Starbucks announced a major policy shift on July 14, directing all corporate employees in the U.S. and Canada to return to the office four days a week beginning October 2025 up from the current three-day requirement. The mandate applies Monday to Thursday and signifies a reversal of its pandemic-era remote work policy.
CEO Brian Niccol emphasized that in-person collaboration enhances culture, accelerates decision-making, and boosts creativity, especially amid slowing sales. Partners unwilling to comply may take a one-time voluntary exit package, which includes a cash payout.
The directive also extends relocation requirements: all corporate managers with direct reports must move to Starbucks headquarters in Seattle or Toronto within 12 months. While less than 20,000 employees are influenced, this move mirrors a broader trend among major firms such as Amazon scaling back on hybrid work models
