알파경제 - Starbucks Enforces Stricter Office Attendance Policy: Employees Risk Termination for Missing Three Days a Week

(Photo= Yonhap news)

[Alpha Biz= Reporter Kim Sangjin] Starbucks has announced a new policy to reinforce in-office attendance, warning that employees who do not come to the office at least three times a week may face termination. This policy will affect approximately 3,500 office-based employees.

According to reports from Bloomberg and The Wall Street Journal on the 29th (local time), Starbucks recently informed employees via email that a "responsibility protocol" will be implemented starting January next year. The email stated that failure to meet the three-day office attendance requirement will lead to potential disciplinary actions, including termination.

However, the company noted that it will no longer designate Tuesday as a mandatory workday, allowing managers to determine the best days for their teams. Employees may also apply for exemptions due to physical or mental health issues.

Starbucks has been operating a hybrid work system since last year, which included a requirement for three days of in-office work. Former CEO Howard Schultz emphasized that many employees were not meeting even the minimal expectation of coming to the office once a week, which prompted the push for three-day attendance.

New CEO Brian Niccol has also stated that he will meet or exceed the company's attendance policies. In practice, Niccol is commuting approximately 1,000 miles three times a week from his home in Newport, California, to the Starbucks headquarters in Seattle, Washington, using a company aircraft.

알파경제 Kim SangJin Reporter(letyou@alphabiz.co.kr)