Starbucks has filed a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) with Washington state, confirming the layoff of 224 corporate employees at its Seattle headquarters. The reductions, effective by November 1, include 120 workers who declined relocation to a new Nashville office and 104 employees affected by corporate restructuring that began in May.
The company stated in the WARN notice that employees who chose relocation were not included in the layoffs. Sara Kelly, Starbucks Executive Vice President, confirmed the final day for departing workers will be November 1, with all employees receiving 60 days’ notice. The affected roles span tech positions, engineers, communications managers, technical product managers, and two vice presidents, though specific names were not disclosed.
The restructuring aligns with Starbucks’ "Back to Starbucks" strategy, aimed at enhancing in-store customer experiences. As part of this initiative, the company has reduced about 300 U.S. support roles nationwide. Additionally, Starbucks finalized its Coffeehouse Design initiative, launched by CEO Brian Niccol last year, to modernize store layouts.
The Nashville expansion, announced in June, represents a $100 million investment and is expected to create 2,000 jobs in Tennessee. Starbucks received a $30 million tax incentive from state officials to establish the new office, which will handle regional operations and supply chain management. The company emphasized the move as part of its growth strategy, with Niccol stating the Nashville office will serve as a strategic hub for future expansion.
All affected employees were non-union workers, and the layoffs do not impact unionized staff. A Starbucks global communications representative reiterated that the changes were in line with the company’s previously announced restructuring, which consolidates regional support offices to reduce complexity and lower costs.