Starbucks is requiring some remote workers to return to its headquarters and increasing the number of days that corporate employees are required to work in an office. Starting in early October, corporate employees will be expected to work in the office four days a week, up from three days a week.
The company has also announced that all corporate “people leaders” must be based in either Seattle or Toronto within 12 months. This is a change from February, when it required vice presidents to relocate to Seattle or Toronto.
Individual employees working under those leaders will not be asked to relocate. However, all hiring for future roles and lateral moves will require employees to be based in Seattle or Toronto. The company believes that reestablishing its in-office culture will allow employees to share ideas more effectively, creatively solve problems, and work faster.
Affected workers who choose not to relocate will be eligible for a one-time voluntary exit program with a cash payment. This move comes as many companies, including Amazon and AT&T, have required employees to work in company sites five days per week.
Starbucks has 16,000 corporate support employees worldwide, but only a small portion are considered “people leaders” or work remotely. The company’s CEO, Brian Niccol, was initially allowed to set up an office near his home in California and use a corporate jet for commutes, but he eventually bought a home in Seattle and now frequently visits the headquarters.
Source: https://fortune.com/2025/07/14/starbucks-ceo-brian-niccol-return-to-office-4-days-remote-work