Working at Chick-fil-A vs. Starbucks: Which is a better place to work?

Whether you want a chicken sandwich from Chick-fil-A or a strong espresso drink from Starbucks, you can always walk into these stores and order. We can all agree that the food and drinks are great, but what are the employees saying? Many people get torn between working in these two companies, and although they are both good choices, one must be better than the other. We have come up with this post to decipher the working conditions in these companies. By the end of it, you will know which place is better to work, so keep up.

What are the differences between working at Chick-fil-A vs. Starbucks?

Features	Chick-Fil-A	Starbucks
Work-life balance	3.6/5 More than half of the employees feel satisfied with their work-life balance, with 75% working a standard 8-hr shift	3.4/5 84% work for 8 hours or less per shift and feel satisfied with their work-life balance
Career Opportunities	3.8/5 Employees have many career opportunities, and the company ranks 0.3 higher than Starbucks	3.5/5 Partners have many career opportunities, but growth is limited
Compensation and Employee benefits	3.3/5 Half of the employees feel that the benefits are below average and the company can do better, but they appreciate the health insurance and retirement benefits	3.8/5 Most of the partners are impressed by the lucrative befits that Starbucks offers, such as health insurance, commuter allowance, and free tuition coverage
Positive business outlook	62% More than half of the employees love their jobs and the company	54% Half of the partners look forward to coming to work and like the company
Culture and values	4/5 The employees appreciate the culture and values of this company and rank 0.2 more than Starbucks	3.8/5 Partners appreciate the warm and friendly culture that treats all equally
Job security and advancement	3.5/5 More than half of employees feel secure in their jobs and are happy with the available advancement opportunities	3.6/5 Starbucks ranks 0.1 higher than Chick-fil-A. Most partners feel secure in their job and can advance
CEO approval	86% Andrew Truett Cathy	61% Howard Schultz
Job Postings	6,534 recent posts in September 2022	26,762 recent posts in September 2022
Salaries	Cashier $14.02/hr. Team Member $14/hr. Supervisor $38,146 Director $87,452	Barista $15 Shift supervisor $19 Supervisor $56,941 General Manager $82,369
Overall Rating	3.9/5	3.9/5

Chick-Fil-A vs. Starbucks- How does working there compare?

Work-life balance

Chick-Fil-A has a standard 8-hour shift for 75% of its workers and more than twelve hours for 8% of its workers. The majority are content with their work-life balance, and more than 16,000 reviews rated it 3.6 stars out of five. Most employees liked the flexibility of the shifts. We can therefore say that Chick-Fil-A has a good work-life balance.

Starbucks operates on standard 8-hour shifts for 84% of its population, with only 5%working for more than 12 hours. On Glassdoor, more than 50,000 reviews rated the coffee giant at 3.4 stars. This means that more than half of the partners are happy with their work-life balance and lead a balanced life after work.

In this category, Chick-fil-A takes the lead with a higher rating than Starbucks.

Career Opportunities

Chick-fil-A has a wide range of career opportunities for skilled, semi-skilled, and unskilled workers. You can get in as a team member and work your way to the top. The company has mid-level and top management jobs for those with the right skills and experience. The official site is filled with new positions for all to apply for. According to Glassdoor reviews, employees rated career opportunities at 3.8 stars.

Starbucks is rated 3.5 stars by over 50,000 reviews in this category. Most employees are happy with the career opportunities present at Starbucks. Most reviews hail the coffee chain as a great first job for people looking to have a career in the food and beverage industry. The company has job openings globally for entry-level and advanced employees.

According to the above ratings, Chick-fil-A takes the lead at 3.8 stars, which is 0.3 higher than Starbucks.

Compensation and employee benefits

Chick-Fil-A has an expansive range of benefits for its workers. Workers on duty enjoy free meals and drinks, and employees are entitled to a discount on purchases. The company offers paid sick leave and paid vacation for all its employees. They are also entitled to 401k and comprehensive health insurance for full-time workers. Part-time employees get the Employee Assistance Program, and there is bonus pay for exemplary workers. At Glassdoor, the reviews from over 10,000 former and current workers rated it 3.3 stars.

Starbucks is not only a world leader in coffee beverages but has the best benefits for its employees. The coffee chain is known for its lucrative health insurance that cover caters to general health, gender reassignment, abortion, and much more. The partners have the opportunity to own company shares, get free drinks and meals, get discounts on their purchases, and get a commuter allowance. The company is rated 3.8 stars by former and current employees in the last 12 months.

This category goes to Starbucks for its amazing perks, which rank 0.5 higher than Chick-fil-A.

Positive business outlook

In the 16,000 reviews we found on Glassdoor, the employees at Chick-Fil-A rated their positive business outlook at 62%. This is more than average and shows that most employees look forward to their work. While the remaining 38% are neutral or have a negative business outlook, the majority are happy here.

Starbucks is rated 54% on the positive business outlook by former and current employees. These reviews are more than 50,000 and represent a significant number of partners. When more than half of the employees look forward to going to their jobs, it is safe to say that Starbucks has a high positive business outlook among the partners

In this category, Chick-Fil-A takes a comfortable lead with an 8% higher rating than Starbucks.

Culture and values

Chick-Fil-A has its focuses on keeping both the employees and the customers happy. The company is all about inclusion and taking advantage of the strengths of its diverse workforce. The employees seem to agree with their employer and rated it 4 stars. Most of the workers love the friendliness in their workplace and feel the management is helpful.

Starbucks is a warm place, and the friendliness is reflected by the dazzling smiles that greet you when you walk in but are these smiles legitimate? According to Glassdoor reviews, the partners rated this coffee chain 3.8 stars. Most partners are welcoming and friendly to new colleagues, and it gets better when you create friendships at work.

In this category, Chick-Fil-A takes a narrow win with 0.2 higher than Starbucks.

Job Security and Advancement

According to over 21,000 reviews on Indeed, Chick-Fil-A has rated 3.5 stars in the job security and advancement category. Reviews state that there are waves of promotions when people, often college and high school kids leave. Some employees stated that promotion is based on merit. However, a vast number feel that people are often fired for no reason, and the management is always changing as people get kicked out. Others feel that the company has many opportunities for growth for interested parties. Overall, the company has good job security and many chances to advance.

Starbucks rates at a comfortable3.6 stars. This means that more than half of the partners feel secure in their jobs and can advance to other levels within the company. The partners did not complain of unfair dismissals and most left the job at their disposal. Promotions are limited here but are still available for exemplary employees.

This category goes to Starbucks as it ranks 0.1 higher than Chick-Fill-A.

CEO approval

A CEO is responsible for the overall management of company operations. At Chick-Fil-A, 86% of employees believe in their CEO, Andrew Truett Cathy. The new boss has been on the top job since November 2021 and has been steering the company in the right direction.

Starbucks has been under Howard Schultz, and 61% of partners feel he is the right man for the job. Schultz has been with this company for over three decades and continues to hold this interim position before a suitable person is found to replace him.

In this category, Chick-Fill-A takes a comfortable lead with 25% higher approval of their CEO than Starbucks.

Job Posting

Chick-Fil-A hires all types of workers, including high school and college kids. These are temporary workers who leave after some time. As of September 2022, Glassdoor had listed 6,534 open jobs in this company. The positions range from team members to management positions in Atlanta, Georgia, Florida, Colorado, and across the country. When we looked at Indeed, the global job board had over 5,800 openings.

Starbucks is global, and its positions are spread across the globe. As of September 2022, Glassdoor had listed 26,725 job openings. The company website has all these jobs listed, but individual stores recruit independently. The jobs are junior-level jobs like partners and cashiers and also top jobs like analysts and managers.

In this category, Starbucks takes the lead with over 20,000 job postings more than Chick-Fil-A.

Salaries

Chick-Fil-A	Starbucks
Cashier $14.02 977 salaries	Barista $15 22,324 salaries
Team member $14/hr. 3,415 salaries	Shift supervisor $19 6,101 salaries
Shift lead $39,061 281 salaries	Shift Lead $48,105 340 salaries
Supervisor $38,146 175 salaries	Supervisor $56,941 424 salaries
Assistant Store Manager $56,313 189 salaries	Assistant Store Manager $68,455 594 salaries
Director of operations $87,452 172 salaries	General manager $82,369

In this category, Starbucks takes the lead in having higher pay rates in most categories.

Chick-Fil-A vs. Starbucks-Employee Reviews

Chick-Fill-A Employee Reviews

These are reviews from former and current employees at Glassdoor and Indeed within the last 12 months.

Current team member

You are expected to be on your toes, but the pay is too low. I like my co-workers, and the supervisors are amazing, but the benefits are not worth it.

Current driver

I like working for this company and the pay is good, but it could be better. The health insurance has been helpful to me, and my family.

Former Employees

I worked for a month and quit. Too much work for meager pay. The management sucks and some customers are just rude.

Don

If your work ethics are great and go out of your way, you will be heading up the ladder. It takes too much to get a pay raise.

Doll567-Current team member

This is my first job, and I like it. The co-workers are amazing, and the management is helpful.

Starbucks Employee Reviews

These are real reviews from Starbucks employees derived from Glassdoor.

Barista B

I have been here for two years now, and I love the benefits. Who hates a free Starbucks? The colleagues are amazing, and the work-life balance is great, but the pay is too low.

Former cashier

I worked at Starbucks for three months, and I left to advance my studies. I liked the fast pace and the friends I made within those months. I would recommend it this workplace to a friend.

Current Employee

Starbucks is a great company, but the pay is too low. The benefits are great, though. I liked the free stuff and the discounts on the merchandise.

Lean6

I liked the free drinks and food, plus the health insurance. The pay can do better, and the management should improve.

KimK

Starbucks made me feel at home, and I made amazing friends. I plan to return next summer as a barista.

Final Verdict: So, which is a better place to work?-Chick-Fil-A vs. Starbucks

Chick-fil-A and Starbucks are both great companies to work and we give them a draw. From our statistics, the overall rating is 3.9 for both companies. Although they differ in many categories, these companies are equally great to work with. They have good benefits and conducive working environments, according to the reviews of former and current employees.

FAQ SECTION

Does Chick-fil-A provide better employee benefits than Starbucks?

No, Starbucks has more expansive benefits than Chick-fil-A.

Does Chick-fil-A value its customers more than Starbucks?

No, these two companies value their employees equally.

Which company invests more in its employees between Starbucks and Chick-fil-A?

Starbucks invests more in its employees through free tuition, commuter allowances, and much more.

Which company provides a better working environment between Chick-fil-A and Starbucks?

Both companies have good working environments, but Chick-Fil-A is better.

Which company values its employees more between Chick-fil-A or Starbucks?

Starbucks works on making its employees feel valued by calling them, Partners.

Which employees are likely to recommend their workplace to a friend, Starbucks, or Chick-fil-A employees?

According to Glassdoor, Chick-Fil-A employees are likely to recommend a friend to this workplace, as compared to Starbucks’ 70%.

Are Chick-fil-A’s employees more satisfied with their salaries than Starbucks’?

No, low salaries are one of the most mentioned cons in both companies, so none offers better pay.