Homegrown coffee company PickUp Coffee finds itself in hot water after a former employee’s lengthy Facebook rant went viral. The employee made a few allegations against the company. According to the post, kiosks are understaffed (leading to overworked employees), employees don’t receive their pay increases, and they’re mistreated by HR. What else did the viral post spill?

The viral post

Last July 9, Angelica Reyes Batungbakal took to Facebook to publish a lengthy post sharing her negative experiences working for homegrown coffee company PickUp Coffee. As of writing, it has amassed 13k reactions and 7.8k shares.

“Okay! It’s time to speak kung walang gusto mag-salita na naging ex-empleyado o emplayado [ng] ‘PICKUP COFFEE,'” she began. “Grabe na kasi ang ginagawa niyo sa mga tao na nag-tratrabaho lang naman nang marangal.”

Batungbakal continues to reveal that it isn’t fair how they’re understaffed and yet are expected to deliver a high quota. Some kiosks only have three employees but have to reach a Php 20k per shift target. To reach targets, employees are allegedly forced to work overtime: “Halos gawin na naming umaga ang gabi at ang gabi [ay] umaga.”

She also alleged that employees are grossly underpaid, citing her own experience when she was promoted to supervisor but without pay increase. However, she did clarify that she got a pay increase only for one cut-off and nothing else after that.

HR manager woes

Batungbakal stressed that even though being a PickUp Coffee employee proved to be a challenge, she never once complained. The only time she did was when she had a horrible experience with an HR manager while she was on vacation leave. She filed for a leave of absence from June 19 to 22 so she could go home to Bulacan and commemorate her grandmother’s death anniversary. Batungbakal said she followed the procedure — got her area manager to sign the leave form and assigned key point persons in the store to handle things while she was away.

On June 22, Batungbakal said her HR manager called out of the blue and demanded that she go back to the store. “5 days ka nang nag-death anniverasary,” said the manager, according to Batungbakal.

“Tama ba?! Na sa isang naturingan na HR MANAGER na pag sabihan ka [ng] ‘5 days ka nang nag-death anniversary’? Siguro hindi niya pa alam kung pano ano pakiramdam nang mawalan [ng] kapamilya,” said Batungbakal.

“Trabaho yung pinasok ko sa pagkakaalam ko! As long as nagagawa ko yung trabaho ko at hindi ko napapabayaan! Labas ang personal na buhay ko dun! Di ako na inform na dapat pala sa trabaho na to! Nakatali pati personal na buhay ko!” she added.

She receives a 30-day suspension

Batungbakal said that she did go back to the PickUp Coffee Head Office, at the request of the manager. But she was made to wait for three hours while the supposed 3 PM meeting was pushed to 6 PM.

To her surprise, she was given a 30-day suspension during the meeting. But it wasn’t because of her vacation leaves, it was about questionable cash approvals. However, Batungbakal said she presented strong evidence that she did nothing wrong.

“Nag-bulagbulagan sila sa lahat [ng] ebidensya na print out ko sa kanila para lang mapatunayan ko yung sarili ko sa kanila! Pero wala binibigayan pa din nila kong 30 days suspension kaya pinasahan ko din sila [ng] resignation!” she said.

Batungbakal also added that since that day, she has been waiting for her Certificate of Employment and last pay. “Pero hanggang ngayoon wala silang update! Puro ang sinabisabi nila naka for audit,” she added.

A message for her former employer

Batungbakal ended her lengthy post with a message for PickUp Coffee’s management: “PickUp Coffee ibigay niyo kung ano yung dugo’t pawis na trabaho naming mga empleyado niyo! Lumaban kame nang patas! Pero ganto ang mangyayare samin! Nag-trabaho kame nang may dignidad at taus puso! Hindi porkit mababang tao kame e dapat ganito na kame itrato. Nag-sumikap lang naman kame kumita [ng] pera at yung iba experience at certificate ang hinihiling pero hirap na hirap ipagkaloob samin.”

“Minsan wala sa trabaho ang problema kundi nasa namamahala. Minsan walang aalis na empleyado kung hindi na-a-agrabiado!” she added.

PickUp Coffee has yet to address the issue on any of its social media platforms.

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