Starbucks has informed corporate employees that failing to adhere to its three-day-a-week office requirement may lead to job termination starting in January 2025, according to an internal memo cited by the Wall Street Journal. The company’s “accountability process” includes penalties for non-compliance that could result in separation from the company.
In response to queries from Bloomberg News, a Starbucks spokesperson confirmed that managers will be responsible for enforcing the existing hybrid work policy. Notably, the company will no longer mandate Tuesday as an in-office day, allowing managers to set days that best suit their teams’ needs. Starbucks’ three-day office attendance rule has been in effect since 2021.
Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol, who joined in September after leading Chipotle, has drawn criticism for his use of a corporate jet to commute nearly 1,000 miles from his California home to Seattle headquarters. However, Starbucks affirmed that Niccol’s in-office presence meets or exceeds the company’s hybrid policy. At Chipotle, Niccol implemented a more stringent four-day office requirement.
In a recent employee forum, Niccol emphasized the importance of office collaboration, stating, “This is not about tracking—this is about success. If success requires us being together more often than not, then let’s commit to that.”
As corporations nationwide solidify return-to-office policies following the shift to remote work during the COVID-19 pandemic, Starbucks joins others, including Amazon. Amazon has recently announced a full office return mandate starting January 2, with Amazon Web Services CEO Matt Garman expressing a firm stance on the policy, adding, “If some employees prefer different work environments, there are other opportunities elsewhere.”
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