The appointment of Brian Niccol as the new CEO of Starbucks has sparked discussions about the future of work. In order to entice Niccol to join from Chipotle, Starbucks offered a generous $10-million signing bonus and an unusual perk: the ability to work remotely. This allows Niccol, who resides in Southern California, to continue living there while traveling to Starbucks’ headquarters in Seattle when needed.
Niccol’s remote work arrangement reflects the shifting landscape of executive work since the COVID-19 pandemic. While many companies have pushed for employees to return to the office, some are offering flexibility to top executives. This trend is seen in other companies as well. Victoria’s Secret, for instance, allowed its new CEO, Hillary Super, to work remotely from New York City, while Boeing’s new CEO, Kelly Ortberg, has opted to relocate near the company’s headquarters in Seattle.
The pandemic saw a widespread adoption of remote work, but many companies have faced challenges in getting employees back to the office. Amazon, for example, has faced employee pushback against its return-to-office policy, leading to protests.
While Starbucks offers Niccol the flexibility of remote work, the company has mandated a return-to-office policy for other employees, requiring those in marketing and other office roles to work in the office three days a week. This disparity highlights the evolving dynamics between companies and employees in the post-pandemic era, with different approaches to remote work and a struggle to find the right balance for all parties.
