**Starbucks Mandates In-Office Work Four Days a Week for Corporate Staff**

Starbucks pushes for increased in-person attendance among corporate staff as part of strategic changes to address declining sales.

Starbucks has officially notified its corporate employees that they must work in the office four days a week, effective October. The new requirement, requiring staff to be physically present in the office from Monday through Thursday, replaces a previous policy that allowed three days of in-office work. As a result of the change, employees who refuse to comply will be given a one-time financial incentive to leave the company. Brian Niccol, Starbucks' chief executive who assumed the role less than a year ago, stated that the adjustment is essential for the company to excel amid pressing challenges, including declining sales.

In a blog post, Niccol emphasized the importance of human interaction for Starbucks as an organization. He acknowledged potential dissent but expressed that the decision was carefully considered, asserting it was the best avenue for the company moving forward. As part of this initiative, certain managerial positions will necessitate relocation to either Seattle, the corporation's headquarters, or Toronto. Interestingly, although Niccol's contract did not require him to move to Seattle, he has purchased a home there while also planning to establish a smaller remote office in his native California.

This policy change is one of numerous strategies Niccol has introduced to revitalize Starbucks, which includes revising menu offerings and redefining cafe policies regarding non-purchasing customers utilizing facilities. Earlier in the year, Starbucks made the controversial decision to eliminate 1,100 jobs. Other major firms, including Amazon and JP Morgan, are also tightening remote work policies, responding to the evolving landscape of work culture. Recent studies from institutions like Stanford and the University of Chicago indicate that while hybrid work arrangements remain popular, a significant number of employees in the US are being brought back to the office full-time, amid an evolving corporate climate.