Amy Henderson
Google
I visited Barista Lab in Geneva today intending to enjoy a coffee and snack while working on my laptop. After placing my order and settling at a table, I was politely instructed to move to a high table at the front where laptops are permitted. Being quite short, I could not use that table comfortably, so I moved to another high table nearby, which I assumed would be ok as it was a table designed to accommodate ten people and I was the only one seated. The café was not busy, with plenty of free space.
What followed was completely unacceptable: a man entered and began shouting aggressively at the two staff. At first, I thought he was a member of the public, but it quickly became clear he was the supervisor and person responsible. He gestured emphatically at me and at the tables I could or could not use, berating the staff for allowing me to sit where I was. His behaviour towards the staff was rude, intimidating, unprofessional, and entirely unnecessary. The staff came over, apologised, and explained that I had to move, but after witnessing this, I requested a refund, which they processed courteously before I promptly left.
I understand cafés may have policies regarding laptop use, and my review is not a criticism of the policy, but rather the way it was enforced. The way this situation was handled was appalling. Shouting at staff in front of customers is completely unacceptable, and the employees, who were simply performing their duties politely, should never be subjected to such treatment, either in public or private.
This experience has left me with a profoundly negative impression of the café. Hostile behaviour like this is intolerable in any professional establishment and if I could give no stars, I would. Staff should be treated with respect.
