Starbucks also takes a tough stance... 'If you don't come to the office 3 days a week,' you will be fired

Starbucks, the world's largest coffee chain, has warned that it may fire office workers who do not comply with the policy of coming to the office three days a week starting January next year.

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

According to Bloomberg and other sources on the 29th (local time), Starbucks announced through an internal message sent to employees that it will implement a "standardized process" to hold workers accountable if they do not follow the office attendance policy. Employees who violate the rules may face dismissal.

This measure came less than two months after Brian Niccol took office as the new CEO. The company confirmed that CEO Niccol himself will also adhere to this work system and work from the office. Niccol, who assumed office in September this year, commutes three times a week from his home in Newport, California, to the Seattle headquarters in Washington using the company jet.

Starbucks explained that the hybrid work system combining remote work and office attendance has not changed, and that vacations and business trips are excluded from the calculation. They also added that employees can apply for exceptions if they have physical or mental health issues. Earlier, CEO Niccol encouraged attendance during a forum for headquarters employees, saying, "We need to be together often to succeed."

Recently, more companies in the United States are taking strong measures to bring employees back to the office. Amazon, the world's largest e-commerce company, has announced a full return to office work starting next year. Andy Jassy, Amazon CEO, encouraged employees to come to the office five days a week in a memo sent to all employees last month, stating, "The new policy must be followed starting January 2 next year." Currently, the system allows remote work two days a week. Matt Garman, CEO of Amazon Web Services, said at a recent all-hands meeting, "It's okay if some people are not suited for or do not want to work in the (office) environment," adding, "There are other companies."