Starbucks new boss under fire for 1,000-mile commute
Written by laserteam on August 22, 2024
(BBC) – The newly announced boss of Starbucks, Brian Niccol, has come under fire after it was revealed he will commute almost 1,000 miles (1,600km) from his family home in Newport Beach, California, to the firm’s headquarters in Seattle on a corporate jet.
Critics have noted what they see as a discrepancy between the company’s public stance on green issues and the lifestyles of its top executives, along with questions around whether Starbuck’s three-day office working rule will apply to him.
Mr Niccol is due to take up the role at the helm of the world’s biggest coffee shop chain on 9 September.
Starbucks has not responded to requests for comment from the BBC.
Mr Niccol’s job offer said he would be not “be required to relocate to the company’s headquarters”, but added: “You agree to commute from your residence to the company’s headquarters… as is required to perform your duties and responsibilities”.
The document states that he will be eligible to use the company’s aircraft for “business related travel” and for “travel between [his] city of residence and the company’s headquarters”.
Starbucks also said it will set up a small remote office in Newport Beach for Mr Niccol to use when working from California.
Starbucks has a hybrid work policy that means employees have to be in the office at least three days a week.
The company has not confirmed whether the same rules will apply to Mr Niccol or whether him working from the new remote office in California would fulfil those requirements.
