Starbucks has a new plan for raises: a flat 2% pay hike for salaried staff

Group 1 - The company plans to give a 2% raise to all salaried employees in North America, marking a shift from previous years where raises were determined by individual managers [1] - The 2% raise does not apply to hourly workers, such as baristas [1] - The company is undergoing a turnaround strategy under CEO Brian Niccol, who previously improved financial results at Chipotle [2] Group 2 - Niccol's "Back to Starbucks" plan aims to return the company to growth, involving layoffs of corporate workers and changes in operational policies [2] - Starbucks is implementing zero-based budgeting to manage costs, requiring managers to justify expenses rather than relying on previous budgets [3] - The company is balancing investments in employee shifts and operational changes with cost management strategies [3]