Starbucks has revised its remote work policy, requiring all corporate employees in the US and Canada to work from the office four days a week beginning October 2025. The move shifts the current hybrid schedule from three days to four — Monday through Thursday — as part of a broader effort to revive company performance following declining sales, according to Fortune.
The coffee chain is offering a voluntary exit package, including a cash payout, for those unwilling to comply with the updated return-to-office requirement.
In a letter to employees, Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol explained the reason behind the new workplace mandate.“We are reestablishing our in-office culture because we do our best work when we’re together,” Niccol said.
“We share ideas more effectively, creatively solve hard problems, and move much faster.”
Acknowledging that some may disagree, he added:“We’ve listened and thought carefully. But as a company built on human connection, and given the scale of the turnaround ahead, we believe this is the right path for Starbucks.”
Niccol confirmed that employees who are unable or unwilling to relocate to meet the new requirement would be eligible for a one-time voluntary exit program with financial compensation.
Although Niccol wasn’t initially required to move from Southern California when he took the helm of Starbucks in August last year, the company helped him set up an office near his home in Newport Beach and provided access to a corporate jet to travel to Seattle headquarters.
However, since then, he has purchased a home in Seattle and is now frequently present at the company’s main office, confirmed Starbucks spokesperson Lori Torgerson.
Niccol’s leadership has focused on revamping Starbucks’ struggling U.S. operations. His strategy includes:
Simplifying the menu
Redesigning store layouts
Cutting drink wait times to four minutes
Reevaluating past policies, such as allowing non-paying customers to use store spaces
The return-to-office mandate is seen as a key element of this broader transformation.
