Starbucks Employees Required to Work Four Days Weekly in the Office

Starbucks has mandated that its corporate staff work in the office for four days a week, or accept a payment and quit. This new directive, starting in October, is aimed at curbing remote working and will be applicable to staff in the US and Canada. Those who refuse to adhere to the policy will be offered a one-time payout if they choose to leave. The move was announced by Starbucks’ CEO, Brian Niccol, who believes it will allow the company to do its “best work” despite falling sales and other challenges. The decision comes amidst a broader trend of companies seeking to restrict remote work, with many firms implementing similar policies like Amazon and JP Morgan. Notably, the move is part of a series of changes Niccol has enacted to turn around the company, which also includes menu and coffee shop revamps, as well as enforcing rules that previously allowed patrons to use Starbucks facilities without making a purchase. Additionally, Starbucks will require certain managers to relocate to Seattle or Toronto. Other companies are also taking steps to tighten their remote work policies. Research studies from Stanford, Mexico’s Instituto Tecnogolico Autonomo de Mexico, and the University of Chicago indicate that overall working practices have remained fairly stable, with a third of staff in the US who can perform their roles remotely being recalled to the office full-time, a fifth working fully remotely, and roughly 45% enjoying a hybrid policy.

Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ce9xpdvgv8vo