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A woman in California was recently terminated from her job at Target after purchasing a Starbucks Bearista cup a day before its official launch on November 6, despite believing she had permission to do so. According to the former employee, she had purchased the cup during her break after asking two coworkers, whom she believed were team leads at the time, whether it was allowed to buy the cup before it hit the sales floor.
She claims she even double-checked with them because she did not want to break any rules, and they reportedly reassured her that it was fine. But apparently that was not the case, as buying the cup early was against Target’s employee policy regarding scheduled merchandise release dates.
How She Got Fired
The woman said she trusted the guidance she was given and did not realize the coworkers she spoke to were not actually team leads. The day before the official launch, she posted a TikTok video showing herself pouring Starbucks sugar cookie latte creamer and iced coffee into the clear bear-shaped cup. She displayed it on her table filled with ice and encouraged her viewers to visit Starbucks stores to get one when they dropped.
After the woman’s video gained attention on the platform, someone at her workplace allegedly reported her, and she was terminated afterward. While she now understands that the purchase violated policy, she wishes management had communicated the rules clearly beforehand so she would have known not to do it.
She also feels the termination was unfair, noting that she had been an attentive and respectful employee who treated guests kindly and took her responsibilities seriously. Although her husband can support her financially, she says losing the job still affected her emotionally because she had taken pride in her work.
What People Are Saying About the California Woman’s Job Termination at Target
In the comments under her video, many viewers were sympathetic. One person wrote, “I’m so sorry 🥺💗 u deserve better! it’s not ur fault u even asked for permission.” Someone else said, “Being terminated for a bear cup is so unfair. Shame on Target.” Another added, “I trust no one at work sorry that happened to you.” One viewer argued that the coworkers who told her it was okay should share the responsibility, commenting, “Nah those workers who told you that you’d be okay should be the ones getting in trouble.”
However, some users pointed out that the store policy is usually covered during orientation, with one writing, “They tell you in orientation tho? That anything that has a set release date you cannot buy until that day. It also has to be off the clock and the item has to be on the floor for at least 15mins?” Others were less sympathetic, arguing that asking if something is allowed already implies uncertainty. “If you had to ask if you were gonna get in trouble then you knew it was wrong 😂,” one comment read.
