Introduction:As winter arrives, the coffee and tea beverage market enters its traditional off-season, with a noticeable decline in foot traffic and orders at stores. This has led multiple brands, including Luckin, to adjust employee working hours. Many part-time and full-time staff have reported significant reductions in their schedules, with some even experiencing impacts on their monthly salaries. This article delves into the reasons behind the reduction in working hours, explores the different challenges faced by part-time and full-time employees, and offers suggestions for coping during the off-season to help industry professionals better plan ahead.
With the onset of winter, the tea and coffee market traditionally experiences a slowdown, with general declines in both store foot traffic and order volumes. Numerous part-time employees at Luckin have noted that their scheduled working hours have been drastically cut recently, with some only being scheduled for one day a week, or even logging less than 30 hours of work in an entire month. Full-time employees are facing similar difficulties; their previously typical monthly working hours of around 180 have now mostly dropped to between 110 and 170 hours, which in turn affects their base salary earnings.
In order to meet target working hour requirements, some employees have had to proactively request support shifts at other busier stores. What exactly are the factors driving this wave of working hour reductions? And what unique challenges do part-time and full-time employees each face? Through the shared experiences of several current employees, we can gain a clearer understanding of the scheduling logic at Luckin and similar brand stores during the off-season, as well as how professionals can prepare in advance.
For many young people, taking on part-time jobs at coffee shops during their spare time is a common side hustle. If the hourly wage at the store is reasonable, even without daily shifts, showing up on time can still yield decent income. Additionally, chain coffee brands such as Luckin and Starbucks frequently recruit part-time staff, offering relatively diverse options for those seeking short-term work.
However, recently many part-time employees have taken to social media platforms to report that Luckin has begun strictly controlling working hours. Schedules in November have noticeably fewer hours compared to the previous month, and sometimes employees must “support” other stores just to meet basic hourly requirements. Some part-time social hires have even been reduced to working just one day a week—often just half-days of about four to five hours—resulting in nearly half the month with no shifts at all.
Since income is closely tied to the number of hours worked, reduced working hours not only mean an overall drop in total hours but also a decline in average hourly wages, ultimately leading to a significant reduction in actual take-home pay. For those relying on part-time income to supplement their livelihoods, such changes bring considerable stress, with some even worried about whether they can maintain part-time opportunities in the future.
It is understood that Luckin’s part-time workforce is mainly divided into three categories: student part-timers, part-time plus employees, and social part-timers. Among these, student part-timers and social part-timers usually have no strict hourly requirements and enjoy greater flexibility; whereas “part-time plus” employees are required to achieve a minimum of 120 to 150 hours per month, with a cap of 200 hours, and must pass a shift qualification assessment. Once qualified, not only is the hourly wage higher, but scheduling is also prioritized.
However, since October, many part-time plus employees have found their actual attendance days drastically reduced—some months seeing only around ten days of work, with total hours falling below 100, far from the originally promised “guaranteed minimum hours.” To maintain their income, some have already started looking for other job opportunities. The situation is even more pronounced for student part-timers and social part-timers, with some employees working only around 30 hours a month.
In addition to part-time staff, many full-time Luckin employees are also facing working hour reductions. Originally, staff scheduling followed a two-day-off system, with seven-and-a-half-hour daily shifts, totaling over 180 hours per month. But recently, the working hours at most stores have dropped to between 110 and 170 hours. At some locations, full-time employees’ working hours account for as little as 30% of expectations, with some even experiencing two consecutive months in a “working hour deficit.” Since insufficient hours directly impact base salary, many employees have had to proactively request support shifts at newly opened or busy stores to make up the difference.
Regarding this round of working hour adjustments, some current employees analyze that the main reason is the overall coffee market entering its off-season. As temperatures drop, consumers are less willing to go out for drinks, leading to noticeable decreases in both store visits and drink sales. During peak seasons, stores may need to schedule multiple employees for shifts, but during low-traffic off-peak times, one person can handle the workload, making labor efficiency a key metric. To meet the company’s requirements for hourly cup sales, stores often control costs by reducing working hours. Although store managers may feel helpless, they have no choice but to follow the rules.
Industry insiders point out that the current off-season situation is just the beginning, and conditions may worsen further in the coming months. A Luckin employee revealed that although some stores are recruiting part-time staff in preparation for Spring Festival operations, the working hours of existing employees continue to be compressed. For workers hoping to supplement their income through part-time jobs, achieving more stable earnings may require early evaluation of switching jobs or seeking alternative income sources.
In summary, the off-season effect in the coffee industry has clearly impacted staffing at stores, with both part-time and full-time employees facing challenges such as reduced working hours and fluctuating incomes. It is recommended that professionals, when choosing part-time positions, proactively understand scheduling flexibility and salary structures, and plan alternative arrangements as needed to adapt to potential future market changes.
The above content is compiled by CoffeeHunters, a coffee news website.
