Starbucks is mandating the return of some remote workers to its headquarters and increasing the number of days that corporate employees must work in an office, the Associated Press reports. The Seattle-based company is among many reevaluating their work-from-home policies, which rose in popularity during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Brian Niccol, Starbucks chairman and CEO, said today in a letter to employees that corporate workers would be required to be in the office four days per week beginning in early October. That’s up from the current requirement of three days per week.
It also said that all corporate “people leaders” must be based in either Seattle or Toronto within 12 months — a change from February, when it required the same only from vice presidents.
While individual employees working under those leaders would not need to relocate, all hiring for future roles and lateral moves will require the workers to be based in Seattle or Toronto.
Niccol said the move is intended to reestablish Starbucks’ “in-office culture.” Affected workers who choose not to relocate will be eligible for a one-time voluntary exit program with a cash payment.
Competition for fully-remote jobs has grown fiercer as the call for workers to return to offices has grown over the past year. Major employers like Amazon, AT&T and the federal government now require employees to work in company sites five days per week.
