Starbucks employees to return to the office four days a week

Core Viewpoint - Starbucks is implementing a return-to-office policy requiring corporate employees to work four days a week starting in October, with an option for a voluntary exit program for those who prefer to leave the company [1][2]. Group 1: Company Strategy - Under CEO Brian Niccol's leadership, Starbucks is focused on reversing declining U.S. sales through menu simplification, enhancing the coffee shop experience, and reducing service times to four minutes per drink [2]. - The company has previously communicated to employees that failure to return to the office three days a week could result in termination, indicating a strict approach to in-office work [3]. Group 2: Workforce Changes - Starbucks cut 1,100 jobs in February and decided not to fill hundreds of open positions as part of efforts to streamline operations [3]. - As of last year, Starbucks had approximately 16,000 employees working outside of store locations, highlighting the scale of its corporate workforce [3]. Group 3: Leadership and Location - CEO Brian Niccol was not required to relocate to Seattle upon hiring, as the company promised to establish a small remote office in Newport Beach, California [4]. - Currently, Niccol primarily works in-person at the Seattle headquarters when not traveling, indicating a shift towards a more centralized leadership presence [4].