

There is no labor law in MI, so I'm just stuck I guess. Regardless, this is the clause that I hate:

"Scheduled rest periods not required where nature of work allows employee to take intermittent rest periods equivalent to required standard. Director of Labor and Industries may grant variance from basic standard for good cause, upon employer application."

See that's just crap. How I read into this is that if I bang out a drink every 60 seconds for 3 hours and 50 minutes, and then actually get to clean up for 10 minutes, that 10 minutes on the end could be considered the "nature of work" which "allows employee to take intermittent rest periods."

This, friends, is what we like to call lame.

-bry
Wow, just checked and discovered only EIGHT States plus DC & PR have required paid rest periods. Never looked it up before since I only need to deal with my State right now...

Bryan Wray said:
Bryan Wray said:
I don't know for sure without looking it up, which I don't have time for right now, but I believe that the State of Michigan must have similar laws, because I know I have heard figures similar to a 10 minute-er every 4 hours somewhere. I'll look that up at some point. Would be a good thing to know, seeing as it could directly benefit me. -bry

I forgot how quick the internet makes things...

There is no labor law in MI, so I'm just stuck I guess. Regardless, this is the clause that I hate:

"Scheduled rest periods not required where nature of work allows employee to take intermittent rest periods equivalent to required standard. Director of Labor and Industries may grant variance from basic standard for good cause, upon employer application."

See that's just crap. How I read into this is that if I bang out a drink every 60 seconds for 3 hours and 50 minutes, and then actually get to clean up for 10 minutes, that 10 minutes on the end could be considered the "nature of work" which "allows employee to take intermittent rest periods."

This, friends, is what we like to call lame.

-bry
Bryan Wray said:

...There is no labor law in MI, so I'm just stuck I guess. Regardless, this is the clause that I hate:

That sure explains the popularity of the UAW :)
I've recently joined the barefoot movement and wear my Vibram FiveFinger Sprints to work.


I just try not to spill anything hot on my feet :-/.
Elliott W. Davis said:
I've recently joined the barefoot movement and wear my Vibram FiveFinger Sprints to work.


I just try not to spill anything hot on my feet :-/.

I was going to say, "Hope you don't spill anything hot" and then I scrolled past the picture... :0)

Those look comfy though.

-bry
for me i know the look is not that great but the sika woodden sole is my best choice ... took me 6 month to form them but now i can spend 12 to 15 hours in the kitchen or in the café with no foot problem

http://sikafootwear.ca/
Birki's. Rubber, kitchen style Birki's.

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