Starbucks has sparked controversy by announcing that its incoming CEO, Brian Niccol, will have the option to work remotely rather than at the company’s Seattle headquarters. The announcement, made on 13 August, came as Niccol, who previously served as CEO of Chipotle, was introduced as the new leader of the global coffee giant. Niccol is set to officially start his role on 9 September, with Starbucks' Chief Financial Officer Rachel Ruggeri acting as interim CEO until then.
The following day, Starbucks disclosed details of Niccol’s new role in a Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filing. The report revealed that Niccol will be provided with a remote office in Newport Beach, California, allowing him to work from home rather than relocate to Seattle. The office will be maintained at Starbucks' expense, and Niccol will also have the option to select an assistant for the office. Although he will occasionally need to travel to the Seattle headquarters, Niccol will be able to make the trip using a corporate jet, according to The Wall Street Journal.
Niccol’s compensation package includes an annual salary of $1.6 million, along with a $10 million cash signing bonus, as outlined in his offer letter.
The decision to allow Niccol to work remotely has drawn criticism on social media, particularly on X (formerly known as Twitter). Users voiced their discontent, highlighting the contrast between Niccol's work-from-home privileges and the in-office requirements imposed on other Starbucks employees in Seattle.
"Just a terrible decision by the Starbucks board (and this new CEO)... a $10m signing bonus, allowing him to work remotely from LA while imposing back-to-work policies for other employees,” one user commented.
Before his tenure at Chipotle, Niccol held various leadership roles at Taco Bell, including chief marketing and innovation officer, and president.
