Starbucks’ new CEO will supercommute to HQ as top execs get special RTO treatment
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There’s zero traffic… when you fly to work. Starbucks’ incoming CEO, Brian Niccol, is getting a major work perk: he doesn’t have to move from his home of Newport Beach, California, to the coffee chain’s headquarters in Seattle. But for Niccol working remotely will mean less pajama-PJs and more private jet-PJs. He’s expected to commute 1K miles to HQ and travel to other sites such as roasting facilities and stores. He’ll also be set up with a remote office and assistant in Newport Beach.
Starbucks said that Niccol’s time spent between Seattle and other work sites will “exceed the hybrid work guidelines” that former boss Howard Schultz laid down last year, which require employees to work in Seattle three times a week.
Shaken up: Some folks say Niccol’s getting unfair special treatment, especially considering that Starbucks employees signed a letter protesting RTO in March. One X user said, “Leadership is about setting the tone — this one might be off-key.”
Not blending in… Niccol is not the only exec with relocation perks in their offer letter. Victoria’s Secret new boss, Hillary Super (also recently poached), can work from New York rather than in the company’s main office in Columbus, Ohio. Another alternative for new CEOs: moving the HQ itself. When Niccol started his previous gig as head of Chipotle, the burrito chain’s main office was moved from Denver to Newport Beach. Similarly, Ken Griffin relocated his hedge fund, Citadel, from Chicago to Miami.
Flexibility’s not a free add-in… Like any other offer-letter perk, remote work tends to be easier to negotiate for higher-level employees who companies really want to lock in. Starbucks might think Niccol is worth bending the RTO policy for. Only 14% of working US adults are fully remote, but more than 40% of office workers say they’d take a pay cut to work remotely.