Starbucks put new limits starting Monday on what its baristas can wear under their green aprons. The dress code requires employees at company-operated and licensed stores in the U.S. and Canada to wear a solid black shirt and khaki, black or blue denim bottoms.
Under the previous dress code, baristas could wear a broader range of dark colors and patterned shirts. Starbucks said the new rules would make its green aprons stand out and create a sense of familiarity for customers as it tries to establish a warmer, more welcoming feeling in its stores.
Robots can be convenient if all I want is service with minimum interaction (provided the robots work well, otherwise I’ll have to talk to a human and deal with the annoyance of something not working). I don’t need them to be welcoming any more than I need a fast food drive-through to be welcoming. The bakery I grab my breakfast from has to look appealing, but I personally wouldn’t care if the staff was curt.
It’s just stupid to pretend they’re being “welcoming” by curtailing individuality.