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Starbucks has introduced a new return-to-office policy requiring corporate employees to be physically present in the workplace at least four days a week from October.
The change, part of a wider turnaround strategy, increases the previous three-day in-office requirement.
In the same announcement, Starbucks confirmed that all corporate “people leaders” must relocate to either Seattle or Toronto within the next 12 months. Employees who decline the relocation offer will be eligible for a voluntary exit package, including a cash payout.
CEO Brian Niccol shared his rationale for the move, saying: “We are reestablishing our in-office culture because we do our best work when we’re together. We share ideas more effectively, creatively solve hard problems, and move much faster.”
Major employers renew in-office focus
Starbucks’ shift aligns with a broader trend among major employers pulling back on pandemic-era flexibility.
Amazon announced in late 2024 that employees would be expected in the office five days a week beginning in the new year. The company linked the decision to gains in collaboration and company culture.
Apple has required in-person attendance at least three days a week since 2022, with CEO Tim Cook supporting the move to strengthen teamwork.
Walmart’s 2024 policy required remote employees to relocate to major hubs such as its Arkansas headquarters. Though hybrid models remain, the retailer has pushed for most work to take place on-site.
Dell followed suit in January 2025, eliminating remote work for employees living near company offices, mandating a full five-day in-office schedule.
Disney’s mandate came earlier, with CEO Bob Iger in January 2023 requiring hybrid workers to return four days per week starting in March of that year.
Wall Street follows suit as RTO accelerates
The finance sector has also leaned into in-person operations. JPMorgan Chase mandated five-day in-office work for managing directors in 2023 and is reportedly weighing an expansion of that policy.
Goldman Sachs has supported a full return since 2022, while Citigroup asked its US-based remote workers to return to office full-time in 2025, albeit with some hybrid flexibility.
Although companies like Airbnb and Spotify continue to embrace flexible working models, most large employers are shifting away from remote setups.
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Research from Capital Economics found office attendance based on keycard swipes reached just 50% nationally by mid-2025. The firm also reported Seattle and San Francisco are the only major US cities projected to see office rents fall through 2029.
The corporate push towards a full return is at odds with the attitudes of workers who regard flexible working as one of the more sought after benefits, some even ahead of salary. Recent research by CultureX and Work Forward’s Flex Index showed that strict five-day office firms received lower employee marks for supportiveness, leadership quality, toxicity, candor, and work-life balance.
Niccol acknowledged the mixed reactions, saying: “We understand not everyone will agree with this approach. 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.”
